Mavelikkara

Mavelikkara is a taluk and municipality in the ''Onattukara'' region of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. Located in the southern part of the district on the banks of the Achankovil River.

Etymology

The name Mavelikara is believed to be turned out from the words ''Maveli'' or Mahabali, the mythical king of Kerala, and ''Kara'' means land. This land is believed to be the place 'Mattom Mahadeva temple'where king Mahabali knelt before Vamana, offering his head for Vamana to keep his feet.

Background

The town boasts about a rich historical and cultural background. The Chettikulangara Devi Temple, known for the '' Kumbha Bharani'' festival is located near the municipality. The place is home to one of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala created by Lord Parashurama, the Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple. It was also a major centre of trade and commerce in ancient Kerala and the erstwhile capital of the rulers of Onattukara. As a result of the close association with the Travancore Royal Family, Mavelikkara gained modern facilities well ahead of other places in the state. It is one of the oldest municipalities of the state. Even before India attained independence, Mavelikara had a super express transport service to Trivandrum.

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, Mavelikara had a population of 26,421 with 12,070 males and 14,351 females. Mavelikara Municipality has an area of with 7,184 families residing in it. The average female sex ratio was 1189 higher than the state average of 1084. 7.7% of the population was under 6 years of age. Mavelikara had an average literacy of 96.9% higher than the state average of 94%: male literacy was 97.8% and female literacy was 96.2%.

Transport

Bus

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has a sub depot at Mavelikkara (Station Code: MVKA) which is one among the 46 sub depots in the state. The KSRTC sub depot at Mavelikkara has an inter state bus service which is operated to Tenkasi every day; 2 trips morning & evening via Kayamkulam, Kattanam.

The Municipal Private bus stand is located at Mitchel Junction with buses to Chengannur, Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Pandalam, Thiruvalla, Haripad, Kayamkulam, Changanassery.

Rail

'' Main article : Mavelikara railway station''

Mavelikara railway station (Station Code:MVLK) is a mainline station in the Trivandrum Division of the Southern Railway Zone (India), with connections to New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mangalore, Bhopal, Guwahati, Nagpur and Jammu. Other nearby stations are Kayamkulam Junction railway station, Chengannur Railway Station, Haripad railway station and Kollam Junction railway station.

Air

The nearest airports are Trivandrum International Airport115 km and Cochin International Airport (CIAL).127 km
State highway SH 10 road start in mavelikara

Economy

Local industries in and around Mavelikkara include:
* KSRTC Regional Workshop and Bus Body Building Centre Mavelikkara
* ALIND Switchgear, Mannar
Several small-scale industries are present in the Industrial Estate (an initiative of SIDCO) located at Kollakadavu.

Politics

Lok Sabha

Mavelikara has its own constituency in the Lok Sabha. Until the 2002 Lok Sabha Delimitation took effect in 2008, the constituency consisted of Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kayamkulam, Pandalam, Thiruvalla and Kallupara. Since then, the assembly constituencies have comprised Changanassery, Kuttanad, Mavelikara (SC), Chengannur, Kunnathur (SC), Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram. The constituency is now reserved for a scheduled caste candidate.

Kodikunnil Suresh of the INC has represented the Mavelikkara constituency since 2009.

State Assembly

M.S Arunkumar from the CPI(M) is the representative of Mavelikkara in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Culture

The cultural capital of Alappuzha is Mavelikkara. Mavelikara was once part of the principality of Onattukara and has been a centre of religious harmony, culture and arts for several centuries.

As a testament to its link to that flourishing centre of Buddhist culture, Mavelikkara is one of the rare places in Kerala where one can find the ''Statue of Buddha in Seated Position'', which dates back to the 9th century AD.
Mar Ivanios, the pioneer of the Reunion Movement is from this holy socio-cultural land. He is from the Medayil Panicker Family situated at the center of the Mavelikara Town.

Notable people

* Abu Abraham, cartoonist and writer
* P. C. Alexander, principal Secretary to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi
* Zacharias Athanasios, 3rd Bishop of Tiruvalla - Cherian Polachirackal, originally from Mavelikkara
* Ramesh Chennithala, home minister, leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
* Ramayyan Dalawa, the chief minister and friend of marthandavarma- the kavu in front of municipal office is in his name
* Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Ivanios, founding father of the Syro–Malankara Catholic Church
* T. K. Madhavan, Reformist leader of modern Kerala
* Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair, Carnatic mridangam player
* Geevarghese Osthathios, Bishop of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, theologian, orator and writer
* Rahul Panicker, award-winning innovator, entrepreneur, scientist
* Divya Pillai, actress
* Mavelikkara Ponnamma, actress
* Narendra Prasad, college professor, actor, author
* Mavelikkara S. R. Raju, Carnatic mridangam player
*Justice C.T Ravikumar,Judge Supreme Court of India
* C. M. Stephen, Leader of Congress and the INTUC, he is the first opposition leader of congress.
* P. G. N. Unnithan, the last Diwan (Prime Minister) of independent Travancore
* M. S. Valiathan cardiac surgeon, former President of the Indian National Science Academy and National Research Professor
* A. R. Raja Raja Varma, grammarian and poet
* Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma, Carnatic singer
* Raja Ravi Varma, artist
* Ravindra Varma, minister for Labour and Parliamentary Affairs in the Morarji Desai Ministry in India from 1977 to 1979
* R. Marthanda Varma, India's first neurosurgeon and developer of a surgical technique for treating Parkinson's disease
* Vishnupriya- Malayalam film actress
* Yesudasan, cartoonist

Places of worship

* Chettikulangara Devi Temple, founded in AD 823, is a Bhagawathy Temple. The major festival is Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani.
* Maha ganapathi temple,Pela
* Kannamangalam south mahadevar temple.
* Malimel bhagavathi temple, Kurathikad, Mavelikkara
* Ponnaramthottam Bhadra Durga Devi Temple near Power House and Court Mavelikara (Ponnaramthotam Patham udayam festival is famous)
* Mattom Mahadeva Temple also known as (''SHIVA NADA'') this temple founded in AD 832
* Sri Maruthakshi Devi temple, Mavelikara
* Thiruvairoor Sree Mahadevar Temple, Chunakkara, "Sarwam Swayambhoo Temple"
* Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple, also known as ''Dakshina Kashi'' Founded in AD 731
* Sree Krishna Swami Temple
* Malimel Bhagavathi Temple, Kurathikad
* St . Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Puthiyacavu (Mavelikkara) Founded in AD 934
* C.S.I. Christ Church
* St.Joseph Malankara Catholic Church, Puthiyakavu-Mother Parish of Late Archbishop Servant of God Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
* St.Marys Malankara Catholic Church (Bethany Pally), kallumala
* St. John's Orthodox Valiyapally, Pathichira - St. John the Baptist, Thattarambalam P.O., Mavelikara - 690103
* St. George Orthodox Church, Karipuzha - St. George, Thattarambalam P.O., Mavelikara - 690103
* Immanuel Church of God (Full Gospel), Erezha South, Chettikulangara.690106
* St. Andrew's Marthoma Church, Kaitha North, Chettikulangara. 690106
* Parimanam Marthoma Church, Parimanam
* Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) Bethel, Vadakkethundam, Kannamangalam South, Karipuzha Road, Chettikulangara. 690106
* Christian Worship Centre (Pentecostal Church), Kaitha North, Chettikulangara P.O., Mavelikara - 690106
* Cherukole Marthoma Church, Cherukole
* St. Peter's Marthoma Church, Chennithala
* Thazhakara Mar Thoma Church, Mavelikara.
* Mannalill Bhagavati Temple. Arunoottimangalam mavelikara
* Ramanallor Vishnu Temple, Vettiyar Mavelikara
* Shree Parabhramodya Temple, Varenickal
* Hanuman temple karayamvattam , Mavelikara

Educational organizations

* Bishop Hodges Higher Secondary School, Mavelikkara
* Bishop Moore College, Kallumala, Mavelikkara
* Bishop Moore Vidyapith, Mavelikkara
* CNPPM Vocational High School, Kattachira
* Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chennithala
* Peet Memorial Training College, Mavelikkara
* Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikkara

Hospitals

*Govt.hospital, Mavelikara
*VSM hospital
*Sreekandapuram hospital
*Meepallikutti hospital

See also

* Charummood
* Chettikulangara
* Karunagappalli
* Mannar
* Mavelikkara (Lok Sabha constituency)
* Kattanam
* Padanilam
* Thriperumthura
* Vallikunnam

References

External links

Official website of Mavelikkara taluk


Shappil House - Ancient Family in Mavelikara

{{Central Travancore

Cities and towns in Alappuzha district