Marthanda Varma Bridge മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമപ്പാലം | |
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![]() The old bridge on right and the new bridge on left | |
Coordinates | 10°06′44″N76°20′52″E / 10.1123°N 76.3478°E |
Carries | NH 544 |
Crosses | Periyar river |
Locale | Aluva, Kerala, India |
Characteristics | |
Total length | 141 m |
Width | 5.5 m |
History | |
Engineering design by | GBS Truscourt M.L. Duraiswamy |
Constructed by | JB Gammon Company |
Construction start | 1937 (old bridge) |
Construction end | 1940 (old bridge) |
Construction cost | ₹8 lakhs (old bridge) ₹8 crore (new bridge) |
Inaugurated | 14 June 1940 (old bridge) 22 June 2002 (new bridge) |
Location | |
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Marthanda Varma Bridge is a twin-bridge located in the city of Aluva, in the Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. [1] The bridges lie on the NH 544 connecting the banks of the Periyar river. The old bridge opened in June 1940 is the second arch bridge in Asia, which was built in memory of Marthanda Varma, the sculptor of Travancore. [2] A new bridge was built parallel to the old bridge to increase the traffic capabilities to four lanes, which was opened to the public in June 2002. The Marthanda Varma Bridge is regarded as one of the most important landmarks of Aluva and played a major role in its development into an industrial city. It has been featured in many Malayalam films and literary works. [3]
Alangad and Paravur were the territories given to Travancore by the King of Cochin as a reward for driving out the Samoothiri with the help of the Dutch army. Marthanda Varma Bridge was built so that members of the Travancore royal family could go to Alangad and Paravur without boarding a raft from Aluva to corss the Periyar river The construction of the Marthanda Varma Bridge was started in 1937. The contract of eight lakh rupees was given to JB Gammon Company. The construction was done using all the important technologies of that time. A shock absorbing system, which is still working, was constructed by installing giant springs on concrete slabs at six places under the deck of the bridge. These springs were imported from Italy. The 5.5 meter wide and 141 meter long bridge has three arches on both sides. The crest of the Travancore princely state is still on the plaque. [4]
GBS Truscourt and M.L. Duraiswamy Iyengar were the chief engineers. While the construction was in progress, a major landslide accident happened on 21 November 1938 around 9.30 pm. The tragedy happened when a ten feet wide and 20 feet long deep trench was dug and the soil was removed for the construction of the handrail. 11 people were trapped under the fallen soil and stones out of which 10 died. Despite these difficulties, the bridge was completed in three years. Although the technical facilities were very less, the work was completed in a short time. The earthwork sub-contract of the bridge was taken by former municipal chairman Pattamana George and Ittan Thomas. There is still a pillar in the Periyar river that was tilted during construction. As it could not be removed, another piling was being done nearby. [5]
The bridge that was inaugurated on 14 June 1940 by Ilayaraja Marrthanda Varma. However, the bridge was built by Srichithira Tirunal Balaramavarma in memory of Marthanda Varma. As his younger brother's name was Marthanda Varma, he was chosen to inaugurate the bridge. On the occasion of the inauguration, 19 lorries and three elephants walked across the bridge. At this time Engineer G.B.S. Truscourt, his wife and son were sitting in a boat on the river. He moved away from the opening platform and stationed himself under the bridge to check the stability of the bridge. 12 years after the construction of the Marthandavarma bridge, another arch bridge was constructed across the Periyar at Mangalapuzha, 2 km away. With that bridge known as Mangalapuzha bridge, there was no need for a raft to go to Thrissur. After 62 years, when the traffic increased, another bridge with the same shape came up parallel to the bridge. It was inaugurated on 22 June 2002. Its construction was completed at a cost of ₹8 crores. [6]
Idukki is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district contains two municipal towns – Kattappana and Thodupuzha, and five taluks.
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma (1758–98).
Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore-era palace located in Padmanabhapuram in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The palace is owned, controlled and maintained by the government of the neighbouring state of Kerala. Padmanabhapuram is the former capital city of the erstwhile Hindu kingdom of Travancore. It is around 20 km (12 mi) from Nagercoil, 39 km (24 mi) from Kanyakumari town and 52 km (32 mi) from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The palace complex lies inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. The palace is located at the foot of the Veli Hills, part of the Western Ghats. The river Valli flows nearby.
Aluva, is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is part of the Kochi metropolitan area, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the Kochi city centre. As per the 2011 Indian census, Aluva has a population of 22,428.
Poovar is a tourist town in Neyyattinkara (tehsil) in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, South India. This village is almost at the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram while the next village, Pozhiyoor, marks the end of Kerala.
Thiruvithamcode, is a small panchayat town located in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thiruvithamcode is about 20 km from Nagercoil and 2 km from Thuckalay.
Kilimanoor Palace is a palace located in Kilimanoor, in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the birthplace of painter Raja Ravi Varma and Raghava Varma, the father of king Marthanda Varma.
Rama Varma I often referred to as Dharma Raja, was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the Hindu principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the Mysorean conquest of Malabar.
The Kingdom of Thekkumkur was an independent kingdom in the southern part of Kerala in India from 1103 CE until 1750 CE. It was ruled by the Thekkumkur Royal Family. Thekkumkur lies between the Meenachil River and the Pamba River, from the Western Ghats to the Vembanad Kayal. Thekkumkur emerges as a result of administrative changes in the princely states at the end of the Chera Kulasekhara dynasty of Mahodayapuram. The literal meaning of the title is the southern regent and the attribute southern distinguished them from another kingdom known as Vadakkumkur which bordered it in the northern side. The royal household, Thekkumkur Kovilakam, were at Vennimala and Manikandapuram near Puthuppally, later it shifted to Neerazhi Palace at Puzhavathu of Changanassery and Thalilkotta at Thaliyanthanapuram (Kottayam).
)Ramayyan Dalawa was the Dalawa of Travancore state, India, during 1737 and 1756 and was responsible for the consolidation and expansion of that kingdom after the defeat of the Dutch at the 1741 Battle of Colachel during the reign of Maharajah Marthanda Varma, the creator of modern Travancore.
Marthanda Varma is a 1933 black and white Indian silent film directed by P. V. Rao, based on the 1891 Malayalam novel by C. V. Raman Pillai. This was the first film based on Malayalam literature and the next film of the Malayalam film industry after Vigathakumaran.
Marthandavarma is a historical romance novel by C. V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It tells the story of Venad (Travancore) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma's reign and to the accession of Marthanda Varma. Set in Kollavarsham 901–906, the story revolves around three protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra and Mangoikkal Kuruppu. They try to protect the title character from Padmanabhan Thambi and Ettu Veetil Pillamar, who want to oust him from the throne of Travancore. The novel includes allusions to the Indian subcontinent and Western, historical, cultural and literary traditions.
Alangad is a village located in Paravur Taluk of Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies almost in the middle of North Paravur and Aluva. The Kochi city is 15 km away from Alangad.
Mangalapuzha bridge is a bridge in Aluva, Kerala, India. This bridge connects Desom and Aluva town. This bridge is situated 3 km away from Marthanda Varma Bridge and is a part of NH 47 Highway passing through Aluva. Aluva Pontifical seminary is situated near this bridge.
The Battle of Changanacherry was a battle between the kingdoms of Thekkumkur and Travancore in September 1749. Defeat in this decisive battle led to Thekkumkur losing its dominance and expanding the Tranvancore empire to the southern border of the river Meenachilar.
Aditya Varma Manikandan popularly known as Aditya Varman, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely State of Thekkumkur. He was the ruler until September 1749 when the king of Travancore Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma ousted him from Neerazi Palace at the Battle of Changanassery. Thekkumkur kings were known as Manikandan. The goddess was Cheruvally Bhagavathi in the space. The official residence of Sri Aditya Varma was Neerazi Palace.
The Aluva Palace, also known as Alwaye Palace is a Travancore royal palace built by king Maharaja Karthika Thirunal Dharma Raja around 1790 during the reign of the Chera kings of Travancore. Aluva Palace is situated in the city Kochi, Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala.
The Neriamangalam Bridge is a bridge in the South Indian state of Kerala, that connects the Ernakulam and Idukki districts. Opened in 1935, it is the first Class A arch bridge in Asia. Popularly known as the gateway to the high ranges, it is located in Neriamangalam and presently a part of NH 85.