Mallappally Taluk

Mallappally Taluk is a Tehsil in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, India.

Villages

The following villages are part of the Mallappally taluk:

• Kunnamthanam
• Anicadu
• Vaipur
• Keezhvaipur
• Mallappally
• Murani
• Kalloopara
• Puramattom
• Vennikulam
• Ezhumattoor
• Thelliyoor
• Kottangal
• Chungappara
• Perumpetty
• Kottanad

Politics

Mallapplly is strong hold for the Congress and UDF politics even though the left parties also exist in the region. BJP is also getting popularity among the Hindus in the region.A number of RSS Shakas are also active in mallappally and nearby areas.

Mallappally was part of the Kalloppara assembly constituency and Mallappally was the main town of that constituency. During the last re-organization, it lost the constituency along with some other constituencies in central Travancore due to stagnant population growth in contrast to ever-increasing population of some northern districts, which changed the power equation in Kerala. Now it is a part of the Thiruvalla assembly constituency and the Pathanamthitta Loksabha Constituency. Adv. Mathew T Thomas (LDF) is the current MLA. In Lok sabha, Mallappally is represented by the sitting MP from Pathanamthitta, Mr. Anto Antony (Indian National Congress).

Pathicadu Church

Mallappally Town

Anikkatil Amma Temple

Geography

Most of the area is hilly with a midland climate. The Manimala River flows through the heart of the town and divides it into Mallappally West and Mallappally East. Mallappally taluk shares border with Kottayam district at Nedungadappally along a river stream named Kochuparamb Thodu. From the Pathanamthitta, Kozhencherry, Ranni side, the entrance to the town is at the Mallappally Bridge.

Landmarks

Pazhaya Suriyani Pally (the old Syrian Church), situated on the eastern bank of the river, is the oldest church close to the town. A group of people deserted the church and its Syrian traditions due to reformation movement initiated by Anglican missionaries during 19th century, and joined CMS Church. Today the old heritage church, co-owned by the Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Church, has regular worship only on the fourth Sunday of every month (Mar Thoma Church). Its cemetery is open to members of the Orthodox and Marthoma denominations. Thuruthicad Mar Thoma Church which is more than 100 years old is also a prominent Church in this area.

The Thirumalida Mahadeva templesits on the eastern bank of the Manimala River. The Thirumalida temple is famous for its appearance, which is similar to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and got its present importance with the development of Mallapally. During the month of Karkidakam (July–August), thousands of people visit the temple to offer karkkidaka vavubali. It is one of a few temples to celebrate Shivarathri on a riverbed.

Other place of worships

Kalloppara church is one of the oldest Christian shrines in the taluk, founded in AD 1339 (Kollavarsham 515, Karkidam 3), second only to the Niranam Church in the area, established by Saint Thomas. Vaipur Church is the second oldest church after Kallooppara church and is one of the 116 churches which were forced to participate in the Udyamperoor (Diamper) synod held in 1599 for Romanisation of the Malankara Church convened under the Goan Inquisition by Bishop Meneze

The famous shivaparvathi temple Anikkattilammakshethram is also situated in this taluk.Pariyaram sreekrishna swami temple, one of the most famous temples of Sree-Krishna is about 3 km from Mallappally Town, is another attraction. Another famous shivaparvathi temple Sree Nadarajaswami Temple is situated in Powathippady, mallappally taluk. The Kallooppara Bhagavathy temple is situated close to the Kalloppara church, demonstrating the centuries-old religious harmony prevailing in the area. Most of the temples in Mallapally are dedicated to Shiva such as VAIPUR MAHADEVA TEMPLE . . A famous Hanuman temple is at near by Kaviyoor and . Other noted places of worship include the St. George Orthodox Church in Chengaroor, the St. Peter and St. Paul church in Pathicadu, the St. George Malankara Catholic Church in Chengaroor, and Holy Emmanul CSI Church.

Other landmarks

The Rev. George Mathan Mission Hospital, named after the well-known Malayalam writer and priest, serves as the medical center for the area; there are no other medical institutions within 16 km.

Other landmarks include the public bus stand and public stadium; both are on the west bank of the Manimala river.

Transportation

Mallappally lies along SH 9, which connects the district capitals of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. Both KSRTC and private buses travel between Kozhencherry and Kottayam, and Tiruvalla and Mallappally. Mallappally has a KSRTC depot, which is the main transportation facility on SH 9. The Thiruvalla–Mallappally road meets SH 9 at the central junction of the town. Mallappally is also connected to Ranni, Erumeli, and Sabarimala. A narrow road goes down to Anikkadu, a small farming village, a couple of kilometres away from town. The nearest railway stations are at Tiruvalla (12 km), Changanacherry (15 km), Chengannur (20 km), and Kottayam (29 km). The nearest airports are Cochin International Airport (100 km)and Trivandrum airport.

History

In the early part of Mallappally's history, the Manimala River was called the Vallayar River, and people lived on its banks. Mallappally was visited by Buddhist missionaries that the Mauryan kings sent throughout Asia. Like other places in India, Buddhism prevailed in Mallapally before the conversion of the Cheran kings to Vedic Aryanism during the 9th century. Mallapally was a part of the kingdom of Thekkumkur before Marthanda Varma annexed it as part of the unified kingdom of Travancore. Most of the temples in Mallapally were built during the royal patronage of Hinduism at the behest of Brahmins advisors.

Religion in Mallapally

Syrian Christians constitutes the majority of population in Mallappally. Hindus constitute Nairs & Vishwakarmas.

Mallappally Thirumalida Temple, Anikkattilamma Siva Parvathy Temple, Pariyaram Sreekrishnaswami temple, Vaipur Shiva Temple are some of the major temples in the region.

In the 19th century, Anglican missionaries established a church and school adjacent to the old Suriyani (Syrian) church. A section of old Syrian Christians joined them. Later, during the reformation movement started by Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan, a large section of Syrian Christians joined him. Roman Catholicism reached Mallapally only after 1930 due to Mallapally's interior location.

During the Travancore period, the first Pulayar convert to Christianity was a man named Habel, who was born on 5 May 1816, in Kaipatta, Mallapally. His Dravidian name was Daivathan (man of God). His wife was named Poovom. They had a son Uthayan (rising sun) and a daughter Chothi (Jyothi, lit. flame); all were baptised on the same day, 6 September 1854. Following his baptism, Habel studied theology under European tutors and travelled far and wide establishing congregations and churches. He spread Christianity to thousands of people who were baptised and joined the Church. He died at the age of 84 on 18 August 1899. CMS Bishop Edward Noel Hodges attended his funeral.

There are two Brethren assemblies in Mallappally: the Town Brethren assembly near Anima Ayurvedic Hospital, and the Mallappally North Assembly.

Mallappally is the birthplace of a large number of Kerala Bishops of many Christian denominations. Some of these are Saint Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius(Vattasseril Thirumeni),^[1] Archbishop Valakkuzhy Joseph Mar Severios,^[2] Bishop Modayil MC Mani, Evangeilical Bishop Panamootil PS Varghese, and Baselios Cardinal Cleemis.^[3]

Festivals

Every year during the summer months when the river water recedes, many sandy beds are formed in the middle of the river, large enough to hold conventions and festivals on. The Mallappally convention and the Shivarathri festival take place on two such large sandy patches near the Manimala Bridge across the river. Vishu mahotsavam, held in the Pariyaram Sree-Krishna swami temple, is another old event. People from various parts of the Mallappally and Tiruvalla taluks come for the fest.^[4]

Sports

Mallappally has been a center of volleyball since the forties and fifties, and Olympian Mallapally Varkey was the most famous player. There is an active participation and viewership of the game in Mallapally. The 'Manorama Trophy' Inter-Collegiate and Inter-School tournament was held here for a long period. 'Highlanders All Kerala' inter-club tournament was also famous. 'Olympia Mallappally' was one of the leading volleyball clubs for a time. Thereafter, 'High Landers' also made some memorable achievements. People like Thelamannil Pappachen, Viswanathan (Mallappally Viswan-Kerala State), Thomas Panickamuriyil (Mon-Kerala State-currently resides in Houston, Texas, USA), Nebu Koshy (Kerala State), Vattasserril Sunny, Kunjumon (Philip Ninan), Vattasseril Kunjumon(P.J.Joseph),Kuzhivelil Achenkunju, Babu Itty, Philip Nedungadappally, Jose Keezhvaipur, Dinesh, and Binu Panickamuriyil were some of the prominent players from Mallappally.

Economy

Mallappally's economy is mostly agriculture-based; however, the area is also the original home of a large number of NRIs who reside in the Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and England, who also contribute to the economy. However, there is a growing trend in these NRIs coming back to set up businesses in their hometown. Mallappally is the biggest trade center along the Kottayam - Kozhencherry state highway. Mallappally is known for having the biggest market in central Travencore for plantain cultivars. The town is the main trade center for the entire taluk and some panchayats in Tiruvalla, Changanacherry, Chengannur, and Ranni taluks. Even though it is a panchayat, it has all facilities of a municipal region.

Education

Mallappally is the most literate taluk of India. IHRD, a Keralan government initiative, runs a school, BAM College for degree course, college of applied sciences, and an engineering college in Mallappally.^[5]

1. BAM College Thuruthicad, Mallappally
2. College of applied science IHRD Mallappally
3. Engineering college Kalloopara
4. Nss Hss Kunnamthanam, Mallappally
5. IHRD, Mallappally
6. Mar Dionysious school, Mallappally
7. CMS higher secondary school, Mallappally
8. CMS higher secondary school, Nedugadappally
9. St. Philomena high school, Mallappally
10. Sophia International academy
11. Nirmal Jyothi Public school, Mallappally
12. Little Flower English medium school, Chengaroor, Mallappally
13. Bethany Convent Higher secondary school, Chengaroor, Mallappally
14. GVHSS, Keezhvaipur, Mallappally
15. St. Thomas CSI School, Nedungadappally
16. MRSLBV Govt HSS Vaipur
17. nss hs vaipur

Religion

Mallappally has a history of religious harmony. The Maha Shivarathri is celebrated on the same riverbed where the Union Christian Convention and Charismatic Convention are conducted. Many pilgrim groups stop and rest at Mallappally, a main station on the Sabarimala route. Pilgrim groups from several churches of the eastern parts of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts making their way to the Parumala Cathedral and Kallooppara Church take the Mallappally–Thiruvalla route.

Mallappaly is the birthplace of 'Vattasserril Thirumeni', one of the two saints (the other is 'Parumala Thirumeni') of the Malankara Orthodox Church. A pilgrimage to his tomb at Kottayam is conducted every year from Mallappally.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mallapally.