Tiruvalla

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Thiruvalla
type = city
latd = 9.385 | longd = 76.575
locator_position = right
state_name = Kerala
district = Pathanamthitta
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 56,828
population_density =
area_magnitude= 27.94 km²
area_total =
area_telephone = 91-469
postal_code = 689101
vehicle_code =KL 27
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Thiruvalla ( previously spelled Tiruvalla) (തിരുവല്ല in Malayalam), is a town and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India. Nedumpuram Palace and Paliakkara Palace are located here. There is a railway station in Thiruvalla in the Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram rail route via Kottayam. Thiruvalla is the meeting point of M. C. Road (Main Central Road/SH-01) and T. K. Road (Thiruvalla-Pathanamthitta-Kumbazha Road/SH-07)

Demographics

The city spans a geographic area of 27.94 km² with a population of 56,828 as of 2001 India census, [GR|India] .Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Thiruvalla has an average literacy rate of 90%, higher than the national average of 59.5% male literacy is 90%, and female literacy is 98.7%. In Thiruvalla, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The nearest port is in Kochi and , nearest airport is in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram at a distance ~130 km north and south respectively. The nearest train station is in Thiruvalla.The city has a tropical climate with a temperatures ranging from highs of 34.4 °C in the summer to a low of 18.5 °C in the winter with a healthy rainfall of 3040 mm.

History

There are plenty of evidences to suggest that the area had been inhabited since 500 BCE although the city was founded sometime around 800 CE. The present day areas of Niranam and Kadapra on the western part of Thiruvalla were submerged under the sea before then.

It is interesting to note that the name Thiruvalla comes from the word "Thiru Valla Vazh", named after the deity "Thiru Vallabhan" of the Thiru Vallabha temple. This temple is one among the one hundred and eight vaishnava thirupathis in India.Another version says that the name has come from the old name "Valla vai". This name had some relation with the river Manimala which was known as "Valla puzha", suggesting that Thiruvalla was the mouth of river Manimala and hence was known as "Valla vai".On the western part of Thiruvalla, the rivers Pampa, Manimala and Achen Kovil join for a panoramic view. As in many other places in India, the culture and heritage of Thiruvalla are tied to its temples. Historical evidence such as copper plates and proclamations point to Thiruvalla as a flourishing and major center of spiritual and educational prominence in 1100. The Sree Vallaba Temple governed a Vedic School with one thousand students and one hundred teachers. The temple also maintained a hospital in the service for the public at large. The rulers of Thiruvalla belonged to the Thekkumkoor Dynasty, which had one of its headquarters at Edathil near Kavil Temple. Today's Paliakara Palace is a branch of Lakshmipuram Palace of Changanacherry, which is a branch of Alikottu Kovilakam of Pazhancherry in Malabar. Similarly, Nedumpuram Palace is a branch of Mavelikkara Palace is an heir to the Kolathiri tradition of Udayamangalam.

The Kaavil market (which is no longer in existence) was once one of the most famous markets of Kerala where there were even foreign trade links. Even now the houses in this street are known as "Kaavil" and their family houses in the now Pushpagiri-Tholassery area as "Malayil". It is actually situated in the street starting from Kavumbhagom. It was also the settlement area of early Christians of Thiruvalla. This was the heartplace of Thiruvalla up to the 19th Century (East to M C road was forest area. Dens were found in the KSRTC garage area, which are now buried).The first school in Tiruvalla started somewhere in mid 19th century in Kaavil market, in the road to Pallippalam.

Thiruvalla Christians were part of the autonomous Indian Orthodox Church, until the 17th century when due to the intervention of the Portuguese Colonialists and missionaries, a schism occurred leading to the introduction of Catholicism in India.

Thiruvalla was never under direct British rule and before India's independence from Britain on August 15, 1947, it was governed by the Travancore dynasty. The Thiruvalla municipality started functioning in 1919, with Shri M K Kesavan Nair as the first Chairman of the Municipal council. The constitution was officially approved on October 8, 1920. The municipal office has established several public health facilities, libraries and sports facilities.

Facts

Thiruvalla has a large number of Non-Resident Indian Community. Most of the financial power of the place is derived from them. Almost every leading bank in the country, including the high-profile private ones, has a branch here. There are large number of private financiers too.

Thiruvalla is connectd to other southern Indian cities Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai etc by a fleet of private bus operations.

Hospitals including a private medical college, both big and small, are here.Thiruvalla has a high literacy rate of above 90%. Thiruvalla Taluk was considered as having the maximum number of university graduates in all over India. High importance is given to quality education. This was also helped by the advent of Christian missionaries and the many schools started by them around the area, active promotion of education by the Royal Family of Travancore, and the communist government of 1969.

The Mar Thoma Church and the Evangelical Church and the Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) have their headquarters in and around Thiruvalla. The headquarters of the Orthodox Church Niranam Diocese is also in Thiruvalla. The famous Niranam, Paliakkara Church,and Parumala churches are important tourist destinations.

The famed pilgrim centre of Sabarimala is about 100 km from Thiruvalla. Parumala Church, one of the famous Christian pilgrimage centres is in Thiruvalla. The spiritual conventions at Eraviperoor, Othera, Kumbanadu, Maramon, and Cherukolpuzha are all located in Thiruvalla

Legends and myths

Tiruvalla have a lot of myths in the Hindu background. Most of them are surrounding the Sree Vallabha temple.According to the legends, Sree Vallabha have 3 sisters who are bhagavathies of the nearby temples- namely Alanthuruthy, Padappad and Kaavil.The complex and interesting rituals that are made in the Kaavil street and in Sree Vallabha temple are centuries old and shows the legends in their background.

According to popular legends & Christian myths, Saint Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, came to Musiris (Kodungallore) in 52 A D and later to Nelkinda (Niranam) through Purakkadu, ancient ports of Kerala, in South West India to preach the gospel. As a result, Christian communities were formed in seven towns of Kerala. The famous Niranam church which is only 5 km from Thiruvalla was founded at this time.

Topography

The topography of Thiruvalla comprises plains, paddy fields, and small ranges. The major crops grown are rice, tapioca, coconuts, rubber, plantains, sugarcane and a variety of vegetables.

Educational institutions in and around Thiruvalla

# College of Engineering Kaloopara (Managed By IHRD) - http://www.cek.ac.in/
# Marthoma College, Kuttapuzha - http://www.marthomacollege.org/
# MACFAST - Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla [http://www.macfast.org]
# [http://www.pushpagiri.in Pushpagiri] Medical College Hospital
## College of Medicine
## College of Dental Sciences
## College of Pharmacy
## College of Nursing
## School of Nursing
## School of Multi-purpose Health Workers
## School of Medical Lab Technology
# DB College, Pamba,Parumala
# St Aloysius College, Edathua
# Mar Thoma Academy, Near TMM Hospital
# MGM Higher Secondary School (Estd:1902), Market Jn
# DB Higher Secondary School, Kavumbhagom
# St Mary's Residential Central School, Paliakara
# SCS Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla
# Balika Madom Girls Higher Secondary School, Tirumoolapuram
# Syrian Jacobite Public School, Varikkad
# Marthoma Residential School, Kuttapuzha
# NSS High School, Muthoor Jn
# Nicholson Syrian Girls High School, Meenthalakara
# Seventh Day Adventist Public School, Kuttapuzha
# St.Thomas Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram
# CMS High School, Thiruvalla
# SNVS High School, Tirumoolapuram
# Government Girls High School, Thiruvalla
# Belivers Church Residential School, Kuttapuzha [http://www.bcrschool.com]
# Christ Central School, Muthhor Jn

Famous Sons and Daughters

# "H H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicos of India and All the East"
# "Chalakuzhy Paulose Matthen" (1890-1960) Member of Parliament from Mavelikara Constituency to the first Lok Sabha(1952), Pioneer Banker and founder of the Quilon Bank Ltd. (later amalgamated to form the Travancore National and Quilon Bank Ltd.), Indian Ambassador to the Sudan(1957)
# Adv Mathew Thoompumpattu Thomas, MLA 2006- present & 1987-1991, Janata Dal, Transport Minister of Kerala (2006 - present)
#
# Sen Mathew President of proposed airport in Tiruvalla
# P C Thomas, MLA 1980-82 JNP & 1982-87 IND
# E John Jacob, MLA 1965-1979, Kerala Congress, Former Agriculture Minister of Kerala
# G Padmanabhan Thampi, MLA 1957-1960, Communist Party of India
# P Chacko, MLA 1960-1965, Indian National Congress
# Kandathil Varghese Mappillai, Founder "Malayala Manorama"
# Kandathil K M Mammen Mappilai, nephew of K V Mappillai
# Raghavan Nambiar, Villuvarvattathu, Veteran poet. He suggested the name "Malayala Manorama" for the famous daily
# Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, Veteran poet
# Kochu Kunju Vaidian, MLC, Sri Moolam Praja Sabha, Ex-counsellor, Thiruvalla Municipality, Founder SNV Sanskrit School
# Fr Iype Thoma, Kovoor-Pioneer of Marthoma Church in Thiruvalla
# Dr Alexander Karackal, Former Pro Vice Chancellor of Kannur University & former Sabha Secretary of The Indian Orthodox Church
# Olympian Pappan, Famous football player represented Indian team in Rome (1960)
# Rev Dr K C John, Famous orator & writer, Also Founder/Chairman, [http://www.powervisiontv.org PowerVision TV]
# C K Ra, Famous Artist
# Abu Abraham, Famous Cartoonist
# A T Kovoor, Famous Psychiatrist
# E M Kovoor, Famous writer and novelist
# T K Sreenivasan, Ex-President SNDP Union and popular social worker
# Late M G Soman, Movie Actor
# Nadiya Moythu, Movie Actress
# Meera Jasmine, Movie Actress
# Nayan Taara, Movie Actress
# Kaveri, Movie Actress
# Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Movie Actress
# Aswathi Kurup (Paarvathi), Movie Actress
# K G George, Film Director
# Blessy, Film Director
# Late John Abraham, Movie Director
# Dy. Commandant (BSF) N.S. Satish Chander Nair, a famous Mountaineer successfully climbed Mount Everest in 2007 and Kangchenjunga Peak in 2008. He is from Neduvelil House, Mannankarachira, Thiruvalla.

Attractions at Thiruvalla

# Thiru Vallabha Temple: The Flagpost of the Thiru Vallabha Temple carved out from a single rock with a Garudan at the top, created by the legendary "Perumthachan".
# Dharma Shasta Temple Meenthalakkara
# Niranam church: Founded by Apostle St Thomas around AD 54 AD.
# Paliakkara Church: First church of Thiruvalla.
# Parumala Church
# Paliyakkara Palace
# Nearest city to the Chakkulathu kavu Bhagavathi Temple.
# Thrukakkudi Cave Temple, Kaviyoor
# Spritual Hub of Pentacostals believers in India.
# Club 7: (The Largest Shopping Mall in Pathanamthitta,Kerala with Three Star Hotel - A Sky Group Venture)
# Deepa Tower (Shopping Mall with Multiplex theatre)(Under Construction)
# Metal Casting Centres, Mannar
# Headquarters of St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India.
# Headquarters of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church.

ubdivisions

# Amalloor
# Meenthalakkara
# Kuttappuzha
# Eraviperoor
# Kaviyoor
# Koipuram
# Othera
# Thiruvalla
# Thottapuzhasserry
# Kadapra
# Kuttoor
# Nedumpuram
# Niranam
# Peringara
# Kavumbhagom
# Thiruvanvandoor
# Mallappally
# Mathilbhagom
# Kattookara
# Thollassery
# Thirumoolapuram
# Vallamkulam
# Thiruvamanapuram
# Thuruthiyilbhagom

PIN Codes

# Thiruvalla 689101
# Kavumbhagom 689102
# Kizhekkenmuthoor 689103
# Valanjavattom 689104
# Manjadi 689105
# Kutoor 689106
# Muthoor 689107
# Karackal, Peringara 689108
# Thiruvanvandoor, Podiyadi 689110
# Kuttapuzha 689111
# Chathankari 689112
# Alanthuruthy, Azhyadathuchira 689113
# Vempala 689114
# Thirumoolapuram 689115
# Chengaroor 689121
# Angadical 689122
# Edanad 689123
# Kallisseri 689124
# Ala 689126
# Vallamkulam(nannoor) 689541
# Eraviperoor 689542
# Othera 689546
# Kurianoor 689550
# Vazhamangalam 689571
# Nedumpuram 689578
# Kaviyoor 689580
# Anjilithanam 689582
# Mepral 689591
# Mundiappally 689593
# Podiyadi 689110
# Azyidathuchira 689113

See also

* Pathanamthitta

Notes

References

Thiruvalla Charitham by Mr. Unnikrishnan Nair

External links

* [http://www.keraladays.com Information about kerala]
* [http://www.thiruvalla.com http://www.Thiruvalla.com]
* http://www.marthomacollege.org/
* [http://www.thiruvallaonline.com http://www.Thiruvallaonline.com]
* http://stmarysreidentialschool.blogspot.com/
* http://www.mahadevatemple.com/