Kunnamkulam

Kunnamkulam
Kunnankulangara
Town / city

Kunnamkulam bus stand
Coordinates: 10°39′N 76°05′E / 10.65°N 76.08°E / 10.65; 76.08Coordinates: 10°39′N 76°05′E / 10.65°N 76.08°E / 10.65; 76.08
Country  India
State Kerala
District Thrissur District
Area
 • Total 34.18 km2 (13.20 sq mi)
Elevation 57 m (187 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 54,071
 • Density 1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 680503
Arthat St Mary's Cathedral, Kunnamkulam

Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 34.18 km2. It is an old commercial town, with an ancient history, famous for its printing and book binding industry. It is the chief centre of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christians in the Kerala state. In the past, the town was called Kunnankulangara and references can be seen in a lot of British Archives about a neat and prosperous town which was predominantly Christian. Over the years Kunnamkulam has become a meeting point for all religions. Ironically, Kunnamkulam is the exact center of Kerala and that was the reason why old merchants and businesses have based there.

Etymology

The word Kunnamkulam is derived from the words kunnu (mountain) and kulam (ponds). There are several small hills in this area(Aduputty, Cherukunnu, Kizhoor, Kakkad Mission Kunnu, etc.) interspersed with the numerous ponds of the area (Eeenjakulam, Ayyankulam, Madurakulam, Chattukulam, etc.). One of the major spots within the town is the Parayil Angadi (market among rocks). The terrain condition and geological aspect of the area has led to the name.

History

Kunnamkulam town has its own remote antiquity as is evident from the history. It was a part of Mahodayapattanam, the capital of Chera Dynasty.

History tells about the cross installed by Thomas the Apostle, at Chattukulangara (a part of Arthat in Kunnamkulam). During the invasion of Tippu Sultan the Christians from Chattakulangara migrated to Kunnamkulam town.[1]

Geography

Kunnamkulam is located at 10°39′N 76°05′E / 10.65°N 76.08°E / 10.65; 76.08.[2] It has an average elevation of 57 metres (187 feet). It is around 23 km from Thrissur City and 10 km from Guruvayur. It is located on the route connecting Thrissur, Kochi to North Kerala.

Government

The Kunnamkulam Municipality was formed as an IVth grade Municipality in the year 1948. The Municipality had an area of 6.96 km2 and is divided into 31 electoral wards. In 2000, it was further upgraded to a Grade-II Municipality by merging adjoining panchayats of Arthat (full) and panchayats of Porkulam and Chowwannur (parts). The original area of the municipality was 7 km2 which is now increased to 34.18 km2. Earlier, there were only 16 municipal wards. The municipality extended its area in 2001 and now has 31 wards. The Total population then was 51,585 of which 24,396 were males and 27,189 females, with the density of population being 2,824 per km2.[3] Kunnamkulam assembly constituency is part of Alathoor (Lok Sabha Constituency). Earlier, it was part of the Ottapalam Constituency.[4]

Transport

The State Highway No 69 which connect Thrissur and Kuttipuram (NH 544 and NH 66) pass through Kunnamkulam. Also, the two major district roads are emerging from Kunnamkulam, one of them goes to Guruvayoor, Chavakkad meeting at Kochi-Ponnani road and the other road goes to Wadakkancherry meeting at Thrissur-Shoranur Road. All these roads meet at the heart of Kunnamkulam town namely the ‘Parayil Angadi (Parayil Bazar) Centre’.

Economy

Kunnamkulam region witness a number of traditional, informal and household manufacturing activities. It comprises mainly the creation of rock-cut products, candles, metallic and clay utensils, screw-rings and screw-hooks and paper-based products. Among these, the manufacturing of paper-based products is the bandwagon of these activities for which Kunnamkulam has a unique place in the state. The different paper-based products include, exercise books, X’mas stars, greetings card, paper files, envelopes, cartons and millboards. Printing and binding are the related activities.[5]

Culture

Kadavallur, Chowannur and Arthat, the nearby places of Kunnamkulam had a rich cultural background. Kadavallur is well known throughout this coast as being the place where Nambudiris of the Thrissur and Tirunavaya Yogams compete for superiority in Vedic proficiency. In Chowannur, there was a Sabha Madom, an endowed college where Sanskrit education was given. Arthat was the chief center of Orthodox Christians. The Arthat St. Mary's Cathedral Church(Arthat Valliyapally) is the main church in the town. All these contributed a cultural rising up in the area which later on helped the development of the publishing industry. These published books were sold during Guruvayur Ekadasi. When the temple was open to all Hindus and a good amount of trade taken place at that time.[5]

A particular residential replica ‘line houses’ (angadi pura (veeducal)), is seen in Kunnamkulam area. The streets of these houses are exceedingly narrow. The ‘Line Houses’ are built in 3–5 cents of land on both sides of the street. The front room of the house functions as a shop while the rear room was used for residential purposes. There used to be rear yards for every so called ‘Angadi pura" (town house) which was used for processing of their agricultural products.[1][5] [6]

Kunnamkulam angadi

Places of worship

Kunnamkulam is famous for its religious harmony as Hindus, Christians and Muslims live here. The religious tolerance of Kunnamkulam people can be seen from the "Ambala Palli - St.Matthias Church (located at south Bazar) which is a temple converted to a church wherein the temple character can be seen in the church entrance.[1][5]

Archeology

See also

  http://www.orthodoxchurchpazhanji.net

References

  1. 1 2 3 "National Urban Observatory". Town & country planning organization. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  2. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kunnamkulam
  3. ↑ "Profile". Janasevana Kendram. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  4. ↑ Ottapalam Constituency website
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The problems and prospects of paper-based industry in Kunnamkulam". Rajeev G. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  6. ↑ "Kunnamkulam PinCode". citypincode.in. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  7. ↑ "St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church Pazhanji". Pazhanji Palli. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  8. ↑ "Keralathile Sthalanama Charithram" of Sri. V. V. Valath, and "Makothai Pattanam" written by Sri V. T. Induchoodan, in the Mathrubhumi Annual, 1970.
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