Kanjirappally

Kanjirappally
കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളി
The Door of Highrange
Town

A Rainy Morning in Kanjirappally Town.
Kanjirappally
Coordinates: 9°33′0″N 76°47′0″E / 9.55000°N 76.78333°E / 9.55000; 76.78333Coordinates: 9°33′0″N 76°47′0″E / 9.55000°N 76.78333°E / 9.55000; 76.78333
Country  India
State Kerala
District Kottayam
Population (2012)
 • Total 27,127
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 686507 (Kanjirappally Head Post Office)
Telephone code 04828
Vehicle registration KL-34(Kanjirappally) or KL-05(Kottayam)
Coastline 0 kilometres (0 mi)
Nearest city Kottayam, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Changanassery, Pala
Lok Sabha constituency Pathanamthitta (Kanjirappally Niyamasabha Mandalam)
Climate Tropical monsoon (Köppen)
Avg. summer temperature 35 °C (95 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 18 °C (64 °F)
Website www.kanjirappaly.com

Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district situated about 38 kilometres away from the district capital, in the state of Kerala, India. National Highway (old NH 220 Kollam - Theni now NH 183) connects Kanjirapally to major nearest cities. Kanjirappally, also known as the Door of Highrange since it is the geographic entrance to the 'Malanad' or the Hill country of Kerala, which extends to Idukki district and then to Tamil Nadu.

Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians. The Christians of Kanjirapally are known to be the earliest agrarian group in Kerala to have switched to plantation agriculture by the beginning of the 20th century. The place is therefore home to many legendary Syrian Christian families of Kerala, who owe their affluence to plantation agriculture, particularly Rubber. Since the early 1980s, Kanjirapally has won a special place in the hearts of Keralites, through scores of Malayalam movies that depict the region as a pocket of Christian affluence. The term 'Achayan', which is colloquially used among the Nasranis of Central Travancore, has always been synonymous with Kanjirapally.

The Syrian Christian colonization of Kanjirappally had a profound impact on the history of commerce and agriculture in these parts. The Christians claim their roots from early settlements at Nilackal or Chayal on the banks of Pamba River, in the Sabarimala Hills of eastern Kerala. There is also a strong belief that the flourishing Christian community here was founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle himself. The place was in the forest recesses far away from seats of power. Nilackal became an important depot for spices like pepper, cardamom etc. and the Christians were engaged in this lucrative trade as procures and sorters. Following a catastrophic event in the mid 14th century, the Christian inhabitants of Nilackal fled the region, a large section of whom migrated to the present day Kanjirapally, which is 30 miles Northwest of the ancient town. The direct descendants of these settlers constructed the Pazhayapally (meaning the 'Old Church') in the middle of the town. Following the agrarian expansion of the 19th century, the Syrian Christians spread to places around Kanjirapally, such as Manimala, Ponkunnam, Erumely, Mundakayam and their surrounding regions, clearing forests and setting up farms.

Kanjirapally boasts the highest number of rainy days per year in India, that is 163. The place receives the highest amount of Summer rains, Winter rains and Northeast Monsoons (Thulaam Mazha) in Kerala, making it one of the very few places in India enjoying equatorial rainforest type climate, with no distinct dry season. The well distributed rainfall pattern of Kanjirapally is the primary reason for the phenomenon of high yield of latex from Rubber plantations in and around the town. The average annual rainfall is 4156 mm. [1]

Religion

Kanjirappally bishop Mar Mathew Arackal with Fr. Prasant Payyappilly Palakkappilly and other priests at the tomb of Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly

Kanjirappally is an old town that boasts of its religious harmony. The population in the town area is a mixture of Syrian Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. However, the Syrian Christians constitute the vast majority in the interior regions of Kanjirapally, where agriculture thrives. They also make up the dominant socio-economic community of the region.

Location, distance, transportation

The K. K. Road (NH 183: Kollam-Theni) (Kottayam-Kumily Road) connects Kanjirapally to major nearest cities like Mundakkayam (16 km), Kottayam (38 km), Kuttikkanam (34 km), Kumily (72 km) and Ponkunnam (5 km).

Pamba - Chemmalamattam - Erattupetta - Neriyamangalam (SH44) connects Kanjirapally to Sabarimala (65 km), Erumely (15 km), Pamba (60 km), Erattupetta (16 km) and Thodupuzha (46 km).

Main Eastern Highway (Muvattupuzha-Manimala - Pathanamthitta-Punalur Road) connects Kanjirappally to other major towns.

Kanjirappally-Manimala (12 km) road connects Changanassery easily. Chenappady (8 km) connects Ranni (26 km).

A link road that connects Pala (26 km) directly from Kanjirappally through Thambalakkadu (3 km).

The nearest international airport is Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery, the nearest railway station is in Kottayam and Changanassery and the nearest KSRTC bus station is in Ponkunnam. The nearest Medical College is at Kottayam. A railway station is expected to be built at Kanjirappally as a part of Angamaly-Sabarimala rail route in future.

Junctions

Petta Junction, Kurisungal Junction, Puthanangadi Junction, Bus Stand Junction,Mannarakayam Junction, Poothakkuzhy Junction, 26th Mile Junction, Kunnumbhagom Junction, Kovilkkadavu, Rani Hospital Junction are the major junctions in Kanjirappally.

City roads

Puthanangadi road connects Kadamappuzha Hospital Kanjirappally and St . Dominic's Cathedral Kanjirappally. Kokkappally road(TVS Road) connects Akkarappally. Chacko Mukadans road connects Hotel Hilltop Kanjirappally and Police Station Kanjirappally. KMA Hall road, Myca road connects Nainar Juma Masjid. T.B road connects Mannarakkayam with Kunnumbhagom Junction through P.W.D Rest House and St. Joseph Public School. A bypass road connects Kurisungal Junction to Petta Junction. Thampalakadu road connects St . Dominic's Cathedral Kanjirappally and Kurisinkal Junction.

Politics, administration offices

Kanjirappally mini civil station

Kanjirappally assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency). Previously it was part of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). Most of the local administration offices like PWD, Railway Reservation Counter, Employment Exchange, Taluk offices etc. are now located in the recently constructed Mini Civil Station.

Munsif Court, 1st class Magistrate Court, 2nd class Magistrate Court are in Court Complex, Court Junction ponkunnam which is 4 kilometers away from the town.

Kerala State Electricity Board in Kanjirappally is at Puthanangadi Junction near St. Dominic's Higher Secondary School Kanjirappally.

Kanjirappally Grama Panchayat offices and Kanjirappally Grama Panchayat Town Hall are at Kurisungal Junction. Kanjirappally Block Panchayat offices are at Mannarakkayam (Koovappally road).

Kerala State Highway Board, Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe development offices are at Chacko Mukadans road.

Kerala State Housing Board Colony is near Kanjirappally Town Hall. Kanjirappally Taluk Supply office is at Kurisungal Junction.

B.S.N.L Telecommunications Head office is near Grand Opera Theatre in Kanjirappally. B.S.N.L Customer care service centre in Kanjirappally is near Mini Civil Station.

Kanjirappally Head Post Office and Kanjirappally Police Station are at Kurisungal Junction. Kanjirappally Fire Station is at Rani Hospital Junction.

Educational Offices, D.E.O & A.E.O Offices are at Ponkunnam near Bus Stand. R.T.O Office is at Attickal, Ponkunnam.

P.W.D Rest House is in T.B Road near Kunnumbhagom Junction and Kanjirappally Village Office is at Thambalakkadu road.

Famous personalities

Accamma Cherian

Accamma Cherian was a freedom fighter from the erstwhile Travancore (Kerala), India. She was popularly known as the Jhansi Rani of Travancore, a name given to her by Mahatma Gandhi, on hearing of her courage and boldness. She was born on 14 February 1909 in a prominent Nasrani family at Kanjirapally, Travancore, as the oldest daughter of Thomman Cherian and Annamma Karippaparambil. She was educated at Government Girls High School, Kanjirapally and St. Joseph's High School, Changanacherry. She earned a B.A. in History from St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam. After completing her education in 1931, she worked as a teacher at St. Mary's English Medium School, Kanjirapally), where she later became head mistress. She worked in this institution for about six years, and during this period she also did her L. T. degree from Trivandrum Training College. Her husband V. V. Varkey Mannamplackal, Chirakkadavu. served as an MLA in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1952–54. Accamma Cherian died on May 5, 1982. A statue was erected in her memory in Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram. A documentary film was made on her life by Sreebala K. Menon.

K. J. Thomas Karippaparampil

was a freedom fighter who started the branch of State Congress in Kanjirapally and surrounding villages. He brought in several members of his immediate family and friends including Rosamma Punnoose, later a Communist MLA, her husband P. T. Punnoose and Communist M P. While Accamma Cherian after her heroic confrontation with the Diwan's police chief was nominated as the first MLA in the free Travancore State, K. J.Thomas was the first elected member. He fought a tough close battle to defeat the congress candidate. His term lasted two years, as the assembly was dissolved. In the next election his nephew and protege defeated him, running as Congress Candidate and him as a Praja Socialist at the request of venerable Pattom Thanu Pillai the father of Modern Kerala, and his mentor. K. J. Thomas also established a great Vayanashala for the city he grew up in and love, with the help of many friends and relatives. He donated this library to the Panchayat when he retired from politics. He was the top leader of the Congress party and is a much respected and popular speaker. His reading room conducted annual cultural and sports events that were famous. He died in December 1994. His 100 birth anniversary was celebrated by the officers of his second library and at Mannarkad on Onam day 2013. Sree Sivadasa Menon (a former minister) presided.

P. T. Chacko

P. T. Chacko Pullolickal was a prominent politician of Travancore and later Kerala. He was the first Leader of Opposition of the newly formed state of Kerala. He was also the Home Minister of Kerala holding the additional portfolios of Revenue and Law during the period 1960-64.[2]

Babu Antony

Babu antony is an Indian film actor. Working primarily in Malayalam cinema, Babu has also acted in other Indian languages films such as Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. He made his debut in Bharathan's Chilampu (1986). He started his career doing antagonist roles but has also played the lead rolein few films. He made a mark in Malayalam cinema through Fazil's 1986 thriller Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal. The film was remade into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi and Babu Antony reprised his role in all the five versions. His career highlights includeVaishali (1988), Aparhnnam (1991), and Uppukandam Brothers (1993). According to reports, Babu is all set for his directorial debut in Piano.[1]

Hospitals, banks, shops

Hospitals

Banks

ATM 1: Near to Bank. ATM 2: Petrol Pumb.

ATM: Near to Bank.

ATM: Near to Bank.

ATM: Petta Junction Kanjirappally.

ATM: Opposite of South Indian Bank Kanjirappally.

Evening and Morning Branch at Kurisungal Junction Kanjirappally.

Education

Engineering colleges

Arts and science colleges

Entertainment

Theatres

Stadiums, playgrounds

Hotels, restaurants

Tourist homes

Auditoriums, halls

References

  1. ↑ Kumar, PK Pradeep. Physiographic Features and Changes in the rainfall pattern of Kerala. Physical Oceanography and meteorology division.
  2. ↑ "General Info > Council of Ministers since 1957 > Second Kerala Legislative Assembly". Kerala Legislature. Retrieved 2010-05-31.

External links

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