Kanakamala

Church at the bottom as seen from Kanakamala hill

Pilgrims at 1st station of cross, start point to climb the hilltop shrine

Kanakamala is a village near Chalakudy town, Thrissur district, Kerala, India, which bears the same name as a hill in the area. There are regular bus services from Chalakudy and Kodakara to this village. The hill is a part western ghats(sahyadri) and it has 3000 feet height at kanakamala.

There is an upper primary aided school which was established in 1940. it includes a govt. homeopathy hospital established in 1980's and was inaugurated by then chief minister. It has a post office pinned 680689.

There is an adoration convent and an Ashram of Akasaparavakal which is a charitable institution aimed at treating orphans.

There is a Roman Catholic church in Kanamala, established in 1943 and dedicated to St Anthony of Padua.^[1] It is a place of pilgrimage during the holy week, particularly on Good Friday. Many pilgrims used to climb the hill as an act of prayer and offering. Most of the hill is covered with forest.Pilgrimage to the hill which has been patronized to st. Thomas the apostle of Jesus came to India in AD 52 was started in 1940 following an insight and vision happened in dream to Rev. fr. Anthappan valiyaveettil then vicar of st. Antony's church perambra. He started the pilgrimage to the hill as he thought that this is the place which he had seen in his dream and did believe that it has significant spiritual importance and st. Thomas would have gone through the hill as it is the nearest hill to Azhikode where the apostle was banked off the ship and praying at hill was a characteristic of Jesus and his disciples. 2014 it reaches 75 years of its pilgrimage and celebrates the platinum jubilee.

As of October 2013 the diocesan website states that the population of the parish of Kanamala is 2250.^[1]

Pilgrims climbing the hill to reach the shrine

References

1. "St Anthony's Church, Kanakamala". Diocese of Irinjalakuda. Retrieved 14 October 2013.