Thiruvalla

"Thiruvalla" redirects here. For the 1993 Tamil film, see Thiruvalla (film).

Thiruvalla Thiruvalla
city
Population  (2001)
• Total	56,828
Website	www.thiruvalla.com

Tiruvalla (alternatey spelled Thiruvalla) (Malayalam: തിരുവല്ല), is a town and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India. 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.

Demographics

The city spans a geographic area of 27.94 km² with a population of 56,828 as of 2001 India census,. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. In Thiruvalla, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

View over Tiruvalla: Center

View over Tiruvalla: Stadium and outskirts

Location

Thiruvalla is on the western border of Pathanamthitta District. The municipal town limits are Thirumoolapuram, Kattod, Kuttapuzha and Manipuzha. Formerly, some areas of present Changanacherry were parts of Tiruvalla taluk. Now the boundaries of the taluk are Varattar Bridge on the south, Lappalam on the north, Pullad on the east and Neerattupuram in west situates in Alappuzha district. Pullad is the last point of Thiruvalla east area & it is in the Koipuram panchayath.

Thiruvalla is the meeting point of M C Road (Main Central Road/SH-01) and T. K. Road (Thiruvalla-Pathanamthitta-Kumbazha Road/SH-07) and links the eastern parts of the district with western rice bowl 'Kuttanad'. The Thiruvalla - Kayamkulam road is the most used link between the National Highway and the M C road. Thiruvalla also connects to NH-47 through the Thakazhi - Ambalappuzha Link.

The nearest major port is in Kochi, nearest airports are in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram at a distance of approximately 125 kilometres north and south respectively. The newly proposed Aranmula airport would only be about 18 kilometres away. The closest sea port, a minor one, is about 30 km away at Alappuzha. The district's only railway station, (Class A categorised) with an annual revenue of over Rs.15 crores (2010), is TIRUVALLA (TRVL), on the Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram/Cape Comorin rail route via Kottayam.The national airline AIR INDIA has a reservation office in Thiruvalla.

History

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the area had been inhabited since 500 BCE although an organized settlement was founded sometime around 800 CE. It is one of the 64 ancient brahmana graamams (ബ്രാഹ്മണഗ്രാമം). 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 Tiruvalla comes from the word "Thiru Valla Vazh", named after the river Manimala which was known as Valla puzha, suggesting that Tiruvalla was the mouth of river Manimala and hence was known as Valla vai(vai in old malayalam means mouth of river).Because of this Sri Vallabha temple was called "Thiru Vallavayappan" which later reformed as "Sri Vallabhan" Thiru Vallabha temple, considering that the deity is God Vishnu. This temple is one among the one hundred and eight vaishnava thirupathis in India. 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 Tiruvalla are tied to its temples. Historical evidence such as copper plates and proclamations point to Tiruvalla as a flourishing and major center of spiritual and educational prominence in 1100CE. 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. Entry for women was restricted to only once a year till the late sixties in the temple. The rulers of Thiruvalla belonged to the Thekkumkoor Dynasty, which had one of its headquarters at Idathil near Kaavil Temple. Idathil was the family name of Thekkumkoor kings. 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 Thekkumkoor kings lost their control in the course of time and Vilakkili (വിലക്കിലി) Nampoothiris were rulers in 1752-53 when Anizham Thirunaal Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore, seized it in a bloody battle in which the ruler was killed, though some dispute it, saying the surrender was peaceful as the namboothiri was not naive to challenge the mighty army of Ramayyan, the shrewd and sadistic Dalava (ദളവ)- head of administration and advisor - of Travancore. Ruins of Vilakkili illam can be seen on the side of Kavmbhagom-Muthoor road.

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" among their friends and relatives and the houses in the now Pushpagiri-Tholassery area as "Malayil" because they are in an elevated area compared to Kaavil. The Kaavil market was actually situated in the street starting from Erankavu Temple to the Kaavil temple in the present Kavumbhagom. It was also the first settlement area of early Christians of Tiruvalla. We can see quotes about this then famous street and its people in the renowned Poem " Unnuneeli Sandesham". 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. Still all the major religious processions are required to pass through this way only, in spite of the new roads constructed parallelly.

Thiruvalla Christians were part of the autonomous Indian Orthodox Church, which was not affected by the schism which occurred in the 17th century due to the intervention of Portuguese colonists (Introduction of Catholicism in India). By 19th century, inspired by the work of the British missionaries, a reformation movement happened which eventually resulted in a schism, leading to the formation of Marthoma Church.

Thiruvalla was never under direct British rule and before India's independence from Britain, 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 8 October 1920. The municipal office has established several public health facilities, libraries and sports facilities.

Facts

Thiruvalla has a large Non-Resident Indian Community. Almost every leading bank in the country, including the high-profile private ones, has a branch here. The town boasts of having the largest number of ATMs of different banks in the entire state.

The town is connected to all major South Indian cities by a fleet of private bus operations.

A number of big and small hospitals, including Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Science and Research, a private multi super speciality health centre, operate here. Thiruvalla has a high literacy rate of above 90%. Thiruvalla Taluk is 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 with the 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 and Syro Malankara Catholic Thiruvalla Archdiocese are also in Thiruvalla. The famous Niranam, Paliakkara, Kallooppara Valiyapalli and Parumala churches are important tourist destinations.

The famed pilgrim centre of Sabarimala is only about 100 km from Tiruvalla and the nearest railway/bus terminal to Sabarimala is in Tiruvalla. [Parumala|Parumala Church], one of the famous Christian pilgrimage centres is about 10 km from the town. The spiritual conventions at Eraviperoor, Othera, Kumbanad, Maramon, and Ayroor-Cherukolpuzha are all located east of Tiruvalla

Politics

The current Chairperson of the Municipality is Ms. Linda Thomas Vanchipalam.

Thiruvalla assembly constituency is the part of the newly formed Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency). Current MLA is Adv.Mathew T Thomas.

Legends and myths

Thiruvalla has a lot of myths in the Hindu background. Most of them are surrounding the Sree Vallabha temple. According to the legend, Sree Vallabha had 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 have a lot of legends in their background.

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.

Major Educational institutions in and around Thiruvalla

1. College of Engineering Kaloopara (Managed By IHRD)
2. Marthoma College, Kuttapuzha
3. MACFAST - Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla
4. Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital
   1. College of Medicine
   2. College of Dental Sciences
   3. College of Pharmacy
   4. College of Nursing
   5. School of Nursing
   6. School of Multi-purpose Health Workers
   7. School of Medical Lab Technology
   8. Centre for Regenerative Medicine
5. Pamba DB College, Parumala
6. St Aloysius College, Edathua
7. Mar Thoma Academy, Near TMM Hospital
8. Govt High School (NPGHS), Nedumprom, Thiruvalla
9. MGM Higher Secondary School (Estd:1902), Market Jn
10. DB Higher Secondary School, Kavumbhagom
11. St Mary's Residential Central School, Paliakkara
12. SCS Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla
13. Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School, Tirumoolapuram
14. Syrian Jacobite Public School, Varikkad
15. Marthoma Residential School, Kuttapuzha
16. Seventh Day Adventist Hr Secondary School, Kuttapuzha
17. St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram
18. Prince Marthanda Varma Higher Secondary School, Peringara
19. NSS High School, Muthoor Jn
20. Nicholson Syrian Girls High School, Meenthalakara
21. CMS High School, Thiruvalla
22. SNVS High School, Tirumoolapuram
23. Government Girls High School, Thiruvalla
24. Believers Church Residential School, Kuttapuzha [1]
25. Christ Central School, Muthoor Jn
26. Sankaramangalam Public School, Kaviyoor Thiruvalla
27. Sanakaramangalam B.Ed Training College, Kaviyoor , Thiruvalla
28. Balabhavan LP School, Manipuzha, Tiruvalla
29. Sree Sankara Vidyapeedom, Peringol, Tiruvalla
30. Govt. LP School,Kavumbhagom, Tiruvalla
31. Amrita Vidyalayam, Thukalassery, Tiruvalla Amritha vidalayam

Major health institutions in & around Thiruvalla

1. Pushpagiri Medical College
2. Government Taluk Hospital
3. Tiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital- College Road
4. GK Hospital,Kavumbhagom & OPD at Town
5. Aswathibhavan Chikitsa Nilayam- College Road
6. Sudarshanam Netra Chikitsalayam & Ayurveda Panchakarma Centre- Thymala,Manjadi[2]

Famous Personalities from the Taluk

1. H H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicos of India and All the East
2. C.P. Mathen (1890–1960) Pioneer Banker and founder of the Quilon Bank, Member of Parliament from Mavelikkara Constituency to the first Lok Sabha(1952), ,Indian Ambassador to the Sudan -1957
3. Kandathil Varghese Mappillai, Founder "Malayala Manorama"
4. Kandathil K M Mammen Mappilai, nephew of K V Mappillai
5. Raghavan Nambiar, Villuvarvattathu, Veteran poet. He suggested the name "Malayala Manorama" for the famous daily.
6. Fr Iype Thoma Kovoor-Pioneer of Marthoma Church in Thiruvalla
7. E M Kovoor, Jurist, Famous writer and novelist.
8. Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, Veteran poet.
9. P. Unnikrishnan Nair, Niranasseril, Historian
10. Kochu Kunju Vaidian, MLC, Sri Moolam Praja Sabha, Ex-counsellor, Thiruvalla Municipality, Founder SNV Sanskrit School
11. P C Thomas, MLA 1980-82 JNP & 1982-87 IND
12. E John Jacob, MLA 1965-1979, Kerala Congress, Former Agriculture Minister of Kerala
13. G Padmanabhan Thampi, MLA 1957-1960, Communist Party of India
14. P Chacko, MLA 1947 (Kallooppara Constituency) 1954 and 1960–1965, (Tiruvalla Constituency) Indian National Congress, Member Member Moral Rearmament (MRA) led by Rajmohan Gandhi and member AICC, Orator, a passionate teacher High School Headmaster, dedicated his life for the upliftment of the downtrodden, a social reformer
15. Adv Mammen Mathai Former MLA
16. Mathew T. Thomas, MLA 2006–present & 1987-1991, Janata Dal, Former Transport Minister of Kerala (2006–2009)
17. Dr Alexander Karackal, Former Pro Vice Chancellor of Kannur University & former Sabha Secretary of The Indian Orthodox Church
18. Olympian Pappan, Famous football player represented Indian team in Rome (1960)
19. C K Ram, Famous Artist
20. B G Varghese, Columnist and Senior Journalist
21. Abu Abraham, Famous Cartoonist
22. Kakkanadan , Novelist & writer
23. Abraham Kovoor, Famous Hypnotherapist & Rationalist
24. Late M G Soman, Movie Actor
25. Nadiya Moythu, Movie Actress
26. Jiby Malliackal,Indian Rally Driver
27. Meera Jasmine, (Jasmine Mary Joseph) Movie Actress
28. Nayantara, (Diana Mariam Kurien, Kodiyattu) Movie Actress
29. Kaveri, Movie Actress
30. Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Movie Actress
31. Aswathi Kurup (Paarvathi), (Actor Jayaram's wife)Madathil, Kaviyoor, Movie Actress
32. Shobhana -(National Award Winner(Manichithrathazhu), Narayana Mangalam, Madathil, Kaviyoor
33. Shalini, Movie Actress
34. Shamili, Movie Actress
35. K G George, Movie Director
36. Blessy, Movie Director
37. Late John Abraham, Movie Director
38. Mohan Ayroor (Mohan Philipose John, Melemadhom Mannakunnil Ayroor), Film - TV Serial Actor / Producer (Mythri Visuals)
39. Naushad,Prominent food caterer and Movie Producer
40. Jezz Varkey,Keyboard Programmer and Sound Engineer
41. Babu Thiruvalla,Producer, Director
42. Raju Mallyath, Producer
43. Padmashree Kurian John Melamparambil

Attractions at Thiruvalla

1. Shri Vallabha Maha Kshetram: (alternatively, The Thiruvalla Temple), One of the 102 divine Vishnu deshas in India. The Flagpost of the Thiru Vallabha Temple carved out from a single rock with a Garudan at the top, created by the legendary "Perumthachan".
2. Dharma Shasta Temple Meenthalakkara
3. Niranam church: Est:A.D 54 by St.Thomas.Holds a good museum.
4. Parumala Church: Burial place of St.Gregorios, the first proclaimed Saint from India.
5. Paliakkara Church: First church of Tiruvalla. It attracts many tourists because of the marvellous murals on the eastern wall of its altar. Also thousands regardless of religion come and pray for the intercession of St. George here.
6. Paliakkara Palace
7. Aranmula palace
8. Chakkulathu kavu Bhagavathi Temple.
9. Kaviyoor Hanuman Temple
10. Kaviyoor Thrikkalkudi (തൃക്കല്‍ക്കുടി )Cave Temple.The Cave Temple is one of the rare cave temples of Kerala. It is assumed that this temple is constructed in the Pallava architectural style and was built in the 8th century.
11. Club 7: (Shopping Mall in Kerala with a Three Star Hotel - A Sky Group Venture)
12. Deepa Tower (Shopping Mall with Multiplex theatre)
13. Metal Casting Centres, Mannar
14. St. Johns Cathdral Church, Tiruvalla
15. "Kadalimagalam Padayani" one of the great folk-performing art with all its traditional forms conducted in the kadalimangalam Devi Temple during march/April months every year. The ten days festival is condcted by the people of two local 'kara'namely Eruvellipara and venupala. The rare and great padayani Koolam namely 'KALAYAKSHI' is performed at here.it's right of two families namely Mukkanjirathu and Pullenplavil of the two 'karas to perform this 'KALAYAKSHI KOOLAM'.
16. St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kallooppara- situated on the banks of the river Manimala is one of the oldest and renowned churches of Malankara Sabha. The church have a legacy of around seven centuries, keeping its tradition and culture intact without compromising on its religious values.

Subdivisions

1. Amalloor
2. Meenthalakkara
3. Kuttappuzha
4. Eraviperoor
5. Kaviyoor
6. Koipuram
7. Othera
8. Thiruvalla
9. Thottapuzhasserry
10. Kadapra
11. Kuttoor
12. Nedumpuram
13. Niranam
14. Peringara
15. Kavumbhagom
16. Thiruvanvandoor
17. Mallappally
18. Mathilbhagom
19. Kattookara
20. Thollassery
21. Thirumoolapuram
22. Vallamkulam
23. Thiruvamanapuram
24. Thuruthiyilbhagom

PIN Codes

1. Thiruvalla 689101
2. Kavumbhagom 689102
3. Kizhekkenmuthoor 689103
4. Manjadi Junction 689105
5. Muthoor 689107
6. Kuttapuzha 689111
7. Pullad 689548
8. Kumbanad 689547
9. Thadiyoor 689545
10. Valanjavattom 689104
11. Karackal, Peringara 689108
12. Podiyadi 689110
13. Thirumoolapuram 689115
14. Chathankari 689112
15. Kutoor 689106
16. Alanthuruthy, Azhyadathuchira 689113
17. Vempala 689114
18. Azyidathuchira 689113
19. Chengaroor 689121
20. Angadical 689122
21. Edanad 689123
22. Kallisseri 689124
23. Ala 689126
24. Vallamkulam(nannoor) 689541
25. Eraviperoor 689542
26. Othera 689546
27. Nedumpuram 689578
28. Kaviyoor 689580
29. Mepral 689591
30. Mundiappally 689593

Eat Out Joints at Thiruvalla

• Hotel Elite Continental
• Hotel Dynasty
• Hotel Tilak
• Hotel Besotta
• Hotel Abhilash (Cross Jn)
• Hotel Aaryaas (Near Old KSRTC Bus Stand)
• Hotel Aaryaas Park (Near Deepa Tower)
• Hotel Joecees Dhaba (Muthoor)
• Rajan De Cafe (@ Vijayalakshmi Silks Ground Floor)
• Kaledio @ Club7
• Hotel Voyage @ Club7
• Chickos Chicken (Ramanchira)
• ChicKing @ Deepa Tower
• Baskin Robbins @ Club7
• Hotel Heritage (Market Road)
• Hotel Green Land (Opposite IDBI Bank)
• Spices Arabian Restaurent (TK Road)
• Pizza Ten (Near Chilanka Theatre)
• Crunchy Chicken (Ramanchira)
• Thomson Food Court (Coming soon near Public Stadium)
• Hotel Arabian (@ Parlament Square, Cross Junction)
• Hotel Teena, Tholassery
• Hotel Padmavilasom, Market Road, Thiruvalla
• Hotel Sree Valabha, Mathilbhagom, Thiruvalla

See also

• Pathanamthitta District
• T.K.Road

External links

• http://vaikhari.org/thiruvalla.html
• Information about kerala
• http://www.Thiruvalla.com