Angamaly

Angamaly
suburb[1]
Angamaly Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 10°11′46″N 76°23′10″E / 10.196°N 76.386°ECoordinates: 10°11′46″N 76°23′10″E / 10.196°N 76.386°E
Country
State	Kerala
District	Ernakulam
City UA	Kochi
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	33,465
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	683572
Telephone code	0484
Vehicle registration	KL-63
Sex ratio	0.9689 ♂/♀

Angamaly (Malayalam: അങ്കമാലി, Aṅkamāli) is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala, India, and a fast developing satellite town of Kochi. Situated 33 kilometres (21 mi) north of Ernakulam, the area is the northern gateway to the commercial capital of Kerala. The town lies at the intersection of Main Central Road (MC Road) and National Highway 47. MC Road, which starts from Thiruvananthapuram ends at Angamaly at its intersection with NH 47. Originally established as a panchayat in May 1952, Angamaly became a municipality in April 1978 and is also a Legislative Assembly constituency from 1965 in the Ernakulam district.

Importance

It is one of the fastest growing towns in Kerala, thanks to the proximity of the international airport, railway station and two major roads passing through. Angamaly serves as an entry point for various places of interest in central Kerala, which include Kalady, Malayattoor, North Paravur etc. With many villages surrounding it, it has become a major commercial hub.

Angamaly is well connected by all means of transport. Kochi International Airport is in the vicinity of Angamaly. It is a matter of pride for the people of the Angamaly as certain regions in its jurisdiction are part of this project.

Angamaly railway station, where all major trains stop, serves as a major connectivity point for people from the eastern side of the district to the rest of the country. There is a proposed railway line from Angamaly to Sabarimala, which will connect the high-ranges with the low land. Work is in snail's pace due to various regional and political issues.

National Highway 47 connecting Kanyakumari to Salem passes through Angamaly. The NH 17 which connects Kochi and Mumbai is 20 kilometers from Angamaly. Main Central Road (M.C. Road) connecting Central Kerala to Kerala capital serves as an important road connecting many towns in the eastern side of the state.

'Manjaly thodu' which flows through Angamaly was a major waterway and Angadikadavu near the old church was an important trade centre in the olden days where spices, rice, bamboo and other agriculture and hill products were sent to the old port of Muziris. Manjaly thodu is part of the new National Waterways programme and is getting developed.

Angamali is enriched with cultural and devotional centers. There are many old churches which are centuries old with well defined frescoes and other murals which are also famous for certain historical meetings and decisions that shaped the modern Christianity in the entire India. The new Catholic church built at the heart of the town is regarded as the biggest of its kind in India.Vembiliyam Mahadev temple,Paddupusha Bhagavathi temple,Thirunayathodu temple, Krishnaswamy temple, Venguru temple, Kidangooru temple, Kothakulangara temple, Jain temple, Elavuru temple, Muzhikulam temple are all famous Hindu pilgrim centres near to Angamaly. There are famous hospitals, and educational institutions which are pride to the local population.

Angamaly has a state-owned industrial estate at its southern end which has numerous renowned factories. Kerala State Bamboo Corporation Ltd. has its headquarters at Angamaly. There are several small-scale cracker manufacturing units in the surrounding areas.

History

Although recorded history does not exist about the origins of Angamaly, legends and local folklore attribute the name Angamaly to the grounds where battles (Ankam in Malayalam language) were conducted at a myal (attributed as a plain ground). Hence a very old battle ground.

Several old coins and other artefacts found from the region tells this area was predominant with Buddhists and Jains in very old time. The 18 and a 1/2 viharas around Angamaly is a proof for this. Malayatoor which is famous Christian devotional centre is very near to Angamaly. It is said that St. Thomas, the Apostlate who was deputed to the region by Jesus Christ came via Angadikadavu in Angamaly using Manjali thodu to come from Kodungaloor port at AD 58. There are evidence for the churches in the locality built as early as AD 409 and AD 822.It was the headquarters of Mar Abraham,Assyrian-Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Angamaly and Hind in the sixteenth century.

Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Sri Sankara is only 7 kilometers from here, it is there the Sanskrit University situates.

Historians records that a massive flood around the 16th century AD made the Angamaly river to change the course forced itself to flow through Chalakudy area. Now the river is called Chalakudy river and is the fifth longest river in Kerala. Meanwhile the river in Angamaly became a lesser canal and there by got the name Manjaly thodu.

Angamaly Police firing

The Angamaly Firing was an incident that took place in Angamaly, Kerala, on 13 June 1959, when police opened fire on protesters who had been demonstrating against Kerala's communist government. Seven people were killed resulting in the intensification of Vimochana Samaram, a protest against the then communist led government.^[2]

Places of interest

▪St Mary's Church Angamaly

St Mary's Church Angamaly aka Marth Mariam Soonoro Cathedral is believed to be built in AD 409 and is the first church built in Angamaly. It is an ancient church and one of the most prominent churches in Kerala. It was the seat of the Archdeacon, the local head of the Malankara Church and hence held an important position in Malankara for many centuries. ^[3]

According to tradition, Mar Yoohanon who represented the Malankara Church at the Holy Synod of Ephesus in AD 431 stayed at Kothamangalam Church and had visited Angamaly church.

It was the erstwhile seat of the Archdeacon of the Malankara Church (the local head of the Church) and hence held a pre-eminent position among churches in Malankara for many centuries. Archdeacons of Pakalomattom family who administered from Ankamaly were Geeevargese Kathanar, Yakob Kathanar, Alexander Kathanar, and Geevargese Kathanar (the Second). Geevargese the Second was buried in this Church.

The Roman Catholic historian Fr. Bernard records that the Syrian Christians in Mangad, Kochi, Purakad, and Thekkumkur who were loyal to the Ankamaly Syrian church were threatened by local kings and Petty chieftains to attend the Udayamperur Synod in 1599, as commanded by the Portuguese. (Marthoma Christeeya Purapad pp. 16,19). The Raja of Cochin decreed that all assets of Syrian churches which abstain from Udayamperur Synod on 20 June 1599 will be confiscated. (The Indian Church of St. Thomas, p. 102). The Ankamaly Church defied the command and boycotted the Synod; the Portuguese historian Govaeo (quoted in Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Thirusabha Charithram, p. 620) states that all eighteen priests of the church abstained from the Synod. The militant Portuguese bishop through threats and offers of gold and military support to the local king and chieftains managed to create a schism in the Church and established a Roman Catholic presence in Malankara. Twenty-four of the 69 churches, including the St. George's Church located next to the Church of the Mother of God at Ankamaly, came under their influence. The schism divided many families; to this day some ancient families of Ankamaly in both communities like Pynadathu have the same patronymic. The forty-five churches that remained in the mother Church, continued to be administered by the Archdeacon whose seat remained at Ankamaly.

After the Koonan Kurishu Satyam of 1653, the delegate of the Holy See of Antioch, Mor Gregorius cAbdel Jaleel of Jerusalem, arrived in Malankara and in 1685, consecrated a native of Malankara as the archbishop for Syriac Orthodox Christians of Malankara, Mor Thoma I. He was assisted during his reign by Ankamaly Vengoor Gewargis Kattanar, Kadavil Chandy Kattanar, Palliveetil Chandy Kathanar, and Anjimootil Itty Thoman Kathanar, who lead the Koonan Kurish Satyam. The seat of Mor Thoma I was at Ankamaly; he was buried in this church in 1670.

The Ankamaly Church was prominent among the 103 churches represented at the Mulunthuruthy Synod in 1876, presided by Patriarch Peter IV. Patriarch Peter IV divided Malankara, which was until then a single diocese, into six dioceses. Ankamaly was one of them with Ambat Mor Kurillos Gewargis as the first bishop. Mor Kurillos established the Trikkunath Seminary at Aluva in 1892 as the bishophric but was entombed in the Ankamaly church in accordance with his wishes

• St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor – St. Thomas is believed to have landed in Kerala at Kodungallur (Cranganore) in AD 52. It is believed that St. Thomas held prayer at this church when he landed in Kerala. Oral tradition says that while travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to the hilltop. The Christian pilgrim center has been designated by the Vatican as an International Shrine.
• Kodanad – famous for its Elephant Training Center is 25 kilometers from Angamaly. Elephant ride as well as a mini zoo is part of this.

Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Church Angamaly

• Mar Hormiz Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Angamaly - Old Cathedral of Saint Thomas Christians. It was established in 1570 by Mar Abraham, the last Assyrian-Chaldean Metropolitan to reach Malabar Coast and the First Metropolitan Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic ArchDiocese of Angamaly. It was dedicated to Hormizd, a seventh century East Syrian saint.^[4][5] Mar Abraham constructed his new Cathedral in 1579.

• St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica, Angamaly – The church was originally built in AD 450, was renovated to become the biggest of its kind in the South India.^[6][6]
• Mahagony thottam – very beautiful picnic spot in the banks of Periyar river is 27 km away.
• Ezhattumugham, Kerala – another beautiful picnic spot is 8 km away
• Kalady Adi Sankara Keerthisthambham, Sringeri Mutt complex and Crocodile Ghat are 8 km away.
• Thirunayathode Sivanarayana Temple – Built by Cheraman Perumal Nayanar in AD 800's.
• St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Cathedral – built in AD 409 have many ancient murals in its walls.
• Kallil Temple is a revered Jain shrine established from the 9th century. Kallil literally meaning "in stone" is a temple located in a vast expanse of 28 acres. This rock cut temple can be reached after a short trek up 120 steps. The temple is managed presently by Chenkottukonam Sree Ramadasashramam. It was originally owned by the Kallil Pisharody family and hence name Kallil Devi temple. Dedicated to Durga Devi, the temple has a structure of Brahma carved at the peak of the rock. The triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are all worshiped in this temple. This shrine also enshrines Jain deities namely Padmavati Devi (worshipped as Durga Devi by devotees), Parshvanath and Mahavira. It is believed that Kallil family had once followed Jainism. It is 26 km from Angamaly.

Industries

Transformers And Electricals Kerala Ltd.(TELK) is Located in Angamaly, producing and setting up High Voltage equipment in the region. Started off as a technical and financial collaboration between Govt. of Kerala and Hitachi of Japan, now it is a JV between Govt. of Kerala and NTPC Limited, TELK manufactures Extra High Voltage Power Transformers (up to 315 MVA, 420 kV) and other equipment (CT, PT, Bushings) up to 420 kV class.

The industrial estate is located in Angamaly South.

Politics

Angamaly assembly constituency is part of Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency).^[7]

Location

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[4] Angamaly had a population of 33,465. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Angamaly has an average literacy rate of 88.15%, higher than the national average of 74.04%; 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

The following are the main educational institutions located in Angamaly:

• FISAT
• SCMS
• DIST
• Morning Star Home Science College
• Viswajyothi Public School(Carmelites of Mary Immaculate CBSE)
• Adam Public School(CBSE)
• St. Joseph High School
• Holy Family School
• St. Patrick's Academy(ICSE)
• Don Bosco central School(ICSE)
• Vidyadhiraja Vidyabhavan School(CBSE)
• De Paul School
• DE PAUL COLLEGE
• M G M G Higher Secondary School NAYATHODE - G. Sankara Kurup's birthplace
• Government Higher Secondary School Mookkannoor
• Government Higher Secondary School Puliyanam^[8]
• JBS PRIMARY SCHOOL
• Sacred Heart Public School Mookkannoor
• Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology
• Little flower institute of medical science and research.

Villages and local places in and around Angamaly

Angamaly Municipality

East Church Nagar

Basilica Nagar

Karukutty Panchayat

01 - Railway station * 02 - Cable nagar * 03 - Vazhachal * 04 - Panthakkal * 05 - Edakkunnu * 06 - Pallissery * 07 - Ezhattumugham 08 - Karamattam * 09 - Edakkunnu East * 10 - Paduvapuram * 11 - Munamparambu * 12 - Malayamkunnu * 13 - Palliyangadi * 14 - Njalookkara * 15 - Karayamparambu East * 16 - Karayamparambu West * 17 - Peechanekkadu *

Olivemount Thannipuzha kalady

Ayyampuzha Panchayat

Vengoor

Mattor

Thuravoor Panchayat

Piraroor

Mookkannoor

Azhakam

Mangalapuram Sree Subrahmany Swamy Temple

Mangattukara

Kothakulangara

Karayamparambu

Angadikadavu

Palli Angadi

Thurappan Kunnu

Thurappan Kavala

Champannoor

Cheriya Vappalassery

Valiya Vappalassery

Kizhakke Angadi

Nayathode Kavala

Akaparambu

Thekke Kidangoor

Vadakke Kidangoor

Peechanickad

Elavoor

Vattaparambu

Puliyanam

Poothamkutty

Munnurpilly

Manjapra Panchayat

Chulli

Njalukara

Kavaraparambu

Mekkad.

References

2. Angamaly police firing
3. Kaniamparambil, Chor Episcopos V. Rev. Curian, "The Fame of Angamali Church and Holiness of Mor Kurilos" (Malayalam). Ambattu Mor Kurilos Centenary Souvenir (Ankamaly, India: St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church), ( published 1991)
4. Fr. Varghese Pathikulangara CMI (2011). Divine Praises in Aramaic Tradition (PDF). Kottayam: Denha Services. p. 48. ISBN 978-93-81207-02-4.
5. http://angamalybasilica.com/template.php?id=35&page=8&catid=72
6. The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, for History and large number of photos on Angamaly
7. "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
8. http://ghsspuliyanam.org/