![EdathuaChurch Inside3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/EdathuaChurch_Inside3.jpg)
Edathua is a small village in
Kuttanad
Kuttanad ( ml, കുട്ടനാട്) is a region covering the Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. The region has the lo ...
,
Alappuzha
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
district,
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It is located 12 km from Thiruvalla city center,
National Highway 183
The following highways are numbered 183:
India
* National Highway 183 (India)
Ireland
* R183 road (Ireland)
Japan
* Japan National Route 183
United States
* U.S. Route 183
* Alabama State Route 183
* Arkansas Highway 183
* California State ...
and the Thiruvalla railway station.
Rural Housing Report for Financial year 2012-2013
/ref>
Pilgrim Center
St. George Forane Church, Edathua is the major pilgrim center of the area. The Feast of St. George is a major festival here. People from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and elsewhere attend the feast.
Geography
Edathua is in the Kuttanad
Kuttanad ( ml, കുട്ടനാട്) is a region covering the Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. The region has the lo ...
region. It lies below sea level: agricultural land (rice farms) in this region are separated from big and small rivers by high mud levees (bunds called ''Puravaramp''). Farmers and agricultural workers build their dwellings on reclaimed land by expanding upon these levees around these paddy fields known as ''padam''. These levees are also often planted with coconut trees, a major commercial crop in the region. The area attracts a lot of foreign tourists.
Attraction
Situated on the banks of a branch of the Pamba river, the massive shrine St. George Forane Church, Edathua, south-east of Alappuzha and south-west of Thiruvalla and built more than 200 years ago resembles the churches of medieval Europe.
The Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple is about 20 km from Edathua.
The very ancient St. Marys Church, Niranam, believed to have been originally established by Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle ( arc, 𐡀𐡌𐡅𐡕𐡌, hbo, תוֹמא הקדוש or תוֹמָא שליחא (''Toma HaKadosh'' "Thomas the Holy" or ''Toma Shlikha'' "Thomas the Messenger/Apostle" in Hebrew-Aramaic), syc, ܬܐܘܡܐ, , meaning "twi ...
, the disciple of Jesus Christ, in the 1st century AD, is 9 km south-east of Edathua.
There are a number of ancient Hindu temples with interesting legends and history in the surrounding villages of Edathua such as Changankary, Pandankary
Pandankary is a hamlet in Edathua Panchayat, Kuttanadu Taluk, Alapuzha (Alleppey) District, Kerala, India. Being a water-logged area (below sea-level), Pandankary people have to brace the flooding during monsoon season, which happens at least on ...
, Mithrakkary, Kozhimukk, Thalavady
Thalavady is an Upper Kuttanadu village and Panchayat located in Kuttanadu Taluk, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. The village was ruled by King of Chembakassery Kingdom.
Its geography is dominated by its vast lush green paddy field, unique ...
and Veeyapuram.
Veeyapuram also has a Muslim mosque.
Chakkulathukavu Temple
''Chakkulathu Kavu'' is a Hindu temple, dedicated to goddess Durga. The temple is located Near Thiruvalla in Neerattupuram, Thalavady panchayat, Alappuzha District, Kerala,India, and is one of the most popular temples in the state.
Durga is ...
is less than 5 km east of Edathua.
The Mannarasala Temple
Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple ( ml, മണ്ണാറശാല ശ്രീ നാഗരാജാക്ഷേത്രം) in ''Haripad'' is a very ancient and internationally known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods (Nag ...
, believed to be more than 3000 years old, is just a few kilometres south of Edathua.
It is said that Edathua got its name because in ancient times it was a "resting spot" (''edathavalam''), for the king's men and traders traveling by river.
Festivals
The annual feast of the St. George Forane Catholic church starts on 27 April with the hoisting of the flag and concludes on 7 May.
During the feast, the statue of St. George, decked in gold regalia, is carried out and placed on the dais at the center of the church.
Devotees from other states are the main contributors to this Church feast. The feast, known as "Edathua Perunnal", helped Edathua to develop as one of the most important commercial centers in Kuttanad region. During the feast family members from outside Edathua, especially from the southern Kollam, Trivandrum side of Kerala and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, come and visit their relatives. During the 10-day feast, many devotees stay and cook food in the church premises and take part in ritual bathing in the river in front of the church. The church is colorfully illuminated, and there is a fireworks display.
Educational institutions
* St. Aloysius College, Edathua is the only arts and science college in Kuttanad.
* St. Aloysius Higher Secondary School
* St. Mary's Girls High School
* Georgian Public School & Junior College, Edathua.
* Marthoma Syrian Girls High School, Anaprampal
*Holy Angels Senior Secondary School, Edathua
Prominent people
Varghese Augustine Punchaichira, the first elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the then Thakazhy constituency after India's independence, was from Edathua. He defeated his friend and now famous novelist Thakazhy Shivashankarappilla in the election.
Edathua is the hometown of K. N. P. Kurup, who was also its panchayat president.
Edathua is the home town of the international swimmer Arjuna award
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
winner Sebastian Xavier
Sebastian Xavier (born 10 February 1970) is a former Indian swimmer from Kerala.
Career
He was the fastest swimmer of India for more than a decade. He held the national record of 22.89 seconds in 50 meters freestyle swimming for 11 years from 1 ...
of Manammal family. It is also the home of Mathews Mar Theodosius, the Metropolitan of Idukki Diocese. Malankara Orthodox Church belongs to Kannammalil family Pandankary .
'Keralaassisi' Puthenparampil Thommachen, the founder of the Franciscan Third order in Kerala, is also from Edathua.
Transportation
Distance from Edathua:
* Cochin International airport
Cochin International Airport is an International airport serving the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Located at Nedumbassery, about northeast of the city centre, Cochin International Airport is first of its kind which is develo ...
- 109 km
* Trivandrum International airport
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , is an international airport which serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and fifth international airport of In ...
-128 km
* Ambalappuzha railway station-13 km
* Thiruvalla railway station- 17 km
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is a state-owned road transport corporation in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the country's oldest state-run public bus transport services. The corporation is divided into three zones ( ...
(KSRTC) operates bus service from Sub depot of Edathua. Kerala State Water Transport Department
Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD) is a governmental department that regulates the inland navigation systems in the Indian state of Kerala and provides inland water transport facilities. It stands for catering to the traffic needs ...
(SWTD) operates boat services from Edathua boat jetty.
References
{{Central Travancore
Villages in Alappuzha district