Meenachil is the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi, the Hindu Goddess. Pala is the main city in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil River.
Geography
The
Meenachil River, also known as Kavanar, Gauna, Valanjar originates at
vagamon in the
Western Ghats of Kerala, flows westward through
Erattupetta, Palai, Kidangoor,
Ettumanoor and
Kottayam. Its length is about 87 kilometers. Near Kottayam it splits into a number of
Distributary before emptying into the
Vembanad Lake.
Kumarakom, the bird sanctuary and tourist resort is on one such branch.
History
The current Meenachil taluk was a principality under the rulers of the royal family often referred to as the
(also known as
Njavakkat Karthas) before
Marthanda Varma annexed it to
Travancore in 1754. The name of the place comes from Goddess
Meenakshi, the deity of the
Karthas. Veera Kerala Damodara Simhar was a chieftain belonging to this family.
[Kerala District Gazetteers: Kottayam, Kerala (India) p.34-35] The southern bank of the river was the kingdom of
Thekkumkoor, the capital of which was Changanassery, and the northern bank, that of
Vadakkumkoor, with its capital at Kaduthuruthy. The
Poonjar royal family also held sway over significant areas of the district towards the east.
Economy
Though food crops like
Rice and
tapioca are cultivated, majority of the population depends on cash crops like
rubber and
black pepper for income. Turmeric,ginger,cardamom,aracanut, coconut, nutmeg,clove,karuva pattai, jackfruit, tamarind where cultivated here.Recently people had diversified into the cultivation of
vanilla on account of the sudden spurt in prices. However, with rubber prices ruling high and vanilla prices nosediving, the original agricultural pattern is seen reemerging. Though there are families with considerable wealth, a large section of the population are farmers with small and medium agricultural holdings.
The Kerala Government has recently (2006) accorded high priority to the implementation of the Meenachil River Valley Project. The project aims at diverting excess water from the Moovattupuzha river into the Meenachil River basin by constructing a tunnel from Arakkulam to Melukavu. Once implemented the project will help in increasing the availability of water in the area.
Festivals
Some of the important festivals celebrated in the region are:
1. Kumaranalloor Thrikarthika
2. The
Katappattor temple festival (April)
3. Meenachil Kavu Festival (December)
4. Pala Jubilee thirunal (8 December)
5. The
Cherpunkal Church festival(25 December – 2 January)
6. The festival of St. George's Church, Aruvithura
7. The Paika Church festival (19 December)
8. Pala Rakkuly thirunal - Epiphany (7 Jan)
9. Bharanganam Sr Alphonsa's feast (28 July)
10. Bharanganam Sreekrishna Swami temple festival (January–February)
11. Poovarany Mahadeva temple festival (January–February)
12.
Ramapuram church feast
13. Kidangoor Temple Festival
14. Edappady Subrahmanya Swamy Temple festival (January–February)
15. Edappady Vazhanekkavu Devi Temple festival (March)
16. Uzhavoor Church feast
17. Vilakkumadom St. Francis Church feast
18. The Arattu at Lalam Sree Mahadeva Temple. (January)
19. Prathista dinam at Puthuppallil Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple at Edamattom (23rd Thulam)
20. Meenachil Nadeethada Hindu Maha sangamam (Jannuvay 12-18)
21. Payappar sree dharama sastha temple (makaravilaku 14 January)
22. Payappar sree dharama sastha temple (makaravilaku 14 January)
23. Edanattukavu Bhagavathy Temple festival (December and March)
Politics
Traditionally, the region is the hotbed of various factions of the
Kerala Congress. However mainstream parties like the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) Bharatiya Janata Party also have significant following. The prices of rubber and other agricultural prices determine the agenda of many elections. It is alleged that the church influences the political agenda significantly.
Notable people
-
Jose Panachippuram, associate editor, Malayala Manorama daily.
Transport
Meenachil Taluk does not have rail connectivity. The nearest major railway stations are
Kottayam, 28 km and Ernakulam junction, 64 km from palai. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport at
Nedumbassery, 85 km from Palai.
The Ettumanoor - Poonjar State Highway (SH 32) traverses across the Taluk in the easterly direction connecting Kidangoor, Cherpunkal, Palai, Bharananganam, Kondoor, Panackapalam and Erattupetta. In the north- south direction, the Main Eastern Highway (Muvattupuzha - Punalur- SH 8)passes through Kollappally, Palai and Paika. The Erattupetta - Peerumedu State Highway (SH 14) passes through Teekoy and Wagamon. The Sabarimala - Kodaikanal Highway passes through Erattupetta. The Main Central Road (SH 1) from Trivandrum to Angamaly passes through the western boundary of the Taluk.
Major Colleges
-
Alphonsa College, Palai (for girls)
-
St. George College, Aruvithura
-
College of Engineering, Kidangoor (CEKGR)
-
College of Engineering, Poonjar
-
Devamatha College, Kuravilangad
-
St Joseph College of Engineering and Technology, Palai (SJCET Palai)
-
St. Stephen's College, Uzhavoor
-
St. Thomas College, Palai
-
BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal
-
Government Polytechnic College, Pala
-
Henry Baker College, Melukau
-
Mar Augusthinose College, Ramapuram (MAC)
-
Mar Sleeva College of Nursing, Palai
-
MES College Erattupetta, Thidanadu
See also
