Mannar, Alappuzha

For other uses, see Mannar (disambiguation).

Mannar മാന്നാര്‍
Town
Nickname(s): The Bell Metal Town
Mannar Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°18′0″N 76°32′0″E / 9.30000°N 76.53333°E / 9.30000; 76.53333Coordinates: 9°18′0″N 76°32′0″E / 9.30000°N 76.53333°E / 9.30000; 76.53333
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alappuzha
Government
• Body	Panchayath
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	689622
Vehicle registration	KL-31 or 30
Nearest city	Alappuzha
Lok Sabha constituency	Mavelikkara

Mannar is a small business town in Chengannur Taluk in Alappuzha District of Kerala state, India, on State highway 6. It is also known as the Bell Metal Town.^[1] It is situated on the banks of the Pampa River, Manimala River and Achan kovil river. Mannar is 9 km from Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Haripad and 8 km from Mavelikara. It is connected by four railway stations (Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Harippad and Mavelikara) at a distance of 8 to 9 km each on four sides. Parumala Jn:, Kuttiyil Jn:, Muttel Jn:, Aalum moottil Jn: and Store Jn: are the main junctions in Mannar.

Historical Importance of Mannar

Mannar was the venue for the famous Treaty of Mannar ( Mannar Harmony Deed) signed between Maharaja of Travancore Marthanda Varma and Kayamkulam King in 1742.After this deed Kayamkulam and a major portion of central travancore became the part of Travancore Kingdom.

Industry

Traditional bronze metal industry

Mannar is well known for its bronze industry, as well as other metals. There are hundreds of traditional 'ALA'S'(kilns or furnaces) in Mannar. There are many small-scale manufacturing establishments engaged in this business, employing traditional workers, where prospective buyers can visit, observe the making and then purchase the artifacts produced. the most important household utensil they used to make are kiNNan[ plates for taking foods like kanji and boiled rice.], nilavilakk,uruLi, chempi[ for par boiling pady[ kiNdi[a vessel for taking water for washin hands and feet]. The most famous utensil makers were chinkili achari and kollan neelakantan achari. there was on expert craftman kuraTTiyil neelakantan achaari, who made the minutest gold ornaments]. later industry shifted to manufacturing big size artifacts and Craftsmen from this town created many well known artifacts, such as a Varpu displayed at Delhi Museum, the lamp at Kuravilangad Church, the lamp of Chettikulangara Devi Temple, the bell at Simla Temple, the bell at Cathedral Church New Delhi and a replica of famous tree of life and knowledge. This town is second only to market leader manufacturing city Moradabad. Now almost all things you see in our shops are those brought from Moradabad.

^[2]

Alind Switchgear Division

The Aluminium Industries Limited came into existence, on 2 January 1946, promoted by then Seshasayee Group with its Conductor Division set up in Kundra, Kerala under technical collaboration from the world-renowned ALCAN, Canada, The Aluminium Development Laboratories U.K. and ALCAN S.A., Zurich, Switzerland. Since then, Alind has produced more than a million kilometres of AAC, ACSR and AAAC conductors building the lifelines of power in India and aboard, and hence Alind could rightly call itself "The Power Movers."

  Presently Alind with its Corporate Office in Mumbai has manufacturing units located in the three states of Kerala, Orrisa and Andhra Pradesh manufacturing cables and conductors, steel wires, wire-working machinery, high-voltage switchgears and static relays, Export Division, Consultancy and Engineering Services Division.^[3]

Religious sites

Religious sites in and around Mannar include the famous Panayannar kavu devi temple Panayannar kavu devi temple, Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple , Mannar Juma Masjid, Kurattikkadu Pattambalam Devi Temple, Pattambalam,Eramathoor Mahadeva temple,Eramathoor Pattambalam Devi Temple,Eramathoor Suryadeva Temple, Oorumadom Bhadrakaali Temple, Vishavarsherikkara Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Pothuvoor Bhadrakaali Temple, Viruppil Devi Temple, 553-no SNDP Pavukkara Temple, Edayadi Bhadrkaali Temple, Chakkulathu Kavu Devi Temple, Kunnathoor Devi Temple,Kottarkavu Devi temple,Kurattikkadu Vilayil Mahadeva Temple,72-No.SNDP Kurattikkadu Temple,Kurattikkadu Thevarickal Mahadeva Temple,Memadom Sreekrishnaswami Temple,Kurattikkadu Sree DharamShastha Temple, Kurattikkadu Mutharamman Devi Temple,Kurattikkadu Valiyachan Temple,Kurattikkadu Tevarmannam Temple, Parumala Church, st.Thomas church Pavukkara, st.peters catholic church pavukkara, Valyachan Kavu Muttumpattu, Orthodox church Muttel Jn:.

Panayannarkavu temple is said to be thousands of year old. The ancient Panayannar Kavu devi temple, worshipping "Saptha Matha", is famous for its Sarpa kavu and mural painting drawn on Sricovil. One of these paintings became the cover page for Sri. E.M.S. Nampoothripad's biography (veteran Communist leader and ex-chief minister of Kerala). The annual Vishu Festival attracts many pilgrims.

The Aalthara Ganapathy temple at Kannamkavil Muthaaramman Temple, near Thrikkuratti temple attracts many devotees, in particular motorists. Vinayaga Chathurthy Festival is the major festival celebrated at Aalthara Ganapathy Temple. Manjal Neerattu conducted during Kumbha Bharani festival at Kannamkavil Mutharamman temple is a major attraction for many devotees.

The Eramathoor Soorya temple is believed to centuries old and is known for being one of the three known temples in Kerala dedicated to deity "Surya" (Sun God). The Adithya Ponkala conducted at this temple attracts lots of women devotees from South Kerala.

Thrikkuratti Mahadevar Temple

Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple is one of the 108 sivalays built by Lord Parasurama. It is believed that the mammoth temple compound wall was built by a troupe of Bhootas of Lord Paramasiva in one night. The unique festivities of Thrikkuratti temple (Sahasra kalasam, Maikatti puja and Sivarathri Nritham) attract many pilgrims. The antique wooden carving of Thrikkuratti mahadeva temple Sricovil was featured in visual media, attracting lot of art lovers including foreigners. At a special Nada (gate) on the east side of the Thrikkuratti temple compound wall, other religious members, in particular, Muslims, present offerings on a daily basis. This practice is believed to be centuries old and is considered to be a true embodiment of religious harmony. The Thrikkuratti Mahasivarathri Festival, second only to Aluva Sivarathri in terms of mass congregation, attracts thousands of devotees. The West Nada (Parvathi) will be open for ten minutes during Sivarathri Nritham on Sivarathri day only. All other days during the year it remains closed. The Srikovil of Thrikkuratti Mahavishnu temple is built on North Indian Architecture.

Kurattikadu Pattambalam Devi Temple

Parumala Church

The famous Parumala church or St.Peter's and St.Paul's Church is dedicated to Saint Gregorios of Parumala (Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala), who is also popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. Parumala Church or St.Paul's and St.Peter's Church is located in east Mannar.

Valyachan kavu

Famous Valyachan kavu situated beside muttumpattu road.

Events

Thrikkuratti Mahadeva temple shivarathri is celebrated as the biggest and famous event held in mannar every year.which attracts thousands of devotees.

The Anpoli conducted as part of festival in Devi temples are another attraction and unique one. Among the Anpoli festivals Anpoli Areeppara Mahothsavam of Kurattikkadu Pattambalam Devi Kshethram is the most famous, attracting thousands of devotees on Medam 24th (7 May). Here Bhuvaneswari and Bhadra are worshipped with equal importance. The festival at Pattambalam starts on Medam 10th (23 April) and ends on Medam 25th (8 May). The festival includes several rituals like AttilChattam, Changayilottam, Vithideel which aren't practised anywhere else in the world. Among these AttilChattam attracts Muslim devotees also.

The annual Mahathma Boat Race, conducted during Onam festival season, attracts lot of visitors and water sports lovers including foreigners.

Education

Mannar has well known educational institutions like Dewaswom Board Pampa College, Nair Samajam Higher Secondary School, Nair Samajam Teacher Training Institute,Nair Samajam High Schools (one of the oldest schools in Central Travancore),Sree Bhuvaneswari English Medium School and Good Shepherd School. The Mannar Library at Kuttiyil Junction is a full-fledged library, equipped with lot of reference books. Mannar Nayar Samajam School was started in the year 1903. It was established by the initiative of Vechooreth V S Krishna Pillai who had stated it first in his house with 20 pupils in 1902. Old stalwarts like Puthuppally Krishna Pillai, Kainikara Brothers, Makkappuzha Vasudevan Pillai and many great leaders studied there. K P Krishna Menon was the Second Headmaster of the School, the First being Cherian Sar, father of erstwhile Minister George. Thjer was no discremionation between the high class and harijans for studying in the schools. Fees concessions were also given to the poor students.

Nair Samajam Higher Secondary School

http://www.batchmates.com/institution/instdetails.aspx?instcode=396194

Sree Bhuvaneswari Higher Secondary School

Sree Bhuvaneswari Higher Secondary School, managed by the Kurattikadu Pattambalam Devaswam, was founded in 1974 with LKG classes and has now grown into a cluster of schools comprising the Sree Bhuvaneswari Sisu Vidyalayam: the nursery, Sree Bhuvaneswari English Medium High School, Sree Bhuvaneswari Higher Secondary School and Sree Bhuvaneswari CBSE School.

N.S.H.S. For Boys, Mannar

Nair Samajam High School For Boys, Mannar Panchayat, Mannar, Alleppy Dist. Kerala State Syllabus : STATE Medium : Malayalam class: 5-10

N.S.H.S. For Girls, Mannar

Nair Samajam High School For Girls, Mannar Panchayat, Mannar, Alleppy Dist. Kerala State Syllabus : STATE Medium : Malayalam

M.D.L.P.School, Muttel Junction

Mannar Syrian Lower Primary School, Muttel Junction, Kuttemperoor P.O., Mannar, Alleppy Dist. Kerala Syllabus : STATE Medium : Malayalam

M.D.L.P.School, Pavukkara

Pavukkara PO, Mannar, Alleppy Dist. Kerala Syllabus : STATE Medium : Malayalam

D.B College Parumala Mannar

Government Youth Organisation

National Service Scheme Mannar Unit:470

National Service Scheme 470 unit is situated in Nair Samajam Higher Secondary School Mannar. There are 100 volenteers are in this NSS Unit

Official Website

Government Services

Mannar Grama Panchayat

Government Hospitals

Govt. Ayurveda Hospital

Government HOSPITAL Mannar is a community health near store junction. a faculty of crs doctors and medical officers. has a capacity to look around 342 people per day. it has very good in patient setup with more than 25 beds.

Other notability

The St. Gregorious Cardiovascular Center] of St. Gregorious Hospital , Parumala, is a fully equipped Super Specialty Heart Hospital in rural India. There is a de-addiction centre operating at St. Gregorious hospital center.

There is a municipal bus station recently built near Store Junction which is the heart of Mannar.

References

↑ "Mannar - the bell metal town near Alappuzha Town - Kerala Tourism". keralatourism.org.
↑ Mannaar dEsaperumayute kathha by Dr.K.Balakrishna Pillai
↑ Alind's Switchgear Division