Kanjirappally
Encyclopedia
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam
district, in the state of Kerala
, India
. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians
.
The 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 Nilakkal or Chayal on the banks of river Pamba. There is also a strong belief that the flourishing Christian community here was founded by St. Thomas the Apostle
himself. The place was in the forest recesses far away from seats of power. Nilakkal became an important depot for spices like pepper, cardamom etc. and the Christians were engaged in this lucrative trade as procures and sorters. The oldest church of the Christians in Kanjirappally, namely, "Pazhayapally" (meaning Old Church) in the name of St. Mary, was built in 1449, fifty years before Vasco de Gama set foot in India.
Kanjirappally has a good Muslim
population as well. The majority of Muslims are migrated from Tamil Nadu, especially through the eastern High Ranges to towns closer to high ranges. A number of mosques can be found of which Nainar Masjid or Valiya Pally is the biggest.
There are also a large number of Tamil Vellalars here. A beautiful temple, Ganapathiyaar Kovil, built with granite stands as a testimony to the early Tamil
influence in religion and culture. There are also indications that Tamil rulers of Kanjirappally levied tax on live stock or Pothimadu to supplement income to another temple avathi Shri Madura Meenakshi. Hindus were prominent in ancient times.
-Kumily
Road) and the Main Eastern Highway
(Muvattupuzha
-Pathanamthitta
-Punalur
Road) connects Kanjirappally to other major towns.
. Previously it was part of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency)
.
Petta Junction is the main city in kanjirappally.
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district, in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...
.
The 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 Nilakkal or Chayal on the banks of river Pamba. There is also a strong belief that the flourishing Christian community here was founded by St. Thomas the Apostle
St. Thomas the Apostle
Saint Thomas the Apostle was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.It may also refer to:-Places:*St. Thomas the Apostle , a large civil parish in Devon, England*St Thomas the Apostle Rural, a civil parish in east Cornwall, United Kingdom-Other:...
himself. The place was in the forest recesses far away from seats of power. Nilakkal became an important depot for spices like pepper, cardamom etc. and the Christians were engaged in this lucrative trade as procures and sorters. The oldest church of the Christians in Kanjirappally, namely, "Pazhayapally" (meaning Old Church) in the name of St. Mary, was built in 1449, fifty years before Vasco de Gama set foot in India.
Kanjirappally has a good Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
population as well. The majority of Muslims are migrated from Tamil Nadu, especially through the eastern High Ranges to towns closer to high ranges. A number of mosques can be found of which Nainar Masjid or Valiya Pally is the biggest.
There are also a large number of Tamil Vellalars here. A beautiful temple, Ganapathiyaar Kovil, built with granite stands as a testimony to the early Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
influence in religion and culture. There are also indications that Tamil rulers of Kanjirappally levied tax on live stock or Pothimadu to supplement income to another temple avathi Shri Madura Meenakshi. Hindus were prominent in ancient times.
Location
The K. K. Road (KottayamKottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
-Kumily
Kumily
Kumily is a town in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District of Kerala State in South India. It is a major tourist destination and a spices trading center....
Road) and the Main Eastern Highway
Main Eastern Highway
The Main Eastern Highway is the life line of the high range townships of the Travancore region of Kerala state, India. It is also known as Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Thodupuzha-Muvattupuzha Highway. Main Eastern Highway is categorized as State Highway - 08 of Kerala. It is the second longest State...
(Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
-Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
-Punalur
Punalur
Punalur is a city situvated near the Tamil Nadu Kerala Border in Kollam district in the southern state of Kerala, India. It is the pioneer in starting industrial revolution in Kerala by establishing Punalur Paper Mills, the first industry in kerala. It is situated in the banks of the river Kallada...
Road) connects Kanjirappally to other major towns.
Politics
Kanjirappally assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency)Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency)
Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is a newly formed constituency in the Central Travancore region of Kerala for the election of a member of the Lok Sabha...
. Previously it was part of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency)
Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency was composed of the following assembly segments:#Kunnathunad#Piravom#Muvattupuzha#Kothamangalam#Kanjirappally#Poonjar#Palai-Members of Parliament:*1952: P. T...
.
Petta Junction is the main city in kanjirappally.
St. Dominic's College
St. Dominic's College was started in 1965 under the management of St. Dominic's Forane Church, Kanjirappally. Kuriakose Anekatt was the first Principal. St. Dominic's College was the first institution which made higher education possible in Kanjirappally. The college is situated in Parathode Panchayathu. The Madona Institute of Electronics is another technical institution started by St. Dominic's Church in 1977. It was handed over to the Vincentian Congregation free of cost in 1983. The other colleges of repute are the Amal Jyothi College of Engg., Koovapally, located 8 km from Kanjirappally & the St.Antony's College, located in the heart of the town.Archbishop Kavukatt Jubilee Memorial School
A K J M English Medium High School was started by the Jesuits on 7 August 1961. The name of the school enshrines the memory of the late illustrious Archbishop, Mar Mathew Kavukatt. The school is based on the Jesuit system of education with its five centuries of educational tradition, development and practice. The essential aspects of Jesuit education quoted below are based on the Characteristics of Jesuit Education, the document by the international commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education (ICAGE) and presented by Very Rev. Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach S.J, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, on 8 December 1986.Other noted schools
- St. Mary's School
- St. Dominic's School
- St. Joseph's public school and junior college, Kunnumbhagam
- St Antony's Public School and Junior College,Anakkal
- Mumtaz Memorial MYCA School
- Alfeen Public School, Podimattom
- St. Mary's Higher Secondary School