74-471: Poonjar is a small Indian town located on the eastern side of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the part of Travancore princely state. Erattupetta, Teekoy, Bharananganam, and Vagamon are the nearest towns and villages of Poonjar. Taluk Headquarters, Pala is 18 kilometres away from Poonjar, Kanjirapally is 22.6 kilometres away from Poonjar and Thodupuzha
148-604: A Rubber Board as well as a rubber research institute in Kottayam. Vagamon Vagamon ( Malayalam : വാഗമൺ ) is an Indian hill station and a revenue village located in Peerumedu Taluk of Idukki district , and also Meenachil taluk and Kanjirappally taluk of Kottayam district in the state of Kerala , India . Located in the Western Ghats 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Erattupetta on
222-619: A Chera princess. In 1152 AD, he shifted from Madurai due to the incessant civil wars in Tamil Country. The Raja carried one of the three idols of Meenakshi, their "Kula Devatha", which was used in the annual car festival at the famed Madurai Meenakshi Temple. It was established as a "pratishta" in the Meenakshi temple where it currently sits, on the banks of the Meenachil River. History documents that Manavikraman Raja procured
296-643: A family trust of the Palace. Colonel Goda Varma Raja ( G.V. Raja ), the consort of the Maharani of erstwhile Travancore, Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi , and brother-in-law of Maharaja Sri Chitra Tirunal, was a member of this family. His elder brother was P. R. Rama Varma Raja, who, after a difference of opinion with C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, left Travancore in the late 1930s, and purchased 36,000 acres (150 km) of land in Alakode, Taliparamba taluk of Kannur district. He
370-437: A population of 14,641 with 7,212 males and 7,429 females. Vagamon village has an area of 78.3 km (30.2 sq mi) with 3,816 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was 1030 lower than the state average of 1084. In Vagamon, 9% of the population was under 6 years of age. Vagamon had an average literacy of 90.9%. higher than the national average of 74%, and lower than the state average of 94%. The primary economy
444-600: A result of the continuous war that occurred between the Chera Perumals and the Medieval Cholas throughout the 11th century CE. The Vazhappally copper plate (c. 882/83 CE ) is a copper plate inscription written in Old Malayalam language that dates back to the 9th century CE found at Vazhappally in Kottayam district. Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 CE. The inscription
518-455: A work which belongs to the Malayalam literature written during early decades of the 14th century CE, contains a short geographical and political description of the regions and the medieval feudal states that lied between Kaduthuruthy and Thiruvananthapuram . It contains details about the medieval kingdoms of Thekkumkur (1102–1749) and Vadakkumkur (1102–1750) those together constitute
592-556: Is ecotourism including hiking to explore the many waterfalls, rock climbing and paragliding . National Geographic Traveler has listed Vagamon in their directory of the "50 most attractive places to visit in India". In addition, many people work in as laborers in tea and coffee plantations. Vagamon has two colleges: DC School of Management and Technology (DCSMAT) and DC School Of Architecture And Design, both promoted by DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and co-promoted by DC Books . One of
666-522: Is 34 kilometeres away from Poonjar. Poonjar is a place of historic importance, situated on the north-eastern part of Kottayam district. Poonjar, a town at the foothills of Western Ghats, was the capital of Poonjar Kingdom . The Poonjar dynasty originated from the Pandyan Kings of the Sangam Age. The founder of the dynasty, Manavikrama Kulashekhara Perumal, was a Pandyan king whose mother was
740-545: Is also very near to Poonjar. The nearest railway station is Ettumanoor (35 km) and airport is Cochin (80 km). Nearest places are Parathanam 16 km, Kunnonni, Peringulam, Adivaram, Pathampuzha, Panachikappara, Erattupetta Geographically Poonjar is divided into Poonjar Thekkekara, Poonjar Vadakkekkara and Poonjar Nadubhagam villages. Two main tributaries of Meenachil river originate in Poonjar hills and join at Erattupetta. There are numerous waterfalls and rivulets in
814-428: Is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate five Taluks within them. Kottayam district is divided into 100 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration. They are further incorporated into 5 taluks as eludicated below. The major towns of the district include: Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low-lying areas very close to sea level. Depending on
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#1732773211271888-707: Is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of the Old Malayalam language in Vatteluttu script with some Grantha characters . The contents of the plate are incomplete. The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near Changanassery . The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madom , Thiruvalla . The record is dated to the twelfth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Rama Rajasekhara (882/83 CE). Inscriptions related to Rama Kulasekhara (1089–1123 CE) of Chera Perumal dynasty can be found at Perunna near Changanassery . The Perunna inscription dates back to
962-518: Is famous for Ambal fest. Kottayam is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in Kerala , and also by waterways allowing for waterborne travel. The Kottayam Kumali, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam, Kottayam-Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla-Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass, and MC road are the major roads in the district. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport . SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of
1036-493: Is one of the 140 legislative assembly constituencies of Kerala state. Poonjar's assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency) . Previously it was part of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency) . The major political parties of Poonjar are Kerala Congress (M), Indian National Congress, CPI (M) and CPI. Eminent political leaders of the past include A. J. John, Anaparambil (former Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin) and K. M. George (former Minister and
1110-539: Is received in Kottayam. December, January, and February are cooler, while March, April, and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded in Kottayam was 38.5 °C on 6 April 1998, and the lowest was 15 °C on 13 December 2000. The Kottayam district experienced intense red rainfall in 2001, during which the rain was colored red, yellow, green, and black. Kottayam has a network of rivers, backwaters , ancient religious places, and hill stations. Local tourist places include: Malarikkal and Panachikkad in Kottayam
1184-481: Is the famous Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company (KDHP) lease. The area under the current Mullaperiyar Dam was part of their jurisdiction. Their neighbour to the south, Travancore, whose territorial boundary was Kottarakara, did not dispute the actual control until 1889. Travancore finally established their suzerainty by royal proclamation on 24 September 1899, backed by the British. The Kannan Devan lease, not ownership,
1258-598: Is the only district in Kerala that does not border either the Arabian Sea or another Indian state. The district is bordered by hills in the east, and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. The area's geographic features include paddy fields, highlands, and hills. As of the 2011 census, 28.6% of the district's residents live in urban areas, and it reports a 97.2% literacy rate . In 2008,
1332-723: The CMS College Kottayam in 1815 as the first Western style institute of higher education in India. The region progressed much in its literacy rate by the end of the 19th century CE. It became one of the most literate regions in the British Indian Empire by 1860. Due to its remarkable progress in the fields of literacy, education, and printing, many early newspapers and magazines in Malayalam such as Deepika (1887) and Malayala Manorama (1888) were established in Kottayam . The same period also saw
1406-570: The Chera dynasty began to expand towards the northern and the eastern regions of Kuttanad by conquering the provinces of Kudanadu and Kongu Nadu . Afterwards the dynasty got split into three branches and fixed their capitals at Muziris , Tyndis , and Caroura , respectively, as seen in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues as well as the Old Tamil literary works of the Sangam period . During
1480-673: The Common Era ) had their original headquarters in a region called Kuzhamur at Kuttanad in the ancient Tamilakam and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans . The Chera dynasty is mentioned as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 184 BCE). The province Kuttanad of the ancient kingdom of Keralaputras included the modern-day districts of Kottayam , Ernakulam , Idukki , and parts of Alappuzha , which can be defined as
1554-548: The Divan Peshkars gave way to district collectors , paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district on 1 July 1949. The erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin was reorganized into Thrissur district and Taluks of North Paravur and Kunnathunad were transferred to that district. Similarly the Cherthala Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Kollam district on 1 July 1949. The High Range division of
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#17327732112711628-631: The Kingdom of Cochin and the Kingdom of Odanad ( Kayamkulam ) against the military invasions of the kingdom of Travancore into its northern kingdoms that occurred during the 1740s. As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma , the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed the kingdom of Thekkumkur into Travancore in 1749 during the Battle of Changanassery , after his annexation of Kayamkulam in 1746. The Thekkumkur king took refuge in
1702-513: The St. Mary's church Poonjar built in 1300 AD, St. Mary's church adivaram, St Joseph's church Maniamkunnu, etc. Today there are tens of churches in Poonjar. Poonjar is well connected to the other parts of the state by frequent state transport and private bus services. Poonjar is very near to the well-known tourist spots like Poonjar Palace, Vagamon , Kolahalamedu, Ilaveezha Poonchira etc. The popular Christian pilgrim centre Bharananganam and Aruvithura
1776-639: The Taluks of North Paravur , Kunnathunad , Muvattupuzha , Thodupuzha , Meenachil , Changanassery , Kottayam , Vaikom , and Cherthala in 1931. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin into the state of Travancore-Cochin in 1949 following the integration of the British Princely states of Travancore and Cochin into the Dominion of India , the erstwhile revenue divisions were reorganised into districts and
1850-582: The Travancore civil service irrespective of their caste and religion. Vaikom Satyagraha , a protest against caste discrimination , took place in Kottayam district in 1924. The district also participated in the protests for responsible government in Travancore, which ended with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer , who was the Divan of the British princely state of Travancore in 1947. During
1924-791: The Travancorean administration, the British princely state of Travancore was divided into four revenue divisions- the Northern division headquartered at Kottayam , the Central division headquartered at Kollam , the Southern division headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram , and the High Range division with its headquarters at Devikulam . Kottayam was the headquarters of the northernmost revenue division in Travancore which included
1998-620: The Western Ghats and sought political asylum in Kerala . Manavikrama purchased a vast tract of land bordering the Pandyan territories, from the ruler of Thekkumkur which comprised the Meenachil taluk the regions of Poonjar , Erattupeta, Pala, Patthanamthitta, Thodupuzha, etc. along with the High Range region of modern-day Idukki district in 1160 CE, which originally belonged to the Thekkumkur Rajas. This incident commenced
2072-539: The 16th century CE. The Dutch Malabar who became an influential power in the territory of Vadakkumkur during the 17th century CE and the first half of the 18th century CE had a trade centre at Vechoor (in Vaikom taluk ) in Vadakkumkur. The Kingdom of Kizhmalanadu (1102–1600), which had included the modern-day Taluks of Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha with its headquarters at Karikode near Thodupuzha, merged with
2146-604: The B Tech Dairy Sciences, affiliated to Veterinary University. In August 2008, the Kerala Police began investigations into a training camp organized in December 2007 by the banned SIMI activists. On 18 August 2014, two tourists from Kozhikode died in Vagamon, after lightning struck them. Others who were with them sustained minor injuries. The incident happened at around 4:30 PM when the tourists were hanging around
2220-473: The Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRD) was constructed near the Poonjar bus stand. The college was given the name College of Engineering, Poonjar . Now, the place near bus stand is occupied for Model Polytechnic College Poonjar. In the year 2003, a separate building was constructed for the college at Payyanithotam (4 km from Poonjar) in order to avoid the disturbances caused during peak hours at
2294-527: The Kannan Devan plantation (125000 acres)leased to John Monroe, and subsequently transferred to Tata Finlay, and finally to Tata Tea was not relinquished by the Poonjar royal family. This was established by a court challenge to the status, which was resolved by a Kerala High Court order in the early 1990s. The order was in favor of the Poonjar royal family establishing ownership.The lease terms are currently being fulfilled with regards to lease payments as per
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2368-795: The Kottayam district. The ferry service from Vaikom to Thavanakkadavu in the Alappuzha district is the longest. India's first solar ferry service boat, 'Adhithya', operates from Vaikom. Kottayam city is the administrative headquarters of the Kottayam district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions- Kottayam and Pala. There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are: There are three Lok Sabha constituencies in Kottayam district: Kottayam (6 assembly constituencies), Pathanamthitta (2 assembly constituencies, i.e., Kanjirappally and Poonjar) and Mavelikara (1 assembly constituency, i.e., Changanassery). There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Kottayam district. The district
2442-571: The area. After 1940, people from Travancore , and Madras ( Tamil Nadu ), migrated to Vagamon. Later, after the formation of Kerala State, people from various parts of Kerala migrated there. In 1955, the Trappist monastery Kurisumala Ashram was founded in Vagamon. Vagamon is located in the Western Ghats at 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) above sea level. It has a cool climate with summer temperatures reaching 10–23 °C (50–73 °F)10-23 °C at midday. As of 2011 Census , Vagamon had
2516-589: The barren hilltops. Both fell after the lightning hit them and their clothes were burned. Though both were taken to hospital, they died by the time they arrived. Vagamon, due to its elevation and climate, has a unique ecosystem, leading to the emergence of rich natural vegetation, plant species, shola forests etc. From the early 20th century plantation grew crops like tea and coffee. Vagamon hills are home to less explored flora and fauna. A diversity study conducted by Dr Pratheesh Mathew recorded 112 species of moths from 16 families under eight superfamilies and has become
2590-503: The beginning of the Poonjar dynasty . They were a sovereign state. Though disputed, the territory of Poonjar was claimed by the Kingdom of Travancore in 1899 AD. Travancore claimed that the sovereignty reverted to them following the annexation of the principalities of Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur in 1749–1750. The land ownership was not disputed. The Kannan Devan Hills on the High Range region were given on lease on 11 July 1877 by
2664-414: The border of Kottayam-Idukki districts, Vagamon is famous for its natural beauty. The Vagamon glass bridge is the longest cantilever glass bridge in India. Vagamon remained largely unexplored for centuries. Though the British had plantations here, it was only in 1926, when Walter Duncan and Company started their tea plantations, that it became well-known. In the 1930s, more tea plantations were set up in
2738-535: The bus stand. College of Engineering, Poonjar is established by the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), A Government of Kerala Undertaking. IHRD is a pioneer educational organisation supported by Kerala Government, in the fields of Electronics and Computer Science.College of Engineering, Poonjar started its functioning in the academic year 2000–2001. The college is affiliated to the prestigious Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). Poonjar
2812-576: The commencement of Kerala reformation movement with an aim to eradicate the Untouchability , inequality, and the irrational practices existed in the Kerala society for many centuries which ultimately led to the movements like the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924). Kottayam has been involved in a number of political movements, including the 'Malayali Memorial' movement. The goal of the movement was to seek more representation for Malayalis in
2886-483: The district became the first tobacco-free district in India. Kottayam registered the lowest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of zero among all districts of India, indicating no deprivation as per the report published by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP for districts across India. The district's headquarters are based in the city of Kottayam. Hindustan Newsprint Limited and Rubber Board are two central government organizations located in
2960-527: The district, which later led to a transformation in the social structure of the region after the 10th century CE. The ancient prominent religions in the district like Buddhism began to vanish after the 10th century CE. Sri Mulavasam was a prominent centre of Buddhism in the Indian peninsula until the early medieval period, prior to the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE. The regions included in
3034-718: The district. The headquarters of two religious communities in Kerala are also in the Kottayam District: Nair Service Society and the Indian Orthodox Church . The name Kottayam is a combination of the words "kotta" and "akam" in the local language of Malayalam , meaning "interior of a fort". A substantial portion of Kottayam district may have been under the Arabian Sea during prehistoric times. Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery , thus supporting
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3108-399: The erstwhile Travancore was merged with the remaining Taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam division to form the Kottayam district as a part of the inauguration of the new Indian state of Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949. The new district of Kottayam at that time contained eight Taluks – Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Devikulam, and Peerumede. As a part of
3182-594: The famed National Geographic photographer, has published photographs of this temple, nestled in the foothills of the high ranges of Kerala, in National Geographic . The S.M.V. High School, dedicated to the memory of the then Maharaja Sri Moolam Tirunal of Travancore dynasty, was founded in 1913 and was the only school in the region for decades and luminaries of all political, bureaucratic, academic, literary and religious hues who have played formative roles in modern Kerala have passed through its gates. Some of
3256-515: The formation of the new Indian state of Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 , many jurisdictional changes were done in the district. Two new Taluks, namely Kanjirappally (from Changanassery and Thiruvalla) and Udumbanchola (from Devikulam and Peerumede) were carved out on 1 October 1956. After a month, a new Taluk called Kuttanad was carved out from Changanassery and Ambalappuzha . The Kuttanad Taluk
3330-464: The founder of Kerala Congress). The present political leaders of Kerala who are from Poonjar are N. M. Joseph (former minister and State President of Janathadal (S)) and P. C. George . Kottayam district Kottayam ( IPA: [koːʈːɐjɐm] ) is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala . Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: Kottayam , Changanassery , Pala , Erattupetta , Ettumanoor , and Vaikom . It
3404-444: The hills. Kunnonny , Adivaram, Pathambuzha, Kaippally are some of the nearest villages. Muthukora hills which is situated in poonjar called the meeshappulimala of kottayam lies 2400 feet above sea-level. Kottathavalam waterfalls also in poonjar. Sree Moola vilasam (SMV) Higher Secondary School and St. Antony's Higher Secondary School are the main higher secondary schools in Poonjar. In the year 2000, an Engineering College managed by
3478-435: The hypothesis. However, there are archaeological evidences of the early human inhabitation 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. Early members of the Chera dynasty (first few centuries of
3552-516: The kingdom of Thekkumkur . It included the modern-day Taluks of Changanassery , Kanjirappally , Kottayam , and Thiruvalla . The kings of the Thekkumkur dynasty are described by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the Sanskrit literary works. Vennimala and Manikandapuram were the early headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty. Later it was transferred to Thazhathangady near
3626-432: The kingdom of Vadakkumkur around 1600 CE. Vadakkumkur Raja was also a part of the combined military alliance formed by the kingdoms of Odanad (Kayamkulam), Thekkumkur , and Cochin against the expansion of Travancore into the northern territories. As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma , the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed Vadakkumkur in 1750. The Vadakkumkur Raja sought asylum in
3700-523: The kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut following his defeat in the battle. Vadakkumkur was the northern branch of the erstwhile province of Vempolinadu which attained political autonomy in 1102 CE after the collapse of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram. The rulers of this dynasty were also known by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the contemporary Sanskrit works just like their Thekkumkur counterparts. The kingdom of Vadakkumkur included
3774-555: The kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut. Later he returned back into Travancore. In 1157 CE , Kulothunga Chola , who belonged to the lineage of the Medieval Cholas , entered into a war with Manavikrama Kulasekhara Perumal, who belonged to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai . Upon the failure in the battle, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreevallabha as the monarch of the Pandya dynasty and left Madurai with his family and some of his trusted servants. Manavikrama crossed
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#17327732112713848-545: The land from the Thekkancoor Rajas, which is now part of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts of Kerala and added it to his domain in Tamil country. He established political connections in present-day Kerala by giving his daughter in marriage to the then Edapally Raja. Kochi was not yet an established kingdom. During the height of its glory in the 17th and 18th century AD, the Poonjar dynasty had suzerainty over
3922-702: The leading management colleges in Kerala, DCSMAT has an additional campus in Thiruvananthapuram . DCSMAT offer programs such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Bachelor of Business Administrati (BBA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). DC School Of Architecture And Design provides courses such as Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (BA Interior Design) and Bachelor of Architecture (BArch). The College of Dairy Sciences kolahalamedu Vagamon, offering courses for
3996-480: The location, different varieties of food and cash crops are cultivated. Rice is the principal crop extensively cultivated in low-lying regions like Vaikom and Upper Kuttanad . The district occupies third place in the production of rice in Kerala behind Palakkad and Alappuzha . Although it is the staple food of the people, the area under cultivation is dwindling due to more lucrative cash crops such as rubber plantations for which Kottayam significantly contributes to
4070-633: The modern district of Kottayam . The writings and the records of the Portuguese as well as the Dutch , who visited and interfered in the political affairs of the district after the Age of Discovery (1498 CE), such as the Hortus Malabaricus , contain significant information about the geographical and the political conditions of the region during the late medieval period. The area included in
4144-572: The modern-day Taluks of Ettumanoor and Vaikom along with a portion of the Meenachil Taluk. Kaduthuruthy was the earlier headquarters of the Vadakkumkur dynasty which was later transferred into Vaikom . Vadakkumkur was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1750. The Portuguese explorers described Vadakkumkur as "The Pepper country" due to the availability and high scale production of good quality pepper there during
4218-476: The modern-day district of Kottayam is described well in the medieval Kerala literature which includes works written in both Malayalam and Sanskrit . The 14th century Sanskrit work Sukasandesam describes about Kaduthuruthy . Similarly the 17th century Sanskrit work Bhramara Sandesam contains details about Kumaranalloor and Vaikom . The 18th century Sanskrit literary work Chathaka Sandesam also contains references to Vaikom . Unnuneeli Sandesam ,
4292-551: The modern-day district of Kottayam was part of three Nadus (provinces) during the period of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram (800–1102 CE ) for nearly three centuries. The region around the city of Kottayam was known as Munjunadu , while the Vaikom - Meenachil region, which lies to the north of Munjunadu was included in a province called Vempolinadu (known as Bimbali Desam in Sanskrit). The third province
4366-454: The notable names among its alumni are Col. GV Raja, Sri PR Rama Varma Raja (Alacode Raja), Sri PK Vasudevan Nair (former Chief Minister of Kerala), Sri TA Thomman (former Minister of Kerala), Sri CP Ramakrishna Pillai IAS (former Secretary, Govt of Kerala), Sri R Ramachandran Nair IAS (former Chief Secretary, Govt of Kerala), Sri KJ Mathew IAS (former Chief Secretary, Govt of Kerala, etc. The school, as well as five temples, are currently managed by
4440-482: The original deed. Entire portion of the modern-day district of Kottayam became part of the erstwhile British princely state of Travancore by 1750 CE. This era marked considerable progress and social reformation in all spheres. The Church Mission Society press at Kottayam was established in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily , a British missionary, as the first printing press in Kerala . They had also established
4514-411: The overall rubber production in India. Kottayam is India's largest rubber producer. Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though the highlands are more suitable, cultivation has spread to almost all regions. Other crops cultivated include tapiocas, coconuts, peppers, and vegetables. To enhance rubber productivity, the government of India has set up
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#17327732112714588-485: The present day Idukki and Kottayam districts, parts of Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala. They also held sway over the districts of Ramnad and parts of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The Palani hills were also part of the Poonjar kingdom. In July 1877, among other leases, Kerala Varma Raja, then chief of the royal house leased 128,000 acres (520 km) for 99 years, to a British planter named Thomas Munro. This
4662-462: The prominent faunal diversity study in this area. The author also recorded sightings of many species of insects, annelids, amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds and mammals. A wide variety of flowering and non-flowering plants, including rare Cycas species, has also been noted. The ongoing faunal and floral surveys are expected to shed light on the richness of biodiversity at this location. The flourishing tourism and related developments are predicted to have
4736-544: The rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon, and accumulates an average rainfall of around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September, and the north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains from March to May are accompanied by thunder and lightning; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala
4810-470: The region between the rivers Periyar and Pamba . It was bounded by the Ay kingdom to the south, which included the regions between Pamba River and Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), and the province of Kudanad , which lies between the rivers Periyar and Chaliyar (modern-day districts of Thrissur , Palakkad , and Malappuram ), to the north. It was during the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan (105–130 CE) that
4884-756: The reign of Narmudi Cheral , the regions included in the Kingdom of Ezhimala was also added to the Chera empire. The ancient Chera empire collapsed due to the continuous invasions carried out by the Kalabhras , the Pallavas , the Chalukyas , the Pandyas , and the Rashtrakutas during the period between 500 CE and 800 CE for nearly three centuries. This era marked the migration of Nambudiri Brahmins into
4958-412: The ruler of the Poonjar dynasty to John Daniel Munroe from London and for tea plantations . The land and the plantations were later resumed by the Government of Kerala through the Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption Of Lands) Act, 1971. However, the act only addressed the issue of sovereignty which was taken over by the State of Kerala with the accession of Travancore to the Union of India. The ownership of
5032-435: The town of Kottayam . Thazhathangady is one of the places in Kerala where a church, a mosque, and a Hindu temple co-exist together, which points out the religious harmony that existed under the Thekkumkur Rajas . At times, the town of Changanassery acted as headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty. The Thekkumkur Rajas were vassals to the Kingdom of Cochin until the mid-18th century CE. Thekkumkur Rajas also allied with
5106-399: The year 1099 CE (the 10th regional year of Rama Kulasekhara). The province Vempolinadu ( Bimbali Desam ) of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram attained political autonomy in 1102 CE following the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE. The Vempolinadu royal family got evolved into two independent branches by the 12th century CE – the southern branch among them later came to be known as
5180-436: Was declared as the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy in 1989. The Multidimensional Poverty Index prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kottayam as the first Indian district to achieve zero multidimensional poverty rate. There are no distinct seasons in Kottayam, as it has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during
5254-404: Was often referred to as the Alakode Raja. Another landmark institution in Poonjar is the ATM library. This library, named after Avittam Thirunal, the deceased crown Prince of Travancore and eldest son of Col GV Raja, was established in the year 2003. This "A" class library has played an important role in shaping many generations of Poonjar. Poonjar is also home to some of the oldest churches like
5328-487: Was passed on to Finlays in the 1930s, and subsequently taken over by TATA Tea Ltd in the 1950s. The lease has since expired and the land ownership is in dispute. The main revenue for the Poonjar Kingdom was hill and forest produce, and Erattupetta was the commercial center. The ancient palace and temples dedicated to Sree Dharma Shastha and Meenakshi are located on the banks of the Meenachil River. Raghubir Singh ,
5402-589: Was the Nantuzhainadu which constitutes the modern-day Taluks of Changanassery and Thiruvalla . This period saw the decline of Buddhism and Jainism , which were once prominent in the region, along with the growth of Hinduism characterised by a large-scale migration of the Nambudiri Brahmins into the region. The territory of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram disintegrated into several small feudal states by early 12th century CE as
5476-580: Was transferred into the newly formed Alappuzha district on 17 August 1957. The Taluks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were transferred into the newly formed Ernakulam district on 1 April 1958. On 26 January 1972, the three High Range Taluks, namely Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumede, were separated from Kottayam district to form a new district called Idukki . The district of Kottayam took its current shape on 26 January 1972. Now it contains five Taluks- Changanassery , Kottayam , Vaikom , Meenachil , and Kanjirappally . The municipality of Kottayam
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