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Alappuzha district

Alappuzha district, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to Alappuzha in 1990. Alappuzha is the smallest district of Kerala. Alleppey town, the district headquarters, was renamed Alappuzha in 2012, even though the anglicised name is still commonly used to describe the town as well as the district.

A town with canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, Alappuzha was described by George Curzon, the British Governor-General of India in the beginning of the 20th century CE, as the "Venice of the Eastern world." The district is best known for its picturesque Kerala Backwaters, by which it is well connected to other parts of Kerala, including the tourist destination of Kumarakom, the district being a well known tourist destination in India. It is also known for its coir factories, as most of Kerala's coir industries are situated in and around the Alappuzha town.

The Vembanad lake, which lies below the sea level, is the longest lake in the Indian peninsula, and the district of Alappuzha lies between this lake and the Arabian Sea. Kuttanad region of the Alappuzha district, which lies below the sea level, is the point of least elevation in the entire India. Kuttanad, also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala, has the lowest altitude in India, and is also one of the few places in the world where cultivation takes place below sea level.

The district was home to the Communist-led Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the Divan of the British Princely state of Travancore in the 1940s.

Etymology
Carved out of the erstwhile Kollam and Kottayam districts, most of the modern-day Alappuzha district was part of the Quilon district of the Travancore Kingdom, with a small portion in the northern Alappuzha were part of the Kottayam district of the Travancore Kingdom until 1957. when the modern Alappuzha district was formed. Alappuzha district was formed on 17 August 1957 and consisted initially of seven taluks, namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Chengannur, Karthikappally and Mavelikkara.

The name Ᾱlappuzha is a toponym. ‘Ᾱlayam’ means ‘home’ and ‘puzha’, according to Dr. Herman Gundert's dictionary, means ‘watercourse’ or ‘river’. The name refers to the network of waterways and backwaters in Alappuzha and its surrounding areas. The district is bounded on the north by Kochi and Kanayannur taluks of Ernakulam district, on the east by Vaikom, Kottayam and Changanassery taluks of Kottayam district and Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks of Pathanamthitta district, on the South by Kunnathur and Karunagappally taluks of Kollam district and on the west by Laccadive Sea.

Present-day Alappuzha district comprises six taluks, namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara. The area of the district is 1414 km2. Its headquarters is located at Alappuzha.

History

The present-day town of Alappuzha owes its existence to Raja Kesavadas during the second half of the 18th century CE. However the district of Alappuzha had an important position in the classical Malayalam literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, was well known from the early Sangam period itself.

Classical antiquity
History records that the region which now constitutes the modern-day district of Alappuzha had trade relations with the ancient Greece, the ancient Rome, the ancient Levant, the ancient Arabian peninsula, and the Ancient Egypt during the Sangam period in the early centuries of the Common Era.

The ancient port town of Barace which is recorded as an important centre of the Indian Ocean trade in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues such as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (written around 50 CE) is often identified with the modern-day coastal town of Purakkad on the mouth of the Pamba River in the Alappuzha district. This river is also the third-longest river in Kerala only after to the Periyar river and the Bharathappuzha river.

Early members of the Chera dynasty had their home in Kuttanad and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans. However the regions south of the Pamba River was ruled by the Ay kingdom during the ancient period. Pamba is mentioned as Baris in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues. There are archaeological evidences of the early 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.

Alappuzha district was once a prominent centre of Buddhism in South India prior to the arrival of Nambudiri Brahmins into the region. Sri Mulavasam was then a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage centre in the Indian peninsula. Numerous remnants of once flourished Buddhism have been found from the taluks of Ambalappuzha and Mavelikara.

Medieval history
The regions included in the district had a prominent position in the medieval Malayalam literary works such as Unnuneeli Sandesam. One among the famous literary works of this period was the Ascharya Choodamani, a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadra who was a scholar from Chengannur.

The feudal monarch of Chempakasseri was at its zenith during the reign of Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan, a great scholar and a poet who was also the author of the literary work Vedantha Ratnamala. It is said that Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, at Ambalappuzha, was constructed and the idol of Lord Krishna installed during that time. Chempakassery was ruled by Brahmin monarchs during the medieval period.

It is believed that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, Kumaran Namboothiri, and Neelakanta Deekshithar were eminent scholars who patronized his court.

Feudal principalities during the medieval period
The southern regions of the modern-day Alappuzha district once formed part of the erstwhile "kingdom of Odanad" (also known as the "kingdom of Kayamkulam" or known by the name "Onattukara"), which was later invaded by the Travancorean forces in the year 1746. It was a branch of the ancient Ay kingdom. It was also known as the Chirava Swaroopam, where the word Chirava derives from the combination of two Malayalam words, Cheru and Aayi, which means "a smaller branch of the Ay kingdom". It included some parts of the modern-day Taluks of Chengannur, Mavelikara, Karthikappally, and Karunagappally.

The northernmost region of the district, which curresponds to the present-day Taluk of Cherthala, was ruled by the "Kingdom of Karappuram" prior to the 1762 treaty that was signed between the kingdom of Travancore and the Kingdom of Cochin. Karappuram was a tributary of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1762 when it was handed over to the kingdom of Travancore. The headquarters of the "Madathingal branch" of the Cochin Royal family was situated at Madathinkara in Karappuram.

South of Karappuram lied the "Chempakassery kingdom" which was also known by the name the "Kingdom of Purakkad" prior to the Travancorean conquest of 1746. The kingdom of Chempakassery included the modern-day Taluks of Ambalappuzha and Kuttanad. The monarch of Chempakassery was known by the title "Chempakassery Deva Narayanan". Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri and Kunchan Nambiar, who originally hailed from the South Malabar region, were court poets of the Chempakassery kingdom at times.

Karthikappally was a small feudal kingdom that lied between the feudal kingdoms of Odanad and Chempakassery until the Travancorean invasion of the mid-18th century CE, which curresponds to the modern-day Taluk of Karthikappally. The southernmost portion of the district had been once part of the erstwhile feudal kingdom of Karunagappally, which had been subordinate to the Chirava Swaroopam (Kayamkulam) at times.

Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era (1746–1947)
In the 17th century the Portuguese power declined on the Malabar Coast and the Dutch Malabar gained a predominant position in the principalities of this district. The church located at Kokkamangalam or Kokkothamangalam is believed to be one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ according to the oral traditions. The picturesque CSI Christ Church in Alappuzha town was built in 1816 by the first CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionary to India, Rev. Thomas Norton. It was the first Anglican Church to be established in the erstwhile state of Travancore.

It was during the mid-18th century CE that the Maharaja Marthanda Varma, popularly known as the ‘Architect of the Modern Travancore’, interfered in the political affairs of the smaller feudal principalities who ruled parts of the district. Marthandavarma Maharaja had a remarkable role in the internal progress of the district. The Krishnapuram Palace, which is now a protected monument of the State Archaeology Department, was constructed during his administrative period. He was known as the "Architect of the Modern Alleppey" and played a key role in making Alappuzha a premier port town of Travancore.

During the reign of Balaramavarma Maharaja, Velu Thampi Dalava took keen interest in the development of the town and the port. He brought whole area of the Pathiramanal island into coconut cultivation and it's larger tracts into paddy cultivation. The role of Velu Thampi Dalava in the development of Alappuzha is worth mentioning. In the 19th century the district attained progress in all spheres.

Kayamkulam Kochunni was a heroic outlaw from Kayamkulam who lived during the 19th century CE. The 19th century social reformer Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker hails from the modern-day district of Alappuzha.

The first modern factory for the manufacture of Coir mats and mattings was also established in 1859 at Alappuzha. The Alappuzha Town Improvement Committee was set up in 1894. During the Travancorean administration, Cherthala taluk was included in the Northern division (Kottayam division) while rest of the Taluks which together constitute the modern-day district of Alappuzha was placed under the Central division (Kollam division) of the British Princely state of Travancore. This district played a prominent role in the freedom struggle of Travancore. The campaign for the eradication of Untouchability was organized much earlier in this district by T.K. Madhavan, a journalist and in 1925 the approach roads to the temples, especially to the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, were thrown open to the Hindus of all castes. The district also witnessed the 'Nivarthana' movement which was started as a protest against the constitutional repression in 1932. The first political strike in Kerala was held at Alappuzha in 1938. The district was home to the Communist-led Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the Divan of the British Princely state of Travancore in the 1940s.

Geography
Alappuzha is on a peninsular landmass between the Arabian Sea and the Vembanad lake. Major rivers are the Manimala, the Pamba, and the Achankovil; their branches and tributaries flow through Alappuzha and empty into the Vembanad lake. The most important lake is Vembanad.

Forest and wildlife
Alappuzha was the only district in Kerala without public forest land. But that changed in 2013, when 14.5 acre of land at Veeyapuram was declared as reserved forest by the Forest and Wildlife Department.

Pathiramanal island on the Vembanad lake of Alappuzha district is famous for rare migrating birds.

Administration
Alappuzha city is the administrative headquarters of the Alappuzha district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions-Alappuzha and Chengannur.

Municipal towns
There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are: • Alappuzha

• Chengannur

• Cherthala

• Haripad

• Kayamkulam

• Mavelikara

Legislative representation
There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in Alappuzha: Alappuzha and Mavelikara.

There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Alappuzha district.

Taluks
The district is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate six Taluks within them.

 * Taluks in the Alappuzha Revenue Division are:

 * Taluks in the Chengannur Revenue Division are:

Revenue villages
Alappuzha district is divided into 93 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration. They are further incorporated into 6 taluks as eludicated below.

Cherthala Taluk

 * Arookutty
 * Aroor
 * Arthunkal
 * Cherthala North
 * Cherthala South
 * Ezhupunna
 * Kadakkarappally
 * Kanjikuzhy
 * Kodamthuruth
 * Kokkothamangalam
 * Kuthiyathode
 * Mararikulam North
 * Pallippuram
 * Panavally
 * Pattanakkad
 * Perumbalam
 * Thanneermukkom North
 * Thanneermukkom South
 * Thuravoor South
 * Thaikkattussery
 * Vayalar East

Ambalappuzha Taluk

 * Alappuzha West
 * Ambalappuzha
 * Ambalappuzha North
 * Aryad South
 * Thumpoly
 * Kalavoor
 * Karumady
 * Komalapuram
 * Mannancherry
 * Mullakkal
 * Paravur-Alappuzha
 * Pathirappally
 * Pazhaveedu
 * Punnapra
 * Purakkad

Kuttanad Taluk

 * Champakulam
 * Edathua
 * Kainakary North
 * Kainakary South
 * Kavalam
 * Kunnumma
 * Muttar
 * Nedumudi
 * Neelamperoor
 * Pulinkunnoo
 * Ramankary
 * Thakazhy
 * Thalavady
 * Veliyanad

Karthikappally Taluk

 * Arattupuzha
 * Cheppad
 * Cheruthana
 * Chingoli
 * Haripad
 * Kandalloor
 * Karthikappally
 * Karuvatta
 * Kayamkulam
 * Keerikkad
 * Krishnapuram
 * Kumarapuram
 * Muthukulam
 * Pallippad
 * Pathiyoor
 * Puthuppally
 * Thrikkunnapuzha
 * Veeyapuram

Mavelikara Taluk

 * Bharanikkavu
 * Chennithala
 * Chunakkara
 * Kannamangalam
 * Kattanam
 * Mavelikara
 * Nooranad
 * Palamel
 * Perungala
 * Thamarakkulam
 * Thazhakkara
 * Thekkekara
 * Thriperumthura
 * Vallikunnam
 * Vettiyar

Chengannur Taluk

 * Ala
 * Chengannur
 * Cheriyanad
 * Ennakkad
 * Kurattissery
 * Mannar
 * Mulakuzha
 * Pandanad
 * Puliyoor
 * Thiruvanvandoor
 * Venmony

List of district collectors
List of Collectors of Alappuzha District according to length of tenure in descending order. The longest serving District Collector of Alappuzha was K. Balakrishna Kurup and the shortest serving District Collector was Sriram Venkitaraman.

K. Balakrishna Kurup served for 1146 days from 2 June 1980 to 23 July 1983, but from July 26, 2022, to August 2, 2022, Sriram Venkitaraman served for only 7 days from 26 July 2022 to 2 August 2022.

Demographics
According to the 2011 census, Alappuzha district has a population of 2,127,789, roughly equal to the nation of Namibia or the US state of New Mexico. This gives it a ranking of 216th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1504 PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 0.88%. Alappuzha has a sex ratio of 1100 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 95.72%. 53.96% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 9.46% and 0.31% of the population respectively.

Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 99.00% of the population. There is a small minority of Konkani speakers in urban areas.

It has the highest population density among all districts of the state. It is 29.46% urbanized, and is the smallest district in Kerala.

Religion

In the 2011 Indian Census, the Hindu population is 68.64%, Christian (Orthodox, Marthoma, Pentecostal and Latin Catholic are majority) 20.45, and Muslim 10.55.

Major Towns

 * Cherthala taluk: Aroor, Thuravoor, Cherthala, Arookutty, Ezhupunna, Kanjikuzhy, Arthunkal
 * Ambalapuzha taluk: Alapuzha, Ambalapuzha, Kalavoor, Purakad, Aryad, Pathirappally, Punnapra
 * Kuttanad taluk: Champakulam, Edathua, Kainakari, Thakazhy, Thalavady, Nedumudi, Mankombu, Kavalam, Muttar
 * Karthikappally taluk: Haripad, Cheppad, Chingoli, Karthikappally, Muthukulam, Pathiyoor, Pallippad, Kayamkulam, Krishnapuram, Arattupuzha
 * Mavelikkara taluk: Mavelikara, Chennithala, Chettikulangara, Bharanikavu, Charumood, Nooranad, Mavelikkara Thekkekara, Edappon, Thazhakara
 * Chengannur taluk: Chengannur, Budhanoor, Pandanad, Puliyoor, Venmoney, Cheriyanad, Mulakuzha, Mannar

National Highways
National Highway 66 (India) is one of the longest national highways in India. It connects Panvel to Kanyakumari passes through the city and allow to connect other major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Udupi, Mangalore, Kannur, Kozhikode, Guruvayur, Ernakulam, Kollam, and Trivandrum. The construction of the Alappuzha Bypass, to route the national highway around city centers between Kommady and Kalarkode, is completed; and the highway was opened on 28 January 2021. Alappuzha is also well connected by road. There is a plan to upgrade State Highway 11 (Kerala) to national highway status which helps to connect Alappuzha to Kodaikanal as part of promoting coastal-hill tourism project.

State Highways
There are eight state highways in Alappuzha district and three of them originates from Alappuzha town. State Highway 11 (Kerala) is a state Highway that starts in Kalarcode, Alappuzha and ends in Perunna, Changanassery. The road is popularly known as AC road (Alappuzha Changanassery) road and it has 24.2 km length. It's an important busy road which connects Alappuzha city with Kottayam district. State Highway 40 (Kerala) is an interstate state highway in Alappuzha district which connects with Alappuzha town to Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It's the only interstate state highway in Alappuzha district. State Highway 66 (Kerala) is a state highway which originates from Alappuzha town and terminates at Thoppumpady, Ernakulam. Main Central Road is the arterial State Highway in the Travancore region of Kerala state. It is designated as SH 1 by the Kerala Public Works Department. It passes through Chengannur town of Alappuzha district and helps it to connect with other parts of Kerala. State Highway 5 (Kerala) is another State Highway that starts in Kayamkulam and ends at Pulimukku junction. The highway is 42.5 km long. State Highway 6 (Kerala) starts in Kayamkulam and ends in Thiruvalla. This highway has 30.8 km length. State Highway 10 (Kerala) is a State Highway that starts in Mavelikkara and ends in Kozhencherry. The highway is 28.7 km long. State Highway 12 (Kerala) that starts in Ambalappuzha and ends in Thiruvalla and has 27.2 km length.

Vehicle registration

Following are the vehicle registrations in Alappuzha District:
 * KL-04: Alappuzha RTO (Ambalappuzha Taluk)
 * KL-29: Kayamkulam SRTO (Karthikappally Taluk)
 * KL-30: Chengannur SRTO (Chengannur Taluk)
 * KL-31: Mavelikkara SRTO (Mavelikkara Taluk)
 * KL-32: Cherthala SRTO (Cherthala Taluk)
 * KL-66: Kuttanad SRTO (Kuttanad Taluk)
 * SRTO (HARIPPAD)KL 88

Old structure:- Following are the old registration numbers in Alappuzha District:-
 * KLA
 * KLY
 * KRA
 * KRY

Water
The presence of a lot of backwaters and canals makes water transport a common means of transport. National Waterway 3 passes through Alappuzha. There is an SWTD boat jetty in the city that lies opposite to the KSRTC bus stand. It is served by boat services to towns like Kottayam, Kollam and Changanassery besides to other small towns and jetties.

Rail
Alappuzha district has two railway lines. Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line primarily links with Haripad railway station, Alappuzha railway station, Cherthala railway station and Kayamkulam Junction railway station, Whereas Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam line connects the eastern region of district and that is Chengannur railway station and Mavelikara railway station.

Air
The city is accessible by air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport, which is 78 km to the North, is the closest airport. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 159 km to the South, is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists use this facility to reach Alappuzha. The other nearest airports are at Kozhikode (236 km) and Coimbatore (254 km). A helipad in the city is reserved for government uses.

Culture
Snake boat races are the most significant traditional event in Alleppey. These regattas are usually held between August and October, and involve long thin boats powered by up to 120 oarsmen. One such snake boat race is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Chemmeen was filmed in two villages in Alappuzha. In the opening credits, a written statement in Malayalam thanks the people of both villages.

Tourism

The name Alappuzha is derived from Aal (Sea)+ puzha (River-mouth) ("The joining place of a river and the sea") (Malayalam). Alappuzha is one of the most important tourist centres in the state, with a large network of inland canals, earning it the sobriquet "Venice of the East". These large networks of canals are Alleppey's lifeline. Alappuzha was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past, with one of the best-known ports along the Malabar coast. Even today it retains its charm as the center for the Coir carpet industry and prawn farming.

Alappuzha, the ideal headquarters for backwater tourism, as well as for visits to the church-filled town of Kottayam and the town of Aranmula, which are known for their historic annual Aranmula Snake Boat Race. Chengannur, in Alappuzha, is the nearest railway station to Sabarimala. The Krishnapuram Palace is in Kayamkulam. The Buddha idol and Saradha Mandiram are the main attractions of Mavelikkara. The Buddha statue is in a seated posture, resembling Padmasana. A feature common to the idols is that hair has not been engraved on the head. Studies by the archaeology department have not been able to explain the absence of hair, which is common to Buddha statues of the Gandhara and Mathura traditions. The head has markings resembling headgear. Although the department has made a pagoda-like structure for the statue, no information on the idol is available to tourists who visit the area. Local people in the area light lamps before the idol. The idol at Mavelikara is 4 ft high and is perhaps the biggest. The engravings on the head resemble a helmet of Greek statues. The mark of a sacred thread is visible on the body. Another feature is the marking of a shawl on one shoulder. Here the archaeological department has put up a sign specifying the age of the statue. Saradha Mandiram was the residence of Kerala Panini.

Alappuzha is also known for its snake-boat races held on the second Saturday of August, every year. This competition; the Nehru boat race takes its name from India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which was inaugurated in 1952. It is excitement all around as snake-boats, each manned by over a hundred oarsmen, cut through the waters like wind.

The Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum features displays of art and artifacts. Revi Karunakaran was the architect of a modernized Coir industry that still employs more than 500,000 people in the state of Kerala. The objects displayed at the Museum were collected by his family over three generations and feature unique artistic pieces from all parts of the world.

Alappuzha, the district headquarters, is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters and lagoons, was described as the "Venice of the East" by Lord Curzon.

Festivals
Chettikulangara Bharani is the most important festival in Alappuzha district. The festival is one among the important temple festivals of Kerala. A Chettikulagara Bhagavathi Temple, a temple dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathi is about four kilometers from Mavelikkara. The festival occurs on the Bharani asterism in February/March. The main rituals of the festival are the 'Kuthiyottam' and 'Kettukazcha'. The 'Kuthiyottam' features a procession of young boys who have observed rigorous ritual penance. Traditional drums, music and glittering ornamental parasols accompany this procession of boys who dance in a trance.

The St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal & St. Thomas Church, Thumpoly in Alappuzha District is noted for the annual feast, popularly known as Arthunkal Perunnal, Thumpoly Perunnal (perunnal means feast). The feast is held in December & January every year.

'Chirappu Mahotsavam' is an important occasion at Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple in December. Christmas comes in between the festival and Alappuzha town is a really happening place at the time. The streets are full of wandering markets and entertainment ventures like circuses and exhibitions. The streets are crowded throughout the month and there is a 'Shiveli' or the magnificent display of nine Tuskers accompanied by the 'Chenda' and the 'Panchavadyam' music.

Padanilam Sivarathri is another important religious event in Alappuzha district. This festival is held every year in the Padanilam Parabrahma Temple. The temple is situated in the small town of Padanilam. Padanilam is situated 'about 16 km from Mavelikkara town. A grand annual festival is celebrated at the unique Nagaraja Temple (Mannarasala Temple ,Vettikodu Nagaraja Temple) in October/November. Another festival celebrated by the temple is a one-day Thaipooyan Kavadi. The Chandanakudam is celebrated at the Kidangam-Parampu Temple during December every year. Kottamkulangara Temple in Alappuzha has two festive seasons in February and March, because of the two deities with separate flag masts in the same compound wall.

The Kandamangalam Rajarajeshwari Temple is located in Kadakkarappally, Cherthala 1 km west of Thankey junction on NH 47. The annual festival comes in March–April. Chikkara, offering of children to the mother goddess during the festival, is the major attraction. The Chamanju Valathu of children starts on the 2nd day of the festival and lasts until the 8th day. Procession named Thalappoli start on the flag-hoisting day itself. The holy bath (Aarattu) of the goddess is held in a pool within the temple compound on the 10th day of festival. Elephant processions, fireworks, stage shows, etc. are major events that attract thousands of devotees and others.

The churches here celebrate grand annual feasts. The 'Arthunkal Perunnal' feast is celebrated at the Arthunkal Church. and Also, the big major Christian feast are the feast's at Edathwa Church and Thumpoly Church. The regatta forms part of many festivals here in many places. The annual Vallam Kali (Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is held in the backwaters in the month of September associated with the Onam festival. The main attraction is the Chundan Vallam (Snake Boat) race, in which a number of contestants are in the running for the Prime Minister's trophy. Another celebration in Alappuzha is the "Beach Festival", held from 30 December to 2 January. The annual festival conducted in Champakulam "Valiya Palli" is another big festival.

Medical colleges

 * Government T D Medical College, Alappuzha

Paramedical Colleges

 * KVM Institute of Paramedical Science, Cherthala.

Nursing Colleges

 * Government College of Nursing,Vandanam.
 * KVM College of Nursing,Cherthala.

Arts and Science colleges
• Bishop Moore College, Mavelikkara

• Government Arts and Science College, Ambalappuzha

• Sree Ayyappa College, Eramallikkara

• Sree Narayana College, Chengannur

• Mar Gregorios College Punnapra

• MSM College, Kayamkulam

• N. S. S. College

• St. Aloysius College, Edathua

• St. Joseph's College for Women, Alappuzha

• St. Michael's College, Cherthala

• Sanatana Dharma College

• Sree Narayana College, Cherthala

• T. K. Madhava Memorial College

Engineering colleges
• Archana College of Engineering, Panamel, Alappuzha

• Carmel College of Engineering and Technology Alappuzha

• Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad, Pulincunnoo, Alappuzha

• College of Engineering, Cherthala, Pallippuram, Alappuzha.

• College of Engineering, Chengannur, Alappuzha.

• College of Engineering and Management, Punnapra

• K. R. Gouri Amma College of Engineering for Women, Cherthala, Alappuzha

• Mount Zion College of Engineering for Women, Kozhuvalloor, Chengannur, Alappuzha.

• Providence College Of Engineering, Chengannur

• Sree Buddha College of Engineering, Nooranadu, Pattoor P O, Padanilam, Alappuzha

• Sree Vellappally Natesan College of Engineering, Mavelikkara, Alappuzha

• University Institute of Technology (UIT), Alappuzha

Schools
• A.G.R.M. Higher Secondary School, Vallikunnam

• Aiswarya Pradayini LPUPS, Ramapuram

• Al-Ameen Public School, Chandiroor (northern Alappuzha district)

• Aravukad Higher Secondary School, Punnapra

• Aryakkara Bhagavathi Vilasam Higher Secondary School, Muhamma

• Bishop Moore Vidyapith, Cherthala

• Carmel Academy English Medium Higher Secondary School, Pazhavangady

• Carmel International School, Punnapra

• Carmel Polytechnic College, Punnapra

• Gayathri Junior School, Mannancherry

• Georgian Public School and Junior College, Edathua

• Government UP School, Erickavu

• Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kaymkulam

• Government Sanskrit High School, Charamangalam, Muhamma

• Higher Secondary school, VHSE and Girls High Schools, Kanichukulangara Devaswom, Kanichukulangara

• Holy Family Higher Secondary School, Kattoor

• St. Thomas High School, Thumpoly.

• K.K.K.V.M. Higher Secondary School, Ananthapuram, Haripad

• Krist King High School, Cheppadu

• Kalavoor Government High School

• Leo XIII English Medium Central School, Kalath

• Leo XIII Higher Secondary School

• Mahakavi Kumaran Asan Memorial Higher Secondary School, Pallana

• MGM (Mar Gregorius Memorial) Central School, Karuvatta, is a CBSE School in Karthikappally taluk

• Matha Senior Secondary School, Thumpoly

• Morning Star English Medium School, Convent Sq.

• Naga Raja Vilasam Upper School (N.R.V.U.P.S.), Vetticode

• Padanilam Higher Secondary School, Padanilam P.O., Nooranad

• Panchayath High School, Pathiyoor

• Pope Pious XI Higher Secondary School, Kattanam

• St. Thomas High School, Karthikappally

• SDV (Sanatana Dharma Vidyasala) Boys High School

• SDV Boys Higher Secondary School

• SDV English Medium Higher Secondary School

• SDV Girls High School

• S.N.D.P. (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana) High School, Mahadevikadu

• S.N.L.P. School, Ambalappuzha

• Sree Sankara English Medium CBSE School, Kuruppamkulangara, Cherthala

• St.Mary’s Residential Central School, Alappuzha

• V.V. Higher Secondary School, Thamarakulam

Notable people
• A. K. Antony

• A. M. Ariff

• A. V. Thamarakshan

• Abey Kuruvilla

• Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker

• Ashokan

• Ayyappa Paniker

• Balachandra Menon

• Baselios Marthoma Didymos I

• Beeyar Prasad

• Bhima Bhattar

• C. M. Stephen

• C. T. Ravikumar

• Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan

• Chenganoor Raman Pillai

• Dulquer Salmaan

• Eleanour Sinclair Rohde

• Erickavu N. Sunil

• Fahadh Faasil

• Farhaan Faasil

• Faazil

• G. Sudhakaran

• Gauthami Nair

• Gayatri Arun

• I. C. Chacko

• Itty Achudan

• J. Sasikumar

• James Kalacherry

• Jomon T. John

• Joy J. Kaimaparamban

• K. Madhu

• K. Shankar Pillai

• K. M. Cherian

• K. M. Mathew

• K. M. Panikkar

• K. P. Appan

• K. P. Sasidharan

• K. P. A. C. Lalitha

• K. R. Gouri Amma

• K. S. Manoj

• Karunakara Guru

• Kavalam Narayana Panicker

• Kavalam Sreekumar

• Kayamkulam Kochunni

• Kunchacko

• Kunchako Boban

• Kuriakose Elias Chavara

• Lopamudra R.

• M. G. Radhakrishnan

• M. G. Sreekumar

• Madhu Muttom

• Mallika Sukumaran

• Mammootty

• Manu S. Pillai

• Maqbool Salmaan

• Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma

• Mavelikkara Velukkutty Nair

• Minon

• Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai

• Nagavally R. S. Kurup

• Narendra Prasad

• Navodaya Appachan

• Navya Nair

• Nedumudi Venu

• P. Parameswaran

• P. C. Alexander

• P. S. Sreedharan Pillai

• Padmarajan

• Palani Subramaniam Pillai

• Pallithanam Luca Matthai

• Parappurath

• Prasanth Parameswaran

• Rajan P. Dev

• Ramesh Chennithala

• Ratheesh

• Riaz M. T.

• Rupesh Paul

• S. Ramachandran Pillai

• Saranya Mohan

• Saranya Ponvannan

• Sebastian Xavier

• Shanimol Usman

• Sreekumaran Thampi

• Sukumara Kurup

• T. J. Anjalose

• T. K. Madhavan

• T. M. Thomas Isaac

• Tessy Thomas

• Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

• Thomas Chandy

• Thomas Kurialacherry

• Thoppil Bhasi

• V. S. Achuthanandan

• Vayalar Ramavarma

• Vayalar Ravi

• Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma

• Vidya Pradeep

• Vinayan

Towns and villages

 * Cherthala North
 * Kurattikkadu
 * Mazhukeer
 * Padanilam
 * Pathiyankara
 * Poomala Chaal
 * Vettakkal

title: Alappuzha district


text:
User talk:MLPachali

Well hello there! Welcome to the 'pedia! I too am a frustrated programer who can't do much more than scripting and who is very grateful to be able to contribute to the wiki. Cheers, and happy hacking! maveric149

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Khlysts

The Khlysts or Khlysty (Хлысты, lit. "whips") were an underground Spiritual Christian sect which emerged in Russia in the 17th century.

The sect is traditionally said to have been founded in 1645 by Danilo Filippovich, although there is no written evidence to support this claim. The beliefs and practices of its members included ecstatic rituals, worship of charismatic leaders, and a rejection of the priesthood and holy books. They believed in direct communication with the Holy Spirit and practiced the ritual of radenie ("rejoicing"), which was characterized by dancing, speaking in tongues, and prophesying.

Throughout their history, the Khlysts were pursued by accusations of sexual immorality and faced persecution from other religious groups and from the government. In the 18th century, doctrinal changes led to schisms, and by the 1970s, only a few isolated groups remained. The Khlysts had a significant influence on other Russian sectarian movements, such as the Skoptsy, Dukhobors and Molokans. Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin was associated with the Khlysts in popular rumor, but the consensus among historians is that he was not a member of the sect.

Name
The members of the sect referred to themselves by various names, including "God's People" (liudi bozh'i), "followers of Christ's faith" (Khristovovery), or simply "Christs" (Khristy). The appellation "Khlysty" is a derogatory term applied by critics of the sect. The origin of the term is disputed. It is probably a corruption of the group's aforementioned self-designation of Khristy, but may also allude to the sect's practice of ritual self-flagellation; the Russian word khlyst means a "whip" or "thin rod".

It is also possible that the word is related to the Greek word khiliaste (meaning "chiliast" or "millennialist").

Origins
According to its own oral tradition, the sect was founded in 1645 by Danilo Filippov (or Daniil Filippovich), a peasant of Kostroma and a runaway soldier. He was said to have become a "living god" after the Lord of Hosts descended upon him on Gorodino Hill, Vladimir Oblast. He delivered twelve commandments to his disciples, which forbade (among other things) sexual intercourse, drinking and swearing. He later named as his successor Ivan Suslov, a peasant of Murom. Suslov, transformed by Filippov into a "new Christ", acquired a following of twelve apostles, along with a woman who was given the title of "Mother of God". The tradition relates that Suslov was crucified twice by the Russian authorities, but rose from the dead each time.

There is no written evidence to support this story, or to confirm the existence of Filippov. The first historical references to the Khlysty are found in the writings of the Old Believers, a Christian community which resisted the 17th-century reforms of the Russian State Church. The Old Believers condemned the Khlysty as heretics, and warnings about them can be found in letters dating from around the 1670s. The Orthodox Church also attacked the Khlysty; Dimitry of Rostov wrote against them in An Investigation of the Schismatic Faith (c. 1709).

Suslov died around 1716, at which time Prokofii Lupkin became the new "Christ". The oral tradition claims that Lupkin was the son of Filippov, but this is unlikely to be true.

Lupkin was a trader, and made use of his frequent journeys to places such as Uglich and Venev to organise secret assemblies for his followers. He encouraged his followers to worship in the manner of the Old Believers, such as by making the sign of the cross with two fingers instead of three, but he also instructed them to attend the State Church and take communion. Many Khlysty, including Lupkin's wife and son, even took monastic vows. Lupkin also made large donations to the Church, which helped to protect the sect from persecution.

Beliefs and practices
The Khlysty renounced priesthood, holy books and veneration of the saints (excluding the Theotokos). They believed in the possibility of direct communication with the Holy Spirit and of its embodiment in living people. Each of their leaders was a "living god", and each congregation (or "ark") had its own "Christ" and "Mother of God", appointed by the overall leader of the sect. Furthermore, they believed that the Holy Spirit could descend upon any one of them during the state of ecstasy which they attained during the ritual of radenie ("rejoicing").

This ritual, which formed the focus of their worship, took place on holy feast days. The congregation would gather during the evening at a prearranged location, such as a member's house. They would remove their outer clothing, and enter the sacred space dressed only in an undershirt. After a period of singing or chanting the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"), some of the worshippers would feel the Holy Spirit come upon them, and would begin dancing wildly, prophesying in unintelligible language. This would continue for half an hour or more, until the dancers collapsed with exhaustion. Finally, they would share a sacramental meal of nuts, bread, pastry and kvass.

The Khlysty practiced an extreme asceticism, in order to prepare themselves for the reception of the Holy Spirit into their bodies. They abstained from alcohol, and often fasted for days or weeks at a time. Although marriage was permitted for practical purposes, "because the help of a wife was indispensable for a peasant", it was a sin to engage in sexual intercourse, even with one's own wife. Connected with this mortification of the flesh was the practice of self-flagellation which often accompanied the radenie rite.

Russian author Edvard Radzinsky has described a radenie ritual which he witnessed on the island of Chechen in 1964:

"In white flaxen shirts worn over naked bodies they went down into the cellar of a peasant lodge. There in the dry cellar they lit candles. They started to sing something sacred in the half-light – as was later explained, a verse from the Easter canon: 'Seeing, we are gladdened, for Christ has risen.' After that a little old man with joyful, light-coloured eyes – the local Christ – began to chant a Khlyst prayer in the flickering candlelight. And then with youthful energy he started to 'rejoice', that is, to whirl wildly in place, crossing himself and continually whipping his body. The choir chanted prayers, their voices ever more savagely, ever more fervently and passionately praying, so that some of them were already screaming and sobbing. But at this point the old man stopped in his whirling and cried out wildly, 'Brothers! Brothers! I feel it, the Holy Spirit! God is within me!' And he began to prophesy, shouting out incoherent sounds mixed into which were the words, 'Oh, Spirit!' 'Oh, God!' 'Oh, Spirit Lord!' After that began the main communal rite of 'rejoicing', or general whirling and dancing."

Radzinsky says that they referred to the whirling dance as "spiritual beer", on account of its intoxicating effect. He reports that after the dance had continued for some time, the worshippers fell to the floor: "And that was the end of it. But apparently only because I was present." Radzinsky claims that in some arks, the Khlysts would at this point engage in "group sinning" – a frenzied sexual orgy, which they believed would purify them from the lusts of the flesh. Similarly, C. L. Sulzberger, in his book The Fall of Eagles, writes that the Khlysty's "foremost idea was that salvation could be attained only by total repentance and that this became far more achievable for one who had truly transgressed. 'Sin in order that you may obtain forgiveness,' was the practical side of the Khlysty."

Other scholars have dismissed these rumours. Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare, referencing a study by Karl Konrad Grass, writes:

"[The Khlysty] have been accused of ending their radenia or religious dances with wholesale debauchery, the lights being first put out. Grass examines the evidence very carefully and impartially, and rejects the story as calumny. The only thing that gives it colour is that often, when the ecstasies are over, the exhausted votaries drop down on the floor and sleep till dawn, the men on one side of the apartment, the women on the other. Their doing so, instead of going home at once, is a necessity dictated either by the climate or by fear of the Russian police, whose suspicions would be roused if they trooped home at a late hour."

Historian Joseph T. Fuhrmann claims that "splinter groups practiced 'holy intercourse,' but most khlysty were devout pentecostalists who condemned such behaviour."

Persecution
Accusations of sexual immorality pursued the sect from its earliest days, and provoked numerous government investigations.

In 1717, Lupkin and twenty other Khlysty were arrested in Uglich. They were held for five months, during which time they were interrogated and beaten. While some of his followers remained in custody, Lupkin managed to negotiate his own release, with the help of a 300-ruble bribe. Despite officially repenting, he continued to lead the movement until his death in 1732.

From 1733 to 1739, a specially-formed government commission arrested hundreds of suspected Khlyst members, charging them with participation in sexual orgies and ritual infanticide. These accusations were repeatedly denied, but the commission nevertheless convicted over three hundred people. They handed out sentences of hard labour, beatings, and mutilation of the nostrils and the tongue, and sent many of the prisoners into exile in Siberia or Orenburg.

However, the Khlysty were undeterred, and continued practising. Some of those who had been sent into exile began to spread the movement through Siberia. In 1745, therefore, a new commission was formed, this time using "far crueler methods of interrogation". This commission, although eliciting false confessions of sexual deviation and cannibalistic communion, and sending another 200 people into exile, likewise failed to stamp out the movement.

Later history
Around 1750, some doctrinal changes took place within the sect, and they became known as the Postniki ("Fasters"). The leaders of the sect were now seen as "personifications of Christ", rather than only playing host to his spirit. It was no longer considered possible for ordinary members to receive the Holy Spirit during radenie, although the ritual still held a central position in their worship.

In 1840, a new splinter sect broke away from the Postniki. Calling themselves Israelites, they shortly afterwards split again into Old Israel and New Israel. The beliefs of the latter group departed considerably from the traditional teachings of the Khlysts, and the sect still exists today in Uruguay.

These schisms weakened the movement, and their numbers began to decline. By the start of the twentieth century, estimates of the Khlysty's numbers ranged at around one hundred thousand. Prior to the outbreak of World War I, there were reported to be around 20,000 New Israelites, 15,000 Old Israelites and 3,000 Postniki in Russia. By the 1970s, there were only "a few isolated groups" remaining.

Influence
The Khlysty are said to have been "the root of all Russian sectarianism", having spawned sects such as the Skoptsy, the Dukhobors and the Molokans.

Connection to Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin was twice investigated (in 1903 and 1907) by the Tobolsk Theological Consistory, under charges of spreading Khlyst doctrine. Both investigations were closed without any evidence being found against him, but popular rumour continued to link Rasputin to the sect.

C. L. Sulzberger, in 1977, claimed that Rasputin "adopted the philosophy (if not proven membership)" of the Khlysts.

In The Man Behind the Myth, co-authored by Rasputin's daughter Maria, it is claimed that Rasputin attended several Khlyst gatherings in the years before his arrival in St. Petersberg, but ultimately became disillusioned with the sect. The factual accuracy of this book has been called into question, and according to Brian Moynahan, Maria's story is the only evidence that Rasputin had any Khlyst connections. The consensus of modern historians is that Rasputin was never a member of the sect.

title: Khlysts