111-499: Alappuzha district ( Malayalam: [ɐːlɐpːuɻɐ] ), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala . It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to Alappuzha in 1990. Alappuzha is the smallest district of Kerala. Alleppey town, the district headquarters, was renamed Alappuzha in 2012. A town with canals , backwaters , beaches , and lagoons , Alappuzha
222-593: A Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadran , a scholar of Chengannur , enables us to know many pertinent facts. Further, the temple on Lord Ayyappan , in Mukkal vattam near Muhamma in Alappuzha District, is called Cheerappanchira , for the Kalari from which Lord Ayyappa learnt his martial arts. A recent album by P. Unni Krishnan on Lord Ayyappa, titled 'Sabarimalai Va Charanam Solli Va', has songs illustrating
333-466: A huge quantity of fishes and prawns on the Alappuzha coast called ‘[Chakara]’. This annual shifting of sandbank appears during the post-monsoon period and contributes to the local economy and is a festive season for the people of Kerala. The annual floods rejuvenate and cleanse the soil and water due to which there is abundance of marine life like prawns, lobsters , fishes, turtles and other flora in
444-457: A lot of backwaters and canals makes water transport a popular means of transport. National Waterway-3 passes through Alappuzha. There is a SWTD boat jetty in the city that lies opposite to the KSRTC bus stand. It is served by boat services to Kottayam city and besides other small towns and jetties. Availing an SWTD boat is a cheaper alternative to houseboats for visiting tourists. Alappuzha
555-539: A major source of revenue. This is mainly due to the presence of houseboats that provide the tourists with a view of the scenic backwaters of the town. Another reason is the proximity to other tourist spots like Munnar , Varkala and Wayanad . Furthermore, as per the Tourist Statistics by Kerala Tourism, there is a 74.55% increase in tourists arriving in Alleppey between 2021 and 2020 while the average for
666-415: A mayor, oversees the municipal affairs. The other administrative subdivision is " blocks ", which is co-terminus with the block panchayats area. Th CD blocks are established for the purpose of rural development , aligning with the boundaries of the block panchayat . Each CD Block encompasses several gram panchayats within its limit. A block is administered by a Block Development Officer (BDO), appointed by
777-549: A prominent role in the freedom struggle of Travancore . The campaign for the eradication of Untouchability was organized much earlier in this district by T.K. Madhavan , a journalist and in 1925 the approach roads to the temples, especially to the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple , were thrown open to the Hindus of all castes. The district also witnessed the 'Nivarthana' movement which
888-470: A role as one of the primary access points for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race during the festival of Onam . Alappuzha is also a hub for coir manufacturing, and has a thriving coir industry. Carved out of the erstwhile Kottayam and Kollam districts, Alappuzha district was formed on 17 August 1957 and consisted initially of seven taluks , namely Cherthala , Ambalappuzha , Kuttanad , Chengannur , Karthikappally and Mavelikkara . The district
999-519: A separate administrative unit on 1 August 1957. Raja Kesavadas , the Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma in 18th century was well known for his planning skills and administrative acumen. He was the master mind in developing the Alappuzha town. He found Alappuzha as an ideal location and constructing a well planned port city in Travancore . Alappuzha
1110-519: Is a city and municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala , India . It is the district headquarters of the district, and is located about 130 km (80.8 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram . As per the 2011 Indian census , Alappuzha has a population of 240,991 people, and a population density of 3,675/km (9,520/sq mi). Alappuzha dates back to the Sangam era , and
1221-541: Is a state Highway that starts in Kalarcode , Alappuzha and ends in Perunna , Changanassery . The road is popularly known as AC road (Alappuzha Changanassery) road and it has 24.2 km length. It's an important busy road which connects Alappuzha city with Kottayam district . State Highway 40 (Kerala) is an interstate state highway in Alappuzha district which connects with Alappuzha town to Madurai , Tamil Nadu . It's
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#17327718727661332-485: Is a toponym. ‘Ᾱlayam’ means ‘home’ and ‘puzha’, according to Dr. Herman Gundert's dictionary, means ‘watercourse’ or ‘river’. The name refers to the network of waterways and backwaters in Alappuzha and its surrounding areas. The district is bounded on the north by Kochi and Kanayannur taluks of Ernakulam district, on the east by Vaikom , Kottayam and Changanassery taluks of Kottayam district and Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks of Pathanamthitta district, on
1443-717: Is administered by a District Collector , who is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of Kerala cadre, and is appointed by the State Government of Kerala . The headquarters of the district administration is known as the Collectorate . The District Collector serves as the head of revenue administration in the district and also functions as the District Magistrate responsible for maintaining law and order within
1554-473: Is also known for its coir factories, as most of Kerala's coir industries are situated in and around the Alappuzha town. The Vembanad lake , which lies below the sea level, is the longest lake in the Indian peninsula , and the district of Alappuzha lies between this lake and the Arabian Sea . Kuttanad region of the Alappuzha district, which lies below the sea level, is the point of least elevation in
1665-473: Is an interstate highway in Alappuzha district which connects Alappuzha town with Madurai in Tamil Nadu . It is the only interstate highway in Alappuzha district. State Highway 66 originates from Alappuzha town and terminates at Thoppumpady . There are two bus terminals are situated in Alappuzha town, one for KSRTC buses (situated near state water transport corporation headquarters, boat jetty road) and
1776-848: Is another State Highway that starts in Kayamkulam and ends at Pulimukku junction. The highway is 42.5 km long. State Highway 6 (Kerala) starts in Kayamkulam and ends in Thiruvalla . This highway has 30.8 km length. State Highway 10 (Kerala) is a State Highway that starts in Mavelikkara and ends in Kozhencherry. The highway is 28.7 km long. State Highway 12 (Kerala) that starts in Ambalappuzha and ends in Thiruvalla and has 27.2 km length. Following are
1887-467: Is assisted by an additional district magistrate and deputy collectors. The districts are divided into revenue divisions which comprises several taluks under its jurisdiction. Taluks comprises several revenue villages . A revenue division is headed by a Revenue Divisional Officer / Sub Collector , and taluk is headed by a Tehsildar . The Tahsildar is assisted in each revenue village by village officers and village assistants. Village offices functions as
1998-476: Is believed to be one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas the Apostle , one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ according to the oral traditions. The picturesque CSI Christ Church in Alappuzha town was built in 1816 by the first CMS ( Church Missionary Society ) missionary to India, Rev. Thomas Norton. It was the first Anglican Church to be established in the erstwhile state of Travancore . It
2109-561: Is bounded on the north by Kochi and Kanayannur taluks of Ernakulam district, on the east by Vaikom , Kottayam and Changanassery taluks of Kottayam district and Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks of Pathanamthitta district, on the South by Kunnathur and Karunagappally taluks of Kollam district and on the west by Laccadive Sea. The present Alappuzha district comprises six taluks, namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara. The area of
2220-425: Is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate six Taluks within them. Alappuzha district is divided into 93 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration. They are further incorporated into 6 taluks as eludicated below. List of Collectors of Alappuzha District according to length of tenure in descending order. The longest serving District Collector of Alappuzha
2331-466: Is flanked by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake , where six major rivers spread out before joining the 80 km coast line of the district. The city of Alappuzha is crisscrossed by a system of canals , which is a part of the National Waterway 3 . The district is a sandy strip of land intercepted by lagoons, rivers and canals. There are no mountains or hills in
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#17327718727662442-418: Is linked by Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line and connects to cities like Trivandrum, Kollam, Cochin, Coimbatore , Chennai , Delhi , Bokaro and Mumbai . The railway station is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the heart of the city. A total of four trains originate from Alappuzha to cities like Kannur , Chennai , Dhanbad and Tatanagar . There are a lot of local trains running throughout
2553-409: Is mentioned as Baris in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues. There are archaeological evidences of the early period of this district, including ancient fossils, stone inscriptions and monuments, in the archeological sites like the excavation sites, the caves, the temples, etc. The literary works of the Sangam period also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district. Alappuzha district
2664-661: Is noted for its small area, while Malappuram district stands out as the most populous in Kerala. Wayanad , Idukki , and Kasargod are the least populated districts in the state. Ernakulam district stands out as the most urbanized in Kerala, housing a municipal corporation and 11 municipalities, with 68.07% of its population residing in urban areas. Thiruvananthapuram has the highest population density at 1509 persons per sq.km, followed closely by Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts. Alappuzha Alappuzha ( Malayalam: [aːlɐpːuɻɐ] ), formerly known as Alleppey ,
2775-576: Is predominantly Hindus , and there are sizeable numbers of Christians and Muslims . The most widely spoken language is Malayalam , although many people speak Konkani . The standard dialect of Malayalam spoken is Central Travancore dialect. Konkani is a language that is spoken in the Konkan region. During the Portuguese and Dutch invasions of the 16th and 18th centuries, many Konkanis migrated southwards to Thuravoor , Cherthala and Alappuzha in
2886-509: The 2011 Assembly elections . They are Aroor , Cherthala , Alappuzha, Kuttanad , Haripad , Kayamkulam , Mavelikkara and Chengannur . Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara . There are schools, computer institutes and colleges all over the district, with nine training schools, 405 lower primary schools, 105 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools. The first school in Alappuzha,
2997-589: The Alappuzha Bypass , to route the national highway around city centers between Kommady and Kalarkode , is completed; and the highway was opened on 28 January 2021. Alappuzha is also well connected by road. There is a plan to upgrade State Highway 11 (Kerala) to national highway status which helps to connect Alappuzha to Kodaikanal as part of promoting coastal-hill tourism project. There are eight state highways in Alappuzha district and three of them originates from Alappuzha town. State Highway 11 (Kerala)
3108-722: The Church Missionary Society (CMS) School, was established in 1816. The school was established by the Rev. Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary to India. The school is run by the CSI Christ Church, Alappuzha. The first higher secondary school in Alappuzha was the Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School, which was opened on 1 June 1889 by Portuguese Bishop John Gomes Pereira of Cochin . The first polytechnic college in Alappuzha
3219-573: The Dutch gained a predominant position in the principalities of this district. They built many factories and warehouses for storing pepper and ginger , relying on several treaties signed between the Dutch and the Rajas of Purakkad , Kayamkulam and Karappuram. In course of time they also delved into the political and cultural affairs of the district. At that time Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1706–1758), who
3330-599: The Madras state . The States Reorganisation Act of 1 November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood through the unification of Malayalam -speaking territories in the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. The state comprises three parts – the Northern Kerala districts of Kasaragod , Kannur , Wayanad , Kozhikode , Malappuram ; the Central Kerala districts of Palakkad , Thrissur , Ernakulam , Idukki ; and
3441-700: The Manimala , the Pamba , and the Achankovil ; their branches and tributaries flow through Alappuzha and empty into the Vembanad lake. The most important lake is Vembanad . Alappuzha was the only district in Kerala without public forest land. But that changed in 2013, when 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) of land at Veeyapuram was declared as reserved forest by the Forest and Wildlife Department. Pathiramanal island on
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3552-579: The "kingdom of Kayamkulam " or known by the name "Onattukara"), which was later invaded by the Travancorean forces in the year 1746. It was a branch of the ancient Ay kingdom . It was also known as the Chirava Swaroopam , where the word Chirava derives from the combination of two Malayalam words, Cheru and Aayi , which means "a smaller branch of the Ay kingdom ". It included some parts of
3663-611: The 1st century AD. The church located at Kokkamangalam was one of the seven churches founded by St Thomas , one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ . It is generally believed that he landed at Maliankara in Muziris Port, presently known as Cranganore or Kodungallur , in 52 AD and preached Christianity in South India . The district flourished in religion and culture under the second Chera Empire, during 9th to 12th centuries AD. The literary work `Ascharya Choodamani`,
3774-646: The 2011 Indian Census, the Hindu population is 68.64%, Christian (Orthodox, Marthoma, Pentecostal and Latin Catholic are majority) 20.45, and Muslim 10.55. National Highway 66 (India) is one of the longest national highways in India. It connects Panvel to Kanyakumari passes through the city and allow to connect other major cities like Mumbai , Goa , Udupi , Mangalore , Kannur , Kozhikode , Guruvayur , Ernakulam , Kollam , and Trivandrum . The construction of
3885-442: The Alappuzha city centre . The Alappuzha Bypass was built to route the national highway around city centers between Kommady and Kalarkode . National Highway 66 connects Alappuzha city to other major cities like Mumbai, Udupi , Mangalore , Kannur , Kozhikode , Ernakulam, Kollam and Trivandrum. There is a plan to upgrade State Highway 11 to a national highway in order to help connect Alappuzha to Kodaikanal as part of promoting
3996-537: The Cherukara and Pallithanam Moovayiram kayals. The second phase (1890 to 1903) of reclamation activities came to a halt because of the ban on lake reclamation imposed by the Madras Government in 1903. Cherukali Kayal, Rama Rajapuram Kayal, Aarupanku Kayal, Pantharndu Panku Kayal, and Mathi Kayal were the other major reclamations during this period. In 1912, the Madras Government approved a proposal from
4107-617: The Fire and Rescue Department, Divisional Forest Officer for the Forest Department, etc. Each department's district-level offices oversee their respective areas of administration. At the time of formation, Kerala had only five districts: Malabar , Thrissur , Kottayam , Kollam , and Thiruvananthapuram . On 1 January 1957, the Malabar district was trifurcated to form new districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , and Palakkad , bringing
4218-439: The South by Kunnathur and Karunagappally taluks of Kollam district and on the west by Laccadive Sea. Present-day Alappuzha district comprises six taluks, namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara. The area of the district is 1,414 km (546 sq mi). Its headquarters is located at Alappuzha. The present-day town of Alappuzha owes its existence to Raja Kesavadas during
4329-433: The South, is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists use these airports to reach Alappuzha. The other nearest airports are Calicut (236 kilometres (147 mi)) and Coimbatore (254 kilometres (158 mi)) airports. A helipad in the town is reserved for government uses. The two administrative systems prevailing in the district are revenue and local self-government . Under
4440-514: The Southern Kerala districts of Kottayam , Alappuzha , Pathanamthitta , Kollam , and Thiruvananthapuram . Such a regional division occurred being part of historical regions of Cochin , North Malabar , South Malabar , and Travancore . The North Malabar region, which is culturally distinct from the rest of Kerala, entirely lies in the districts of Northern Kerala . North Malabar region includes Kasargod , Kannur , Wayanad , and
4551-739: The Travencore Government for further reclamations in three stages. Under this reclamation scheme areas were notified for reclamation in blocks each named by an alphabet letter. Out of the total area of 19,500 acres of reclaimed land 12,000 acres were reclaimed between 1913 and 1920. The reclamations between 1914 and 1920 are known as new reclamations, which were carried out in three periods. In the first period Blocks A to G measuring 6300 Acres were reclaimed. C Block, D Block (Attumukham Aarayiram (Attumuttu Kayal), Thekke Aarayiram and Vadakke Aarayiram) and E Block (Erupathinalayiram Kayal) F Block (Judge's Aarayiram Kayal) and G Block (Kochu Kayal) are
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4662-464: The V K soman memorial municipal bus stand for private buses and interstate bound contract carriage buses (situated near Vazhicherry). KSRTC buses connect Alappuzha with, among other places, Banglore , Mysore , Kollur , Mangalore , Chennai , Coimbatore , Trivandrum , and Thiruvalla . SETC and TNSTC ply many daily services to the city. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation have two daily services originating from Alappuzha. The presence of
4773-540: The Vembanad lake of Alappuzha district is famous for rare migrating birds. Alappuzha city is the administrative headquarters of the Alappuzha district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions-Alappuzha and Chengannur. There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are: There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in Alappuzha: Alappuzha and Mavelikara . There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Alappuzha district. The district
4884-409: The agricultural output, government initiated a Grow More Food campaign and provided incentives to encourage new reclamations. The advent of electric motors made the reclamation easier, cheaper and less risky as compared to the earlier periods. The last tract of the reclamations namely Q, S and T block were made during this period. Nation Highway 66 , connecting Panvel to Kanyakumari runs through
4995-711: The ancient Arabian peninsula , and the Ancient Egypt during the Sangam period in the early centuries of the Common Era . The ancient port town of Barace which is recorded as an important centre of the Indian Ocean trade in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues such as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (written around 50 CE) is often identified with the modern-day coastal town of Purakkad on
5106-592: The case of rural areas, by a Sub-Inspector of Police designated as the Station House Officer (SHO). The Kerala High Court has the jurisdiction of the state of Kerala. Each of the districts has a District & Sessions Court . Each state government department has a district office at the district level, headed by district-level officials, such as the District Medical Officer for the health department, District Fire Officer for
5217-477: The city is reserved for government uses. Snake boat races are the most significant traditional event in Alleppey. These regattas are usually held between August and October, and involve long thin boats powered by up to 120 oarsmen. One such snake boat race is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race . Districts of Kerala The Indian state of Kerala is divided into 14 districts. Districts are
5328-421: The coastal-hill tourism project. There are eight state highways in Alappuzha district, of which three of them originates from Alappuzha town. State Highway 11 starts from Kalarcode and ends at Perunna . This highway is locally known as AC road (Alappuzha-Changanassery road) and it covers a distance of 24.2 km. It is an important road which connects Alappuzha town with Kottayam district . Stateway High 40
5439-542: The day, which connect Alappuzha to other towns near by. Since Alappuzha is a prime destination, trains from important cities like Delhi , Chandigarh , Bangalore , Mangalore , Kozhikode and Amritsar pass through this station. Cochin International Airport , which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North, is the closest airport. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , 159 kilometres (99 mi) to
5550-408: The development of Alappuzha is worth mentioning. In the 19th century the district attained progress in all spheres. Kayamkulam Kochunni was a heroic outlaw from Kayamkulam who lived during the 19th century CE. The 19th century social reformer Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker hails from the modern-day district of Alappuzha. The first modern factory for the manufacture of Coir mats and mattings
5661-475: The district except some scattered hillocks lying between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern portion of the district. There are no forest area in this district. Alappuzha is bounded by the Laccadive Sea on its west. The town has a network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers. The richness of the coastal Alappuzha waters is expressed annually in the blooming and consequent deposit of
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#17327718727665772-461: The district is 1,414 km (546 sq mi). Its headquarters is located at Alappuzha. The name Ᾱlappuzha is a toponym. ‘Ᾱlayam’ means ‘home’ and ‘puzha’, according to Dr. Herman Gundert's dictionary, means ‘watercourse’ or ‘river’. The name refers to the network of waterways and backwaters in Alappuzha and its surrounding areas. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, with its paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms,
5883-434: The district. These districts are further divided into police sub-divisions. A subdivision comprises several police stations under its jurisdiction, each headed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) designated as the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO). The police station is the basic unit of police administration at the district level, each headed by an Inspector of Police, or in
5994-511: The district. The Collector serves as both the agent of the state Government and also as the representative of the people in the district. District administration is performed by the various Departments of the State Government, each of which has its own office at the district level. The District Officers of the various Departments in the district render technical advice to the collector in the discharge of his duties. The district collector
6105-510: The districts of Central Kerala . The Travancore region is incorporated in the districts of South Kerala . The Travancore region was again divided into three zones as Northern Travancore (Hill Range) ( Idukki District , Kottayam district and eastern portion of Ernakulam district), Central Travancore (Central Range) ( Kollam district , Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha district) and Southern Travancore (Southern Range) ( Thiruvananthapuram ). The districts in Kerala are often named after
6216-619: The eastern region of district and that is Chengannur railway station and Mavelikara railway station . The city is accessible by air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport , which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North, is the closest airport. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , 159 kilometres (99 mi) to the South, is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists use this facility to reach Alappuzha. The other nearest airports are at Kozhikode (236 kilometres (147 mi)) and Coimbatore (254 kilometres (158 mi)). A helipad in
6327-608: The entire India . Kuttanad , also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala , has the lowest altitude in India , and is also one of the few places in the world where cultivation takes place below sea level. The district was home to the Communist -led Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the Divan of the British Princely state of Travancore in the 1940s. Carved out of the erstwhile Kollam and Kottayam districts, most of
6438-437: The entire Pathanamthitta taluk and nine villages of Kunnathur taluk from Kollam district, entire Thiruvalla taluk and part of Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks from Alapphuzha district and parts of Idukki district. Kasaragod district was formed on 24 May 1984 as the 14th district by carving out a major portion of the erstwhile Kannur district. Idukki district is the largest district in Kerala by area. Alappuzha district
6549-594: The entire state stands at 51.09%. The major occupation in Alappuzha is farming. The Rice Bowl of Kerala, Kuttanadu is located in Alappuzha. Large farming areas near Vembanad Lake were reclaimed from the lake. In earlier times, the reclamation was done mainly from the shallow part of the Vembanad Lake or from the periphery of river Pamba. These reclamations constituted small areas of paddy fields called Padsekharam . The bailing out of water from those fields were done manually using water wheels ( Chakram ). Gradually
6660-496: The famous literary works of this period was the Ascharya Choodamani , a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadra who was a scholar from Chengannur . The feudal monarch of Chempakasseri was at its zenith during the reign of Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan, a great scholar and a poet who was also the author of the literary work Vedantha Ratnamala . It is said that Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple , at Ambalappuzha ,
6771-404: The governance of the urban areas in the district. These urban local bodies are governed by elected municipal councils, headed by mayor /chairperson and deputy mayor /vice chairperson respectively. A municipality, which consists of urban areas, is administered by a municipal council headed by a Municipal Chairperson. In cities, a municipal corporation, administered by a corporation council headed by
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#17327718727666882-569: The government, who also functions as the ex-officio secretary of the Block Panchayat. A taluk consists of urban units such as statutory towns and census towns and rural units called gram panchayats (for revenue purposes). The Local Self-Governments Department (LSGD), Government of Kerala, coordinates and supervises the administrative affairs of these local bodies and has district-level offices. There are 20 police districts in total, and among these, 8 police districts are coterminous with
6993-600: The grassroot of the revenue administration. For the purpose of local governance, there are local-self government institutions, which includes 941 Gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 6 corporations and 87 municipalities. The panchayati raj institutions ( gram panchayats , block panchayats , district panchayats ) look after the governance of the rural areas in the district. These panchayats are governed by elected councils, headed by presidents and vice presidents respectively. The urban local bodies ( municipalities and municipal corporations ) look after
7104-592: The history of this temple and Lord Ayyappa's stay here before he went to conquer the Mahishi Demon. Since landing in Calicut in 1498, the Portuguese started playing an influential role in Alappuzha. They began by spreading Catholicism and converting already existing Christians into Catholics. St Andrew's Basilica was built during this period. In the 17th century, as the Portuguese power declined,
7215-648: The largest town or city in the district. Some of the districts were renamed in 1990 from the anglicised names to their local names. The 14 districts are further divided into 27 revenue divisions , 77 taluks , and 1664 revenue villages . For local governance, Kerala has 6 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities overseeing urban areas. Additionally, there are 941 Gram Panchayats , 152 Block Panchayats , and 14 District Panchayats responsible for rural governance. Kerala State has been divided into 14 districts, 27 revenue divisions , 78 taluks, 152 community development blocks , and 1664 revenue villages . A district
7326-536: The late 18th century, the region had come under British rule and experienced a decline in its status as a centre for commerce and culture. Today, Alappuzha is a prominent tourist destination in Kerala. The town is famous for its waterways and backwaters , and has been described as the " Venice of the East " for the small canals winding through its historic centre. Its also known as the Tarshish land of Kerala It plays
7437-432: The major administrative units of a state which are further sub-divided into revenue divisions and taluks . Idukki district is the largest district in Kerala with a total land area of 4,61,223.14 hectares. When the independent India merged smaller states together, Travancore and Cochin states were integrated to form Travancore-Cochin state on 1 July 1949. However, North Malabar and South Malabar remained under
7548-433: The major reclamations during this period. During the second period of new reclamation, blocks H to N measuring 3600 acres were reclaimed. During the third period of new reclamation, R Block measuring 1,400 acres were reclaimed. Due to the steep decline in the price of rice during 1920 to 1940, the reclamation activities became sluggish, but they gained momentum again in the early 1940s. During this period, in order to increase
7659-599: The manual method used for bailing out of water gave way to steam engines. Three stages can be identified in the reclamation of lands from the Vembanad Lake. In the first stage it was carried out by private entrepreneurs without any financial support from the part of the government. The Pattom Proclamation , made by the Travancore Kingdom in the year 1865, gave a great boost to the reclamation activities between 1865 and 1890. During this period de-watering of
7770-654: The modern-day Alappuzha district was part of the Quilon district of the Travancore Kingdom , with a small portion in the northern Alappuzha were part of the Kottayam district of the Travancore Kingdom until 1957. when the modern Alappuzha district was formed. Alappuzha district was formed on 17 August 1957 and consisted initially of seven taluks , namely Cherthala , Ambalappuzha , Kuttanad , Chengannur , Karthikappally and Mavelikkara . The name Ᾱlappuzha
7881-470: The modern-day Taluks of Chengannur , Mavelikara , Karthikappally , and Karunagappally . The northernmost region of the district, which curresponds to the present-day Taluk of Cherthala , was ruled by the "Kingdom of Karappuram" prior to the 1762 treaty that was signed between the kingdom of Travancore and the Kingdom of Cochin . Karappuram was a tributary of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1762 when it
7992-585: The modern-day Taluk of Karthikappally. The southernmost portion of the district had been once part of the erstwhile feudal kingdom of Karunagappally , which had been subordinate to the Chirava Swaroopam ( Kayamkulam ) at times. In the 17th century the Portuguese power declined on the Malabar Coast and the Dutch Malabar gained a predominant position in the principalities of this district. The church located at Kokkamangalam or Kokkothamangalam
8103-790: The mouth of the Pamba River in the Alappuzha district. This river is also the third-longest river in Kerala only after to the Periyar river and the Bharathappuzha river. Early members of the Chera dynasty had their home in Kuttanad and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans . However the regions south of the Pamba River was ruled by the Ay kingdom during the ancient period. Pamba
8214-451: The nation of Namibia or the US state of New Mexico . This gives it a ranking of 216th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 1,504 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,900/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 0.88%. Alappuzha has a sex ratio of 1100 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 95.72%. 53.96% of
8325-401: The northern region of Kozhikode district, south Malabar region includes south-central part of Kozhikode district , Malappuram , parts except Chittoor taluk of Palakkad district , Kunnamkulam and Chavakkad region of Thrissur district. The regions of South Malabar and Kingdom of Cochin , both of which share many historical, geographical, and cultural similarities, together constitute
8436-688: The only interstate state highway in Alappuzha district. State Highway 66 (Kerala) is a state highway which originates from Alappuzha town and terminates at Thoppumpady , Ernakulam . Main Central Road is the arterial State Highway in the Travancore region of Kerala state. It is designated as SH 1 by the Kerala Public Works Department. It passes through Chengannur town of Alappuzha district and helps it to connect with other parts of Kerala . State Highway 5 (Kerala)
8547-417: The outgrowths of Punnapra and Kalarcode villages with an area of 65.57 km (25.32 sq mi) and population density of 3,675 persons per square kilometre. There were 22,361 persons under six years of age. The literacy rate of Alappuzha city stands at 95.81% with 209,201 literates where 101,927 are males (97.3%) and 107,274 are females (94.43%). Alappuzha had a sex ratio of 1070. The population
8658-402: The polders were done manually, using waterwheels, restricting large-scale reclamations. Only about 250 hectares of land were reclaimed during this period. Venadu Lake and Madathil Lake that were reclaimed during this period are considered as the first Kayal Nilam (lake-reclaimed land) which were reclaimed from Vembanad Lake. The pioneering reclamation activity of lake-reclamation and cultivation
8769-420: The population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 9.46% and 0.31% of the population respectively. Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 99.00% of the population. There is a small minority of Konkani speakers in urban areas. It has the highest population density among all districts of the state. It is 29.46% urbanized, and is the smallest district in Kerala . In
8880-542: The portions included in Cherthala municipality are treated in the 1981 census as census towns based on the threefold criteria adopted for treating a place as census town. Under the local self-government system, the district is divided into five statutory towns and development blocks consisting of 71 panchayats . The jurisdiction of a Development Block includes the areas falling in census towns also. There were nine legislative assembly segments in Alappuzha district for
8991-460: The respective revenue districts, while the remaining 12 police districts are constituted by bifurcating the revenue district into "city" and "rural" areas. Each police district is headed by a "District Police Chief" (DPC), an IPS officer typically holding the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) or above. The District Police Chief is responsible for maintaining law and order, conducting criminal investigations, and overseeing police administration in
9102-517: The revenue system, the district is divided into two revenue divisions, six taluks and 91 villages. The two revenue divisions are Alappuzha division comprising Cherthala , Ambalappuzha and Kuttanad taluks consisting of 47 villages and Chengannur division comprising Karthikapally , Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks consisting of 44 villages. For census purposes, Aroor , Arookutty , Kodamthuruth , Thanneermukkom Vadakku, Thaneermukkam Thekku, Vayalar East and Kokkothamangalam village, except
9213-483: The sea, the climate of Alappuzha is humid and hot during the summer, although it remains fairly cool and pleasant during the months of October and November. The average monthly temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. The district gets the benefit of two seasonal monsoons, as in other parts of the state. Alappuzha town experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest and Northeast monsoon influences
9324-461: The sea. The backwaters and wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal , ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. A major feature of the area is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. Kuttanad is also known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. The paddy fields lie about 0.6 to 2 m below mean sea level. Owing to its proximity to
9435-420: The second half of the 18th century CE. However the district of Alappuzha had an important position in the classical Malayalam literature . Kuttanad , the rice bowl of Kerala, was well known from the early Sangam period itself. History records that the region which now constitutes the modern-day district of Alappuzha had trade relations with the ancient Greece , the ancient Rome , the ancient Levant ,
9546-604: The state of Travancore as well as other places in Kerala like Cochin , Kodungalloor , and Kollam . A majority of these people got settled in Alappuzha. The economy of the district is based on agriculture and marine products. The agricultural activities predominantly revolve around the Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala. Though the district is industrially backward, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products, handlooms, different types of handicrafts , toddy tapping have been active from
9657-508: The total to seven districts. Alappuzha district was carved out of erstwhile Kottayam and Kollam districts on 17 August 1957, to form the 8th district. Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958 as the 9th district, carved out of parts of erstwhile Thrissur and Kottayam districts. Malappuram district was formed on 16 June 1969 as the 10th district, with Ernad and Tirur taluks of the erstwhile Kozhikode district and Perinthalmanna and Ponnani taluks of Palakkad district. Idukki district
9768-940: The vehicle registrations in Alappuzha District: Old structure:- Following are the old registration numbers in Alappuzha District:- The presence of a lot of backwaters and canals makes water transport a common means of transport. National Waterway 3 passes through Alappuzha. There is an SWTD boat jetty in the city that lies opposite to the KSRTC bus stand. It is served by boat services to towns like Kottayam , Kollam and Changanassery besides to other small towns and jetties. Alappuzha district has two railway lines. Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line primarily links with Haripad railway station , Alappuzha railway station , Cherthala railway station and Kayamkulam Junction railway station , Whereas Ernakulam - Kottayam - Kayamkulam line connects
9879-483: The very early times. The district is known as the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala. The availability of raw materials and the existence of backwaters and canals suitable for the getting of green husk and accessibility of transportation are the main factors of the development of this industry. Arabs had carried on trade in coir products from very ancient period. The manufacture of mats and mattings were first introduced in 1859 by James Durragh. The Coir Board
9990-486: The weather of Alappuzha. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in the months from June to September. On the other hand, the North-east monsoon brings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm. According to the 2011 census, Alappuzha Municipality+Outgrowths had a population of 240,991 with 116,439 men and 124,552 women. The City spreads over Alappuzha municipality and
10101-491: Was Dewan of Travancore. This led to Ramaswami Iyer's exit from the political scene of Travancore. A popular Ministry was formed in Travancore on 24 March 1948 after India's independence. Travancore and Cochin states were integrated on 1 July 1949. This arrangement continued until the formation of Kerala State on 1 November 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act 1956 . The district came into existence as
10212-401: Was K. Balakrishna Kurup and the shortest serving District Collector was Sriram Venkitaraman . K. Balakrishna Kurup served for 1146 days from 2 June 1980 to 23 July 1983, but from July 26, 2022, to August 2, 2022, Sriram Venkitaraman served for only 7 days from 26 July 2022 to 2 August 2022. According to the 2011 census , Alappuzha district has a population of 2,127,789, roughly equal to
10323-609: Was also established in 1859 at Alappuzha. The Alappuzha Town Improvement Committee was set up in 1894. During the Travancorean administration , Cherthala taluk was included in the Northern division ( Kottayam division) while rest of the Taluks which together constitute the modern-day district of Alappuzha was placed under the Central division ( Kollam division) of the British Princely state of Travancore . This district played
10434-431: Was constructed and the idol of Lord Krishna installed during that time. Chempakassery was ruled by Brahmin monarchs during the medieval period. It is believed that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri , Kumaran Namboothiri, and Neelakanta Deekshithar were eminent scholars who patronized his court. The southern regions of the modern-day Alappuzha district once formed part of the erstwhile "kingdom of Odanad " (also known as
10545-598: Was constructed during his administrative period. He was known as the "Architect of the Modern Alleppey" and played a key role in making Alappuzha a premier port town of Travancore . During the reign of Balaramavarma Maharaja, Velu Thampi Dalava took keen interest in the development of the town and the port. He brought whole area of the Pathiramanal island into coconut cultivation and it's larger tracts into paddy cultivation. The role of Velu Thampi Dalava in
10656-529: Was described by George Curzon , the British Governor-General of India in the beginning of the 20th century CE, as the " Venice of the Eastern world ." The district is best known for its picturesque Kerala Backwaters , by which it is well connected to other parts of Kerala , including the tourist destination of Kumarakom , the district being a well known tourist destination in India. It
10767-654: Was during the mid-18th century CE that the Maharaja Marthanda Varma , popularly known as the ‘Architect of the Modern Travancore’, interfered in the political affairs of the smaller feudal principalities who ruled parts of the district. Marthandavarma Maharaja had a remarkable role in the internal progress of the district. The Krishnapuram Palace , which is now a protected monument of the State Archaeology Department,
10878-1208: Was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act in 1955. A coir research institute functions at Kalavoor . The National Coir Training and Designing Centre was established at Alappuzha in 1965. Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha, Kayamkulam , Kokkothamangalam , Komalapuram , Mannancherry , Muhamma and Vayalar . Coir products are available in Cherthala and Mannancherry , lime shell in Arookutty and Kodamthuruth , plywood in Chengannur , Keltron controls in Aroor , potassium chloride in Mavelikkara , and coconuts and coconut oil in Thanneermukkom . Other important commodities manufactured in these towns are copra , glass, mats and matches . In recent times, tourism has become
10989-427: Was formed on 26 January 1972 as the 11th district, with Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermedu taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk of the erstwhile Ernakulam district. Wayanad district was formed on 1 November 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Pathanamthitta district was formed on 1 November 1982 as the 13th district by carving out
11100-408: Was given gifts and presents and special allowances from the Travancore government in recognition of his services to the state while his own descendants were bestowed with the honorific title of Dalawa. In the 19th century the district saw progress in many spheres. One of the five subordinate courts opened in the state in connection with the reorganization of the judicial system by Colonel George Monro
11211-569: Was handed over to the kingdom of Travancore . The headquarters of the "Madathingal branch" of the Cochin Royal family was situated at Madathinkara in Karappuram. South of Karappuram lied the "Chempakassery kingdom" which was also known by the name the "Kingdom of Purakkad " prior to the Travancorean conquest of 1746. The kingdom of Chempakassery included the modern-day Taluks of Ambalappuzha and Kuttanad . The monarch of Chempakassery
11322-604: Was known by the title "Chempakassery Deva Narayanan". Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri and Kunchan Nambiar , who originally hailed from the South Malabar region, were court poets of the Chempakassery kingdom at times. Karthikappally was a small feudal kingdom that lied between the feudal kingdoms of Odanad and Chempakassery until the Travancorean invasion of the mid-18th century CE, which curresponds to
11433-448: Was located at Mavelikkara . The first post office and first telegraph office in the former Travancore state were established in this district. The first manufacturing factory for the coir mats was established in 1859. In 1894 the city Improvement Committee was set up. The district played a role in the freedom struggle of the country. The struggles of Punnapra and Vayalar in 1946 arrayed the people against Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer , who
11544-481: Was made by Pallithanam Luca Matthai . The period between 1865 and 1890 is usually considered as the first phase of lake-cultivation. The introduction of kerosene engines for dewatering resulted in the reclamation of wider areas of the lake for cultivation. It made the farmers consider venturing into the deeper parts of the lake. During the period between 1898 and 1903, reclamation activity was led by Pallithanam Luca Mathai (alias Pallithanathu Mathaichen) who reclaimed
11655-476: Was mentioned by Pliny the Elder as far back as the 1st century AD as "Baraces". Later in the 16th and 17th centuries, the town flourished as an important hub for trading spices with various European powers including the Dutch and the Portuguese . Under the rule of Raja Kesavadas , a port was constructed and canals for transport were laid throughout the city, and the town experienced rapid development. However, by
11766-406: Was most suitable, because of the geographical and oceanic reasons. He constructed two parallel canals for bringing goods to port from backwaters and offered infrastructural facilities to merchants and traders from Surat, Mumbai and Kutch to start industrial enterprises, trading, and cargo centres. Alappuzha attained progress and became the financial nerve centre of Travancore during his time. The port
11877-480: Was once a prominent centre of Buddhism in South India prior to the arrival of Nambudiri Brahmins into the region. Sri Mulavasam was then a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage centre in the Indian peninsula . Numerous remnants of once flourished Buddhism have been found from the taluks of Ambalappuzha and Mavelikara . The regions included in the district had a prominent position in the medieval Malayalam literary works such as Unnuneeli Sandesam . One among
11988-484: Was opened in 1762, mainly for the export of coir-matting and coir-yarn. Kesavadas built three ships for trade with Calcutta and Bombay, and alleppey afforded a convenient depot for the storage and disposal of goods produce in the east. Alappuzha is located at 9°32′N 76°24′E / 9.54°N 76.40°E / 9.54; 76.40 . The average elevation is 1 metre (3.3 ft). Alappuzha covers an area of 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and
12099-462: Was started as a protest against the constitutional repression in 1932. The first political strike in Kerala was held at Alappuzha in 1938. The district was home to the Communist -led Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the Divan of the British Princely state of Travancore in the 1940s. Alappuzha is on a peninsular landmass between the Arabian Sea and the Vembanad lake. Major rivers are
12210-705: Was the 'Maker of modern Travancore ', intervened in the political affairs of those princedoms. Travancore Dewan Ramayyan Dalawa (d. 1756) resided in Mavelikkara where he had a palace built by Marthanda Varma. After the death of his wife, Ramayyan consorted with a Nair lady from Mavelikkara of the Edassery family (PGN Unnithan, a member of this family, later became the last Dewan of Travancore in 1947). After his death Ramayyan's descendants left Travancore to settle in Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu. His Nair consort
12321-427: Was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age . Literary works such as Unnuneeli Sandesam give some insight into the ancient period of this district. Archaeological antiquities, such as the stone inscriptions, historical monuments found in the temples, churches, and rock-cut caves, also emphasise the historic importance of Alappuzha District. Christianity had a foothold in this district, even from
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