Vettikkavala | |
---|---|
Village | |
Coordinates: 8°59′0″N76°49′0″E / 8.98333°N 76.81667°E | |
Country | India |
State | Kerala |
District | Kollam |
Area | |
• Total | 18.71 km2 (7.22 sq mi) |
Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 20,118 |
• Density | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Vehicle registration | KL-24 |
Vettikkavala is a village located in the Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. [1] The village is famous for Shiva-Vishnu temples which hosts a special deity called Vathukkal Njaali Kunju. An annual celebration of Pongala is held at the temple. The village is also well known for temple arts (kshetra kala) and a palace constructed by Sree Moolam Thirunal. [2]
The village Vettikkavala derives its name from the origins of idol worship of the temple here. The initial worship was carried out on an idol beneath a Vetti( aporosa cardiosperma) tree that existed near the temple. According to local historians, this tree was roughly situated near the present-day government school.
As of the2011 [update] India census, Vettikkavala has a population of 20,118 with 5,313 households. The majority of the population identifies as Hindu and Christians are the largest religious minority. Scheduled Castes make up 17.02% of the total population; 0.12% of the population are Scheduled Tribes.
In local self governance, the village of Vettikkavala falls within the Block panchayat named Vettikkavala (one among the 11 blocks in Kollam district) and the is spread across Gram panchayats of Vettikkavala and Melila. In revenue administration it comes under in the Kottarakara Taluk of Kollam district of Kerala. Vettikkavala is part of the Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency) and in the state legislature, it forms part of Pathanapuram legislative seat.
Vettikkavala Sree Mahadevar temple is one of the largest and most famous Shiva-Vishnu temples in Kerala. As per oral history there was an idol worship carried out beneath a vetti tree near the present day temple in olden times. The available records suggests that in around the 17th or 18th century, a temple was constructed near the tree by the queen of Elayadath Swaroopam. The Elayadath Swaroopam centered at Kottarakkara was brought under Travancore in 1742 by troops of Marthanda Varma as a result of Travancore–Dutch War. The temple remained in a dilapidated state for many years after the annexation. However, in 1900 (Malayalam era 1176), and under the insistence of palace manager Sankaran Thampi the king of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal renovated the temple into its current structure. [3]
The Travancore Devaswom Board made a major investment in restoring the temple. In 1996, another round of maintenance was undertaken. During this work, a portion of kulikadavu around the temple pond was inadvertently damaged.
On the southern side of the temple lies a palace constructed by Travancore kings during the reign of Moolam Thirunal. This palace was designed for kings and royal family members who were visiting the adjacent temple. Presently, weather and encroaching vegetation are leading the temple into further ruin. [4]
Vettikavala Government Model High School is a high-tech, high-achieving secondary school. Another higher secondary school is in Sadanandapuram and is also high achieving academically. High schools are situated in Thalachira, Chakkuvarakkal, Kottavattom and are at a good level. Some lp, up, and welfare schools are also run by the government. Sector and some aided schools are also run by the private sector. There is also a polytechnic college in Thalachira.
State-run KSRTC buses are the primary form of transportation. The village is well connected to Kottarakkara, Kokkadu, Thalachira, Chakkuvarakkal and Punalur through frequent bus services. Three daily KSRTC Fast Passenger bus services ensure connectivity to neighboring districts of Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram.
The Kottarakara and Avaneeswaram railway stations, located on the Kollam-Sengottai railway line, are the nearest stations. Both of them are 8 km from Vettikkavala. However, Vettikkavala is better connected with Kottarakkara railway station through public transportation. The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport (68 km).
The Kingdom of Travancore, also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor or later as Travancore State, was an Indian kingdom that lasted from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram were parts of British India.
Mavelikara is a municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located 36 km (22.4 mi) south of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about 95 km (59.0 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Mavelikkara has a population of 26,421 people, and a population density of 2,088/km2 (5,410/sq mi).
Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.
Kottarakkara, also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of the Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies 27 kilometres (17 mi) to the east of Kollam city centre.
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Pathanapuram is a Town in Pathanapuram Taluk Kollam district, Kerala, India. Pathanapuram is a part of Grama Panchayat and Block panchayat of same name and part of Kollam District Panchayat.
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Poonjar is a small Indian town located on the eastern side of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the part of Travancore princely state. Erattupetta, Teekoy, Bharananganam, and Vagamon are the nearest towns and villages of Poonjar. Taluk Headquarters, Pala is 18 kilometres away from Poonjar and Kanjirapally is 22.6 kilometres away from Poonjar.
Pattazhy, also Pattazhi is a village located in Pathanapuram taluk in the eastern part of the Kollam District, Kerala state, India. It is best known as the site of an ancient Bhagavathy temple, Pattazhy Devi Temple.
The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore.The Travancore royal family signed a treaty with the British in 1788, thereby adopting British dominance. Later, in 1805, they revised the treaty, leading to a diminution of royal authority and the loss of political independence for Travancore. They had to give up their ruling rights over the common people in 1949 when Travancore were forced to merge with Independent India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971.
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Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the prominent religions in Kollam district. As per the Census 2011, out of the total population of 2,635,375 persons, 64.42% follow Hinduism, 19.30% follow Islam and 16.00% follow Christianity. Other religions comprise 0.04%, while 0.25% did not state any religion.
Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi is an Indian writer from Kerala and a member of the Travancore Royal Family. She has ten books to her credit. Aswathy Thirunal is the niece of the last King of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2024.
Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shasta, located in Kulathupuzha in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the five important Sastha temples in Kerala, the others being Aryankavu, Achankovil, Sabarimala and Kanthamala. The idol there is believed to have been installed by Parashurama and is made up of eight pieces of stone. The temple is known for the Meenoottu offering. The temple is governed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
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