Puthuppally, Kottayam

Puthuppally പുതുപ്പള്ളി
town
Puthuppally Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Government
• Body	Panchayat
Population
• Total	29,774
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	686011
Telephone code	91-481-235
Vehicle registration	KL- 05
Nearest city	Kottayam
Lok Sabha constituency	Kottayam
Civic agency	Panchayat
Climate	http://kottayam.nic.in/profile/climate.htm (Köppen)
Website	kottayam.nic.in

Puthuppally is a town in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India, which is situated 8 km south of Kottayam city. It is encircled by rivers, paddy fields and hills, with a population of over 30,000 people of various caste and creeds. It is surrounded by various Karas (principalities) such as Kadamuri, Erikadu, Anchery, Thottakad, Vennimala, Manganam, Eravinallore and Thrukothamangalam. The town is home to many NRI families, most of whom work in the Middle East, some dating as far back as the 1970s. Many people, mostly educated have migrated to other cities of India and abroad over the years.

The town is known for its temple, churches, socio-political and cultural activities.

The most famous of its many churches is the St. George Orthodox Church, of the Malankara Orthodox Church. Built around the seventeenth century, this church is popularly known as Puthuppally Pally, or as Puthuppally Vailiyapally. It is situated on the western and eastern banks of the Kodoor River, about a kilometre away from the main junction of Puthuppally town. The surroundings of church are panoramic with vast paddy fields and hills. A new road linking this church to Paloorpadi, Manganam is open and is a short cut to Kottayam, but not for heavy vehicles. A pilgrim amenity center and a boat jetty for service to Muhamma under Kodoor river beautification project is under planning

Among the many temples in Puthupally is the PuthiyaTrikkovil Shiva temple, which is one of the oldest Shiva temples of South India. Known for celebrating Lord Shiva in the Kirata (Hunter) form, it is one of the few temples that has a Jaladhara Prathista.

Also famous is the Vennimala Sree Rama Lakshmana Perumal temple, which is one of the oldest Rama temples in South India. This temple situated in 4th ward in Puthuppally.

Weather

In general, Puthuppally has a hot humid climate. This town experiences summer during the April-May season, when the temperature goes up to 37 °C. The monsoon season lasts from Juney to August, followed by a light winter during December-January, where temperatures drop down to 28 °C, especially at night and dawn. The weather here can change unexpectedly.

Cultural

• Shadkala Govinda Marar, a famous musician, lived here Vennimala. Vennimala was a major cultural centre during the rule of Venad Kings.
• Puthuppally Hindu Mahasammelan (Started in 1996)A Hindu convention with a structure similar to the Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha Parishad. It is conducted every year during the summer vacation
• Puthuppally Ecumenical Fellowship celebrates Christmas every year at the Govt. Boys High School/Higher Secondary Ground, from 1982 onwards. This event is a social gathering of all kinds of people of the place.

Agriculture

Paddy cultivation is the livelihood of most of the farmers in this region. The presence of apt amount of rain in this region is the reason for paddy cultivation. In most of the houses, hens and cows are grown. Rubber cultivation is another main cultivation.Rubber Board of India in Puthuppally accounts for the higher density of rubber cultivation in this area.

Politics

'The Puthuppally Firing' (Puthuppally Vediveyppu) during the Indian Freedom Struggle is one of the important historical events related to this place. One person got martyred in the Firing. In a late afternoon a youth named Maveli Kochu was on his way to the native ball playground unaware of the happenings. A stray bullet hit him in his navel and he died on the spot.

Puthupally is the stronghold of INC.

Puthuppally assembly constituency is part of Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency). The Chief Minister of Kerala Sri Oommen Chandy, is representing the Puthuppally Legislative Constituency since 1970

Sports

Puthuppally is famous for the native ball play. A ball which is made of leather is used. It is generally referred to as Naadan panthu kali or tukal panthu Kali. Kerala Native Ball Association's office is located in Puthuppally. This traditional game is facing a slow death as the new generation not finding it very attractive. Usually the game is played on leveled grounds and non availability of play grounds also accounts for the so-called slow death.

Naadan Panthu kali competition was last held at Puthuppally during February 2014.

The playground opposite to the Gov. Boys School on the 'High School Road' is one of the biggest grounds in Puthuppally. Games including Cricket, Football, Native ball play, etc. are being played here.

Religion

Puthuppally have mainly 2 religions- Christianity and Hinduism. St.Georges Church Puthuppally, or more known as "Puthuppally Pally " is famous all around Kerala. The Feast of this church last with 7 days of celebrations. The main fest is on 5, 6 and 7 of May with a shaking of this small town with crackers. The Sree Narayana Guru Temple is one of the main Temples in Puthuppally with a school associated to its name. St. Antonys, Poommottom Church or "Poomotton Pally"s main fest that is last Saturday and Sunday of January is a main fest all over the Central Puthuppally. Majority of population are Christians.

Schools

• Don Bosco English Higher Secondary School and C.B.S.E School
• ABOA public school
• LP School Thalappady
• Govt. Boys High School
• St. George Girls High School
• Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science, Payyappaddy
• Nursing College, Thalappady
• V.J.O.M UP School, Near Siva temple
• Kairaly Nursery School
• Alfa School of Fine Arts
• Georgian Public School
• ST. Thomas High School Thottackad
• ST. Mary's Public School Puthuppally
• Sree Narayana central school, Puthuppally
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Rubber Board, Puthupally
• Darsana CMI ICSE School, Poomottom

Colleges

• College of Applied Science, Payyappaddy
• Gurudeva Institute of Science And Technology(GISAT) Payyappaddy

Seminaries

• IPC Kottayam Theological Seminary

Notable People

• V J Joseph – Ghandian and ecumenist
• Dr.E C G Sudarshan – Scientist ( Quantum Optics)
• Oommen Chandy – Current Chief Minister of Kerala, India.
• M Ipe – Scholar and Author
• V J Oommen – Ex M.L.C (Member of the Travancore Legislative Council)
• Vettom Mani – Scholar / Author on Indian Puranas
• C J Roy – Former Vice Chancellor
• C I Itty – World Council of Churches

Hospitals

• Govt. Hospital Thottakad
• Paret Mar Ivanios Hospital
• Mar Gregorius Memorial Charitable Clinic - Nilackal Orthodox Church Puthuppally. (Free checkup and Medicines for Poor people)
• Mandiram Hospital

Theaters/Entertainment/Culture

• Madhyavarjana Prasthanam (Alcoholic Anonymous) have a strong base in Puthuppally.
• Y M C A Library & Reading Room is the library in the locality. Its at Kanjirathummoodu.

Temples in Puthuppally

• Kadamuri Narasimhaswamy temple(Kadamuri near njaliakuzhi)
• Vennimala Shrirama-Lakshmana Temple (Vennimala, near Payyapaadi)
• Malakunnam Dharmasastha Temple
• Kaalarikal Temple
• Trikkayil Temple
• Manganam Narasimhaswaamy Temple
• Sree Narayana Guru Temple

Churches in Puthuppally

• Puthuppally Pally St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally
• St. Pauls Horeb Marthoma Church Puthuppally
• Nilackal Orthodox Syrian Church
• St.Thomas Orthodox Church Vellukutta, Payyappady
• Pariyaram Mar Aprem Orthodox Syrian Church, Thottakad
• St. Peter's Orthodox Syrian Church Pariyaram
• St. Gregorius Orthodox Syrian Church, Kumarankode
• St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church Chackanchira Pariyaram
• St. James Orthodox Syrian Church Thrikothamangalam Puthuppally
• St. Mary's Marthoma church Rubber Board
• Church of God in India (Full Gospel) Main Church Mandiram Kalungu
• Nazareth Marthoma Church Thalappady
• St. George Patriarcheal Church Iravinalur, Puthuppally
• St. James C.S.I Church Ericadu
• Saint Paul's (Horeb) Marthoma Church, Puthuppally
• The Pentecostal Mission
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Eben-Ezer Church (Othera Church)
• Assemblies of God Church (Near Kannukuzhy Bridge)
• St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian church, Ericadu
• Agape Church of God Full Gospel Church, Thachukunnu
• Tabore Worship Centre Puthuppally
• Brethren Assembly, Parakkunnelpadi, Puthuppally
• St. Antony's Church Poomottom, Puthuppally

Banks

• State Bank of Travancore (With ATM)
• Village Co-opt Bank
• Adhyapaka Co-Opt Bank
• Federal Bank of India(With ATM)
• Urban Bank
• Axis Bank (ATM only)
• South Indian Bank (With ATM)
• Indian Overseas Bank (with ATM)
• Canara Bank, Vettathukavala (With ATM)

External links

• Official Puthuppally Pally Website
• Population as per 2001 Census
• Kairaly Nursery School
• IPC Kottayam Theological Seminary Website