Nilakkal

This article is about a place in pathanamthitta district. For the Church, see Nilackal St.Thomas Church.
Nilakkal
നിലയ്ക്കൽ
நிலக்கல்
village

Mahadeva temple entrance at Nilakkal
Nilakkal

Location in Kerala, India

Coordinates: 9°22′49.43″N 76°59′52.6″E / 9.3803972°N 76.997944°E / 9.3803972; 76.997944Coordinates: 9°22′49.43″N 76°59′52.6″E / 9.3803972°N 76.997944°E / 9.3803972; 76.997944
Country  India
State Kerala
District Pathanamthitta
Population
 • Total unknown
Languages
 • Official Malayalam
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 689662
Area code(s) +91 - 04735
Vehicle registration KL-62, KL-03
Coastline 0 kilometres (0 mi)
Nearest cities Chittar, Angamoozhy
Lok Sabha constituency Pathanamthitta
Climate Tropical monsoon
Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport Limited

Nilakkal (Malayalam: നിലയ്ക്കൽ) is a village located in the Goodrical forest range in the eastern side of Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State.The place comes under the Perunad panchayath of Ranni taluk.The famous temple Sabarimala is situated 23 kilometers North-East to Nilakkal.This place is an important Idathavalam(Place for rest) on the way to Sabarimala.Ayyappa Devotee's takes rest here on their way to Sabarimala.The Travancore devaswom board provides necessary facilities to the devotees who stay at Nilakkal.St.Thomas ecumenical church here is an another notable attraction.The church here is considered to be the first ecumenical church in the world.According to history, St.Thomas an apostle of Jesus visited here and established the church.The church still exists with its antiquitie.

Geography & Location

The place has an average elevation of 17 metres above sea level.Dense reserve forest's and Rubber plantation's covers most of the area around Nilakkal.The area comes under the Goodrical forest range of Ranni forest division.

Nilakkal is located on the Mannarakulanji-Chalakkayam route which is the most important transit to Sabarimala.During Sabarimala pilgrimage, lots of devotee's passes through this route and probably on these days Nilakkal is crowded by devotee's.

Sree Mahadevar temple

Devotee's at Sree Mahadeva temple

The old temple at Nilakkal administrated by Travancore devaswom board, attracts lots of pilgrims. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.Its located just 1 km from the main road.The deity here is believed to be in two moods fierce “Ugramoorthy” and auspicious “Mangala Pradayakan”. It is also believed that Lord Siva is showering blessings to his son Lord Ayyappa to fight against all evil spirit while throwing all anger to the evils. There is only three Prathishtas here, Lord Parameshwaran, Lord Kannimoola Ganapathi and Nandi. There are 3 Poojas here on every day. Special weekly days are Sunday, Monday and Friday.

Nilakkal Base Camp

Devaswom board base camp - Nilakkal

Nilakkal had an important role in the Sabarimala master plan of Travancore devaswom board. To improve the basic infrastructures for the devotee's, and for parking facilities, Government hand overed 110 hectares of land to Devaswom board in 2005.Previously, it was under the possession of the Government-owned State Farming Corporation since 1982.Before 1982 the area was used for cultivating sugarcane by the co-operative Mannam Sugar Mills, Pandalam.The received land was mostly utilized for Parking.

Parking at Nilakkal - 4000 and above vehicles could park in these grounds

At times of Sabarimala season, Heavy and medium vehicles should drop piligrims at Pamba and should park at Nilakkal in order to avoid the traffic at Pamba.The parking ground's at Nilakkal could accommodate more than 4000 vehicles. Devaswom board also improved the drinking water and toilet facilities recently at the base camp. A Nadapanthal was constructed in front of the Mahadeva temple for the pilgrims.Nilakkal transformed into an important Edathavalam during the last few years.


St.Thomas Ecumenical Church

Front view of Ecumenical Church at Nilakkal

Saint Thomas who was an apostle of Jesus Christ established Seven and Half Churches in India and was called as Seven and Half Churches or Ezharappallikal. One of these churches is the St.Thomas Ecumenical Church at Nilackal. This church is an example of the unity of the Christian churches and also of the communal harmony. The church trust proved that unity among the churches can be maintained and at the same time give respect to the sentiments of the faiths of other religions. The main message which the church provides is of love, peace and fraternity. The church was constructed in the year AD 54. This church has the importance that it is the first Ecumenical church in the world and is has been dedicated by all the denominations as an example of heritage by St. Thomas. The Nilackal church is located in the interior part of the Sabarimala hills, while all the other churches built by St. Thomas are near to the coastal areas. Even though there is no historical evidence of the missionary work of St.Thomas in Nilackal, some assumptions of St. Thomas’s establishment of a church in this place is written in old metal plates and other historian writings. Since the old church is in a dilapidated stage, a new church has been constructed in a site not far from it.

Nilakkal Protest

Nilakkal at the time of agitation

The curtain rose on March 29, with the discovery of a cross on the Kerala Farming Corporation's (KFC) private land, just 200 m from the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple. Next day, singing hymns, Father Mathew Anthiyakulam, chief priest of the nearby Pambav Valley church, and two jeep-loads of his followers gathered round the spot where the cross was found. Immediately they erected a thatched shed and daily prayers were started. To the Catholics it was clear that this was the spot where a church-built centuries ago by St Thomas - once existed.

Meanwhile, the Hindus grouped with the Vishal Hindu Sammelan to fight the Catholic demand for a church. At the same time, the crusade for the church was given a thrust by the formation of the Nilakkal Action Council under the auspices of the All Kerala Catholic Congress, led by rubber tycoon M.D. Joseph.

And on May 19, when Karunakaran's government finally granted one hectare of land for a church at Nilakkal, a shocked Hindu community led by the Sammelan called for demonstrations to stop the Government from allowing the controversial church to be built.Fearing further trouble from the RSS which is holding its annual camp at Trivandrum, the Government passed prohibitory orders. In spite of that, the RSS took a route march through the city shouting pro-Hindu slogans.

Over 1,000 RSS people were arrested, although they were later released. In the Nilakkal area there was a heavy police presence. Said a police officer: "Anything can happen. But for us, the RSS volunteers in the temple would have demolished the temporary thatched church."

Attathodu tribal colony

A tribal woman at Attathodu

A remote tribal settlement is situated near to Nilakkal named Attathodu. The tribes here belongs to Malapandaram tribal communities. They suffer a lot from poverty, unemployment, exploitations, inequalities and other diseases which are common in tribal settlements.Many families live in deplorable and poor conditions.They don't even have proper shelters or protections. But the useful schemes of government helps these people in a good manner.

A sign board showing the distance to Sabarimala at Attathodu

There are above 300 tribal families settled in Attathodu.The government L.P school which got started in 2015 here provides the basic education to the Aadhivaasi children.Recently due to efforts of J B Koshy, chairperson of Kerala State Human Rights Commission, Fund for Mid day meal was allotted which is a boon to the 46 aadhivasi children studying here.People here lives by small scale farming and by collecting firewoods.

Agriculture

Rubber-the main plantation crop

Agriculture is the main occupation of people. Most people dependent's up on this sector. Rubber is the most important crop here. The geographical settings of the region is suitable for rubber plantations.More than Rubber, Pepper, Tapioca, etc are cultivated here.The land available for cultivation around Nilakkal is less hence most parts are covered by dense reserve forest.

Climate

A rainy day at Nilakkal - Monsoon normally starts from June to mid November

Climatic conditions here varies according to different seasons.Although, a tropical climate is experienced normally. The place receives sufficient amount of rainfall during the months of June, July, August and September. Humid climate is experienced during the months March and April.The best weather is normally From October to February.Since Nilakkal and its surrounding's are in the middle of thick forest's, thundershowers are common here.

Health

Government Primary health center near Nilakkal parking lot

The nearest hospital to Nilakkal is the Government primary health center started on January 19 2014 by Dr.Prasob enose in Lord Ayyappa's poonkavanam benefiting 350 tribal families in Attathodu colony.

Educational institutions

Important schools:

Nearby Colleges:

Transportation facilities

K.S.R.T.C chain service to Nilakkal from Pamba

During Sabarimala season, K.S.R.T.C buses provides chain service from Pamba to Nilakkal at fair charges for the devotee's.Private buses only passes through Angamoozhy, south to Nilakkal.However, transportation is comparatively less in Nilakkal region after Sabarimala pilgrimage.

Important roads:

Nearby places

Following are some of the important places near to Nilakkal.

References

  1. ↑ http://m.doobigo.com/kerala/Seethathode/Angamoozhy-Gurukulam--UP-School/Njk0NA
  2. ↑ http://in.wowsome.com/school/sav-high-school-in-pathanamthitta-kerala/60467/
  3. ↑ http://www.icbse.com/schools/krpmhss-seethathode/32120802410

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nilakkal.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.