alapuzha

Alappuzha (Malayalam: ആലപ്പുഴ), also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the List of places known as Venice of the East by Lord Curzon. It is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha District. Though the present town owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century, district of Alappuzha figures in classical Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, as well as with other parts of India. Alappuzha has a lighthouse, which is a major tourist attraction.
Contents
[hide]
1 Demographics
2 Politics
3 Commerce and Tourism
3.1 Chettikulangara Bharani
4 Educational Institutions
5 Social and Cultural Institutions
5.1 The Buddha Statue
6 Taluks
7 Places in Alappuzha
8 Media
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
12 Gallery
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Alappuzha had a population of 177,079. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Alappuzha has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Politics
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara. [2]
Commerce and Tourism
Soon after Alappuzha was developed as a port by the Diwan Raja Kesavadas, the town started functioning as the main commercial centre of the state of Travancore. Export flourished from the port. Spices like pepper were the main export items. Thachil Mathoo Tharakan, a close confidante of the Diwan, pioneered the export of timber. Domestic trade was also active. Many traders from Gujarat came and settled down here to do trading, leading to the presence even now of a Gujarati community in the town. Alappuzha is a centre for coir industries. Later coir (different kinds of rope made from coconut fibre) became a major product of the town, both for local and world markets.


Public Transport Boat service in Kerala
Alappuzha is now the hub for backwater tourism in Kerala. House boats locally called "Kettuvallam" are available on hire on a daily basis as well as for longer durations to take visitors on the old waterways. These house boats in general have 2 bedrooms and attached bathrooms. Some of the boats have the bedrooms fitted with air conditioners. A routine trip includes food cooked on board in the traditional Kuttanad style. Alappuzha is unique in that it is the only district in Kerala without forest.


House Boat, Punnamada Backwaters, Alappuzha
The main cultural and spiritual events of Alappuzha are Chambakkulam Moolam boat race, Chettikulangara Bharani and Nehru Trophy boat race.
Alappuzha is bordered by Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts on east, Kollam district on south, Ernakulam district on north and the Arabian Sea on west.
The picturesque CSI Christ Church in Alappuzha town was built in 1818 by the first CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionary to the erstwhile state of Travancore, Rev. Thomas Norton. It was the first Anglican Church to be established in Travancore.
The Poomkavu Church is situated in the out-skirts of Alappuzha, and is a famous destination for Christian pilgrims. Other famous religious destinations are
Mullackal Raja Rajeshwari Temple
Mannarasala Temple
Chettikulangara Bhagawathy Temple, Mavelikkara
Champakulam Church
Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
Edathua Church
East Juma Masjid (near Dutch Square) and West Juma Masjid (near Iron Bridge) were built centuries back and Salafi Juma Masjid Mosque is built by the Nadvathul Mujahideen during 1990's and inaugurated by late Sulaiman Sait Sahib (fomer IUML President).
Kottamkulangara Vishnu and Devi Temple
Kalarcode Major Mahadeva Temple
Pathiyamkulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple
Pazhveedu Sree Krishna Swami Temple
Vallya Kalavoor Sri Krishna Swami Temple, Kalavoor.
Velikkattuthara Devi Temple, Kuttanadu, Govenda.
Elangumatom Sri Khnda Karna Swami Temple, Talavadi.
Kottangulangara Devi and Maha Vishnu Temple (1800 years old)
Mararikkulam Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple
Kanichukulangara Devi Temple
Korthusseril Bhagavathi (Devi) Temple
Chettikulangara Bharani
This temple is very famous in Kerala, as it is believed that the deity of the Bhagawathy temple has miraculous healing powers. The temple situates in Mavelikkara. In February and March the temple is teeming with life as the festival of Bharani takes place during this time. The temple comes alive with activities and grand feasts. The Bharani festival celebrated in the month of Kumbham is quite an event to the people of this locality and neighbouring places. This festival celebrated with pomp and gaiety is now been widely known as the Kumbhamela of South. Lakhs of people from different parts of Kerala and abroad visit Chettikulangara to participate in this event.


The entrance of the Haripad Subrahmanya Swami temple
The highlight of the festival is Kuthiyottam and Kettukazha. Kuthiyottam is performed as an important offering to the deity. This is a ritual dance practiced and perfected through several centuries. It can be witnessed in several houses of Chettikulangara and in neighbouring areas. The houses are decorated, and the portrait of the deity is installed in temporary structures. Kuthiyottam starts a week before Bharani day. It is a type of folk dance performed by youths with the accompaniment of folk music and other musical instruments.
Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha, conducted every year on the Bharani Nakshathram of Malayalam month ‘Kumbham - It is probably the most amazing cultural visual spectacle in Kerala, similar to the Thrissur Pooram.
The event is an offering of the people of Chettikulangara to their beloved deity known for her spontaneous blessings on true devotees as a mark of gratitude, devotion, unflinching faith, and for showering prosperity and protection to their lives. ‘Kettukazhcha’ displays deftly sculpted and decorated forms of ‘ six temple cars known as ‘Kuthiras’, five Therus’ (Chariots ) and icons of Bhima and Hanuman. All the temple cars, chariots and the icons are all incredibly gigantic in size and are many times larger than any other similar Kuthiras and Therus built during the festivities at other temples in the Central Travancore region.


Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple.
On the move, these out of the world sky scrapping colourful decorations are electrifying, and will create an unforgettable artistic impression in union, especially during the night in the back drop of illuminated lights. Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha heralds the architectural and aesthetic acumen of the ancient people of Chettikulangara, who could convert an improbable out of the world concept to an enormous artistic reality, achieved by collective hardships and will power.
Snake boat races are the most significant traditional event in Alappuzha. These spectacular regattas are usually held between August and October, and involve long thin boats powered by up to 120 oarsmen. The most famous snake boat races are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Champakulam Moolam Boat Race.
Educational Institutions
Alappuzha district has a proud educational history. The district has more than ten Arts and Science Colleges, one Medical College (T.D. Medical College) in the government sector, Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics.
The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society) Compound School (near the CSI Christ Church), was established in 1816. The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School (Formerly known as Leo XIIIth English Medium High School, dedicated to Pope Leo XIII), started in 1888. S D V English Medium Higher Secondary School and Matha Senior Secondary School are premier institutions in Alappuzha for pre-graduate education. University Institute of Technology (U I T), St. Joseph College for Women, and Sanathana Dharma College (S D College) are the institutions for common people to study under the Kerala University. The Ravi Varma Government Fine Arts College is at Mavelikkara.
Social and Cultural Institutions
The district of Alappuzha is the place where the Kerala State Library Council was born on September 14, 1945. The council formed as a meeting of all libraries of Travancore conducted at P.K. Memorial Library, Ambalappuzha. The library council in Alappuzha district conducts a wide variety of socio-cultural programs in the district, as well as computer education.
Saradamandiram - aradamandiram is a house built by Kerala Panini A.R. Rajarajavarma near Sri Krishna Swami Temple at Mavelikkara. He spent his latter part of life there. The Kerala government acquired Saradamandiram and preserves it as a memorial. Famous as Kerala Panini, A.R. was born on February 20, 1863. He is the first grammarian of Malayalam. He was instrumental in bringing about drastic changes in the educational system by revising the syllabus and reforming the Kudippallikkoodam ("Hut Schools") style. He prepared textbooks himself to overcome a textbook shortage. He was a reputed professor. His close disciples include Sahitya Panchanan P.K. Narayana Pillai, and Swadeshabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai. He died on June 18, 1918.
A.R. is the first ever Indian principal of The Maharajas College (now University College) at Thiruvananthapuram. He is the man who visualized a university uniquely for Kerala. Rajarajavarma actively led the reformist group in the Prasavadha, which revitalised the craft and soul of Malayalam poetry. Malaya Vilasam, written by A.R., is considered an example of his talent as a poet. By writing several introductions to renowned poetic works, he proved himself as the pioneer of the modern critical approach in Malayalam literature.
The Buddha Statue
The statue is located at Mavelikkara. The statue is in seated posture, resembling Padmasana. A feature common to the idols is that hair has not been engraved on the head. Studies by the Archaeology Department have not been able to explain the absence of hair which is common in Buddha statues of the Gandhara and Mathura tradition. The head has markings resembling a headgear. Though the department has made a pagoda-like structure for the statue, no information on the idol is available to tourists who visit the area. Local people in the area light lamps before the idol. The idol at Mavelikkara is four feet high and is perhaps the biggest in the region. The engravings on the head resemble the helmets of Greek statues. The mark of a sacred thread is visible on the body. Another feature is the marking of a shawl on one shoulder. Here the Archaeological Department has put up a board specifying the age of the statue.
KPSC KPSC the, the drama club with historical background is situated in Kayamkulam. Many genius artist came out from this club.
Taluks
Karthikappally
Chengannur
Mavelikkara
Ambalappuzha
Kuttanad
Cherthala
Places in Alappuzha
Kalavoor
Pallathuruthi
Kudassanad
Kalarcode
Pulincunnu
Champakulam
Punnapra
Ambalapuzha
Thrikkunnapuzha
Cherthala
Mavelikkara
Kodukulanji
Kayamkulam
Aroor
Aryad
Kainakary
Ramankari
Mithrakari
Thathampally
Punnamada
Pazhvanangadi
Poonthoppu
Koyippally
Charummoodu
Thamarakulam
Vedarapla
Thondankulangara
Mullackal
Kottamkulangara
Rodumukku
Vazhicheri
Kedangara
Mannarashala
Kattoor
Kappil
Thekkekkara
Chennithala
Chettikulangara
Krishnapuram
Venmony
Thazhakkara
Mannar
Chengannor
Budhanoor
( chungom )
vazhicherry
Pallana
Thottappally
Thrikkunnappuzha
Media
AIR AM/MW Relay station
Alappuzha - 576 kHz Arthunkal starnet cable vision THE MIRROR OF ALAPPUZHA