Mallapally


Mallappally is a taluk in Kerala state in India. It is one of the five taluks that make up the Pathanamthitta district. Historically a part of the kingdom of Travancore and called "Land of the BA graduates" due to English education imparted by Anglican missionaries in the 19th century, Mallappally is the original home of many Non-resident Indians, and has one of the lowest population growth and highest literacy rates in India.

Geography

Most of the area is hilly with a midland climate. The Manimala River flows through the heart of the town and divides it into Mallappally West and Mallappally East. Mallappally taluk shares border with Kottayam district at Nedungadappally along a river stream named Kochuparamb Thodu. From the Pathanamthitta, Kozhencherry, Ranni side, the entrance to the town is at the Mallappally Bridge.

Demographics

Mallappally is the least populous sub-district in pathanamthitta District with 130,000 people. There are 9 villages in Mallappally, with Kunnanthanam being the most populous with 21,000 and Telliyoor the least populous with 8101 people. 64,000 of the taluk is male, while 70,000 are female. The population of the sub-district has decreased by 2.1% in last 10 years. Literacy rate of Mallappally is 97%. 98% of male and 97% of female population are literate. As with other areas of Kerala, Mallappally also depends on migrant labour. In Pathanamthitta, they constitute 35% of the labour force.
Syrian Christians and Hindus form the majority of population in Mallappally. Christians constitute 51% of the population. Hindus constitute 44% of the population. Muslims form 5% and others, less than 1%.

Places of Worship

Pazhaya Suriyani Pally, situated on the eastern bank of the river, is the oldest church close to the town. A group of people deserted the church and its Syrian traditions due to reformation movement initiated by Anglican missionaries during the 19th century and joined CMS Church. Today the old heritage church, co-owned by the Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Church, has regular worship only on the fourth Sunday of every month. Its cemetery is open to members of the Orthodox and Marthoma denominations.India Pentecostal Church Mallappally, The pentecostal Mission Mallappally, Assemblies of God churchMallappally,Mallapally St Johns Orthodox Valiyapally, St Francis Malankara Catholic Church, Pathicadu St Peters and St Pauls Orthodox Cathedral and Thuruthicad Mar Thoma Church are also prominent churches in this area.
The Thirumalida Mahadeva templesits on the eastern bank of the Manimala River. The Thirumalida temple is famous for its appearance, which is similar to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and got its present importance with the development of Mallapally. During the month of Karkidakam, thousands of people visit the temple to offer karkkidaka vavubali. It is one of a few temples to celebrate Shivarathri on a riverbed.
Kalloppara church is one of the oldest Christian shrines in the taluk, founded in AD 1339, second only to the Niranam Church in the area, established by Saint Thomas. Vaipur Church is the second oldest church after Kallooppara church and is one of the 116 churches which were forced to participate in the Udyamperoor synod held in 1599 for Romanisation of the Malankara Church convened under the Goan Inquisition by Bishop Meneze.
The famous shivaparvathi temple Anikkattilammakshethram is also situated in this taluk. Pariyaram sreekrishna swami temple, one of the most famous temples of Sree-Krishna is about 3 km from Mallappally Town, is another attraction. Another famous shivaparvathi temple is situated in Powathippady, mallappally taluk. The Kallooppara Bhagavathy temple is situated close to the Kalloppara church, demonstrating the centuries-old religious harmony prevailing in the area. Most of the temples in Mallapally are dedicated to Shiva such as Vaipur Mahadeva Temple. A famous Hanuman temple is at near by Kaviyoor and other noted places of worship include the St. George Orthodox Church in Chengaroor, the St. Peter and St. Paul church in Pathicadu, the St. George Malankara Catholic Church in Chengaroor, and Holy Emmanul CSI Church.
Mallappally Thirumalida Temple, Anikkattilamma Siva Parvathy Temple, Powathippady Sree Nadarajaswami Temple, Pariyaram Sreekrishnaswami temple, Vaipur Shiva Temple are some of the major temples in the region.
In the 19th century, Anglican missionaries established a church and school adjacent to the old St Marys church. A section of old Syrian Christians joined them. Later, during the reformation movement started by Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan, a large section of Syrian Christians joined him. Roman Catholicism reached Mallapally only after 1930 due to Mallapally's interior location.
During the Travancore period, the first Pulayar convert to Christianity was a man named Habel, who was born on 5 May 1816, in Kaipatta, Mallapally. His Dravidian name was Daivathan. His wife was named Poovom. They had a son Uthayan and a daughter Chothi ; all were baptised on the same day, 6 September 1854. Following his baptism, Habel studied theology under European tutors and travelled far and wide establishing congregations and churches. He spread Christianity to thousands of people who were baptised and joined the Church. He died at the age of 84 on 18 August 1899. CMS Bishop Edward Noel Hodges attended his funeral.
There are two Brethren assemblies in Mallappally: the Town Brethren assembly near Anima Ayurvedic Hospital, and the Mallappally North Assembly.
Mallappally is the birthplace of a large number of Kerala Bishops of many Christian denominations. Some of these are Saint Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius, Archbishop Valakkuzhy Joseph Mar Severios, Bishop Modayil MC Mani, Evangeilical Bishop Panamootil PS Varghese, and Cardinal Baselios Cleemis.

Landmarks

The Rev. George Mathan Mission Hospital, named after the George Mathan|well-known Malayalam writer and priest], Taluk Headquarters Hospital Mallappally, Govt Hospital Vaipur, serves as the medical center for the area
Other landmarks include the public bus stand and public stadium; both are on the west bank of the Manimala river.

Transportation

Mallappally lies along SH 9, which connects the district capitals of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. Both KSRTC and private buses travel between Kozhencherry and Kottayam, and Tiruvalla and Mallappally. Mallappally has a KSRTC depot, which is the main transportation facility on SH 9. The Thiruvalla–Mallappally road meets SH 9 at the central junction of the town. Mallappally is also connected to Ranni, Erumeli, and Sabarimala. A narrow road goes down to Anikkadu, a small farming village, a couple of kilometres away from town.
The nearest railway stations are at Tiruvalla, Changanacherry, Chengannur, and Kottayam.
The nearest airports are Cochin International Airport and Trivandrum airport.

Festivals

Every year during the summer months when the river water recedes, many sandy beds are formed in the middle of the river, large enough to hold conventions and festivals on. The Mallappally convention and the Shivarathri festival take place on two such large sandy patches near the Manimala Bridge across the river. Vishu mahotsavam, held in the Pariyaram Sree-Krishna swami temple, is another old event. People from various parts of the Mallappally and Tiruvalla taluks come for the fest.