Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupuzha has a population of 52,045 people, and a population density of .
Thodupuzha is the largest town and main commercial centre in Idukki. It is bordered by the Kottayam district on the southern side and the Ernakulam District on the western side. It also acts as a gateway to various tourist spots in the High Range regions towards its east, including Munnar, Thekkady, and Peermade.
Etymology During the annexation of the Vadakkumkoor principality by the Kingdom of Travancore, the capital Karikkode was destroyed by Diwan Ramayyan and his forces. In response, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, appointed Elasamprathi Narayana Varma as the administrator of the newly acquired territory. A nearby area called Edavathuruth, surrounded by hillocks and rocky terrain, was selected as the new headquarters of Thodupuzha taluk. The former capital Karikkode was reduced to a small village known as a "Pakuthy". The Maharaja also appointed Mallan Sankaran of Palliyadi as surveyor to prepare land revenue records, including the Ozhukku survey and Kandezhuthu settlement. As Mallan Sankaran failed to execute his mission due to widespread objection and riot of the local people, survey was only completed during the reign of Karthikathirunal Ramavarma. The place was named Thodupuzha by the Raja of Vadakkumkoor Maluvakon Manikantan who used to reside in his palace at Vaickam and Edavetty(Mattam Palace) near Karikkode, used to mention the nearby flowing wide "Valiyathodu" as thodu () puzha (). It is believed that the stream developed into a river due to the changes in geophysical conditions of the area wherefrom it originates and enter the vally of Arakulam, to be known as Thodupuzha river and the town on the banks of the river came to be known as Thodupuzha. There is another version that defines thodu as "touch" instead. The Mattathil Kovilakam were the protectors and rulers of the region. The last ruler of the region was Elasamprathi Narayana Varma, who originally came from Trivandrum and was the representative of Maharaja of Travancore Anizhamthirunal Marthanda Varma.
History
The Vadakkumkur kings used to live in Karikode for several years. Vadakkumkur was a late medieval/early modern feudal principality located in Kerala. After the kingdom separated, Thekkumkur became an independent kingdom, while Vadakkumkur became a vassal of Cochin. During the time of Portuguese dominance in Cochin, disputes arose between the Vadakkumkur chieftain and the Kingdom of Cochin over the pepper trade, and the Vadakkumkur raja was killed in battle with Cochin and their Portuguese allies. After the attack, Vadakkumkur palace split into two branches: one was known as Mattathil Palace, which remained in Thondikkuzha; and the other one in Kadanadu Pala. Vadakkumkur and Thekkumkur were later annexed by Marthanda Varma and incorporated into the kingdom of Travancore. Maharaja appointed his representative known as Elasamprathi Narayana Varam to develop the region called Keezhmalainadu. Varam became known as the father of Keezhmalainadu and modern Thodupuzha.
Varam erected many monuments, including the government offices, Pandikasala, and temples. The Karikode mosque and other buildings in Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha also date from his reign. Elasamprathi Narayana Varma is credited with introducing a new system of tax collection in the region. Thodupuzha is an ancient town with a history spanning several centuries. Buddhist and Jain influences reached Thodupuzha and surrounding areas as early as the 3rd century BCE.
In the 14th century, Kerala was divided into several administrative provinces, including Venadu, Otanadu, Navishainadu, Munjunadu, Vempolinadu, and Keezhmalainadu. Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were part of Keezhmalainadu, which existed until 1600, when it was defeated by Vadakkumkoor and subsequently became part of that principality.
St George Syro-Malabar Forane Church at Muthalakodam St. George Forane Church MuthalakodamWayback MachineSt. George's Forane Church, Muthalakodam · WP6M+764, SH44, Muthalakodam, Kerala 685605, India, near Thodupuzha, is believed to have constructed before the 13th century. It was re-built several times since then and the current structure was built in the year 1973.
Mylacombu St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Thodupuzha Architecture of Churches in Kerala | Christianity in Kerala | Kerala TourismSt. Thomas Forane Church, Mylacombu · WMFX+QPQ, Mylacombu, Kumaramangalam, Idukki, Kerala 685608, India is believed to be built in 660 AD by Syrian Christian settlers in Mylacombu near Thodupuzha who migrated from Kuravilangad, Kodungallur, Angamaly, Kadamattom and Vadakara, Koothattukulam.
St Mary's Syro-Malabar Church, Nediyasala St. Mary's Syro Malabar Church, Nediyasala · VMPF+PMM, Thodupuzha, Koothattukulam Road, Nediyasala, Kerala 685608, India near Thodupuzha is another ancient church in the locality.
After Indian independence, from 1949 to 1956, Thodupuzha was a part of the Kottayam district in Travancore-Cochin state. In 1956, when Kerala state was formed, Thodupuzha remained as a part of Kottayam district until 1958, when Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958 and C. A. Mathew (മാത്യു ചൂരപുഴ) became the first member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1960, and from 1960 to 1965. In 1972, the Idukki district was formed by merging the Thodupuzha taluk with the Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermade taluks, which were part of the Kottayam district.
Demographics
As of 2011 Census, Thodupuzha Taluka, with an area of had a total population of 325,951; males comprised 49% of the population and females 51%. The literacy rate of Thodupuzha Taluka in 2011 was 95.56%, in which, male and female literacy were 96.81% and 94.33% respectively. In Thodupuzha, 9% of the population was under the age of six.
Economy and infrastructure
Thodupuzha taluk (later bifurcated into Thodupuzha and Idukki taluks) lies mostly in the low-range plains of central Kerala. The area serves as a major trading hub for hill produce, including rubber, coconut, black pepper, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, and cocoa.Prior to the rise of real estate development, large areas in the region were used for paddy cultivation. However, paddy farming has largely been abandoned by farmers in recent decades. Agriculture, particularly rubber cultivation, has traditionally been the mainstay of Thodupuzha's economy. Other crops such as pineapple, coconut, rice, pepper, cocoa, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric are also cultivated. In recent decades, Thodupuzha has seen growth in small-scale and village industries, supported by state government policies. Several manufacturing units have been established in the area, including The Dhanwanthari Vaidyasala (the first Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing unit in the district), Nagarjuna, Guardian Controls, Lunar Chappals, Saro Plast, and Brahmins Industries.
The town has also benefited from improved infrastructure, including bypass roads, and the presence of numerous public and private institutions.
|+Neighbouring cities & towns
Climate
Politics
Thodupuzha was administered by a village panchayat and village union for several years, but on 1 September 1978, it was upgraded into a municipality. The Thodupuzha municipality was formed by merging the Thodupuzha panchayat with the neighboring panchayats of Kumaramangalam, Karikkode, and Manacaud. It was administered by a special officer for the first ten years. In 1988, the first popularly elected municipal council was formed, with N. Chandran as its chairman.
Sports The Thodupuzha Cricket Stadium constructed by the Kerala Cricket Association is located in Thekkumbhagom, approximately five kilometers away from Thodupuzha, which is large enough to host two cricket matches at the same time.
Municipality Members
Ward No. Ward Name Councilor Name Party Alliance 001 Vengalloor T.K. Sudhakaran Nair IND OTH 002 Guru L.P.C. Shimnas K.K. CPI(M) LDF 003 Vengathanam Biji Suresh IND OTH 004 Madathikkandom Raji Ajesh INC UDF 005 Municipal U.P. School Deepak K. INC UDF 006 Ambalam Gopalakrishnan K. BJP NDA 007 B.H.S Subaida Seythumuhammad IUML UDF 008 Vadakkummurry Safiya Jabbar IUML UDF 009 Pettenadu Adv. Sreeja Rajesh BJP NDA 010 Muthalakodam West Basheer IND OTH 011 Holy Family Mercy Sebastian KEC UDF 012 Karoppara Mini Tomy IND OTH 013 Kunnam Annies John Kuzhikandathil INC UDF 014 Pattayamkavala Adv. Jomon Ulahannan KEC UDF 015 Muthalakodam East T.M. Basheer IUML UDF 016 Undaplavu A.M. Haarid IUML UDF 017 B.T.M. School Nishad IUML UDF 018 Kummamkallu Saabira Jaleel IUML UDF 019 Malepparambu Ramziya Niyas IUML UDF 020 Valiyajaram Jisha Razak IUML UDF 021 Keerikode Vishnu K. Sasi INC UDF 022 Muthaliyarmadom Jithesh C. Injakattu BJP NDA 023 Municipal Office P.A. Shahul Hameed INC UDF 024 Urumpilpalam Renuka Rajasekharan BJP NDA 025 Maramkunnu P.R. Vijayakumari BJP NDA 026 Kanjiramattom Rajeswari BJP NDA 027 Olamattom Joy Myladi INC UDF 028 Perukkoni Litty Joseph INC UDF 029 Kothaikunnu Rinkumol Sebastian IND OTH 030 Kolani R. Hari IND OTH 031 Nadukkandom Nisha Soman INC UDF 032 Parakkadavu Kavitha N.S. CPI(M) LDF 033 Amaramkavu Uma A.B. BJP NDA 034 Municipal Quarters R. Aji BJP NDA 035 Co-operative Hospital Rajesh Babu INC UDF 036 Chunkam Athira Joshi IND OTH 037 River View Prof. Jessy Antony KC(M) LDF 038 Manakkad Padmakumar S. BJP NDA
Education The first center of higher learning in the taluk was Newman College, Thodupuzha. It was established in 1964 by the Syrian Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam and named after Cardinal Newman. The second college of Thodupuzha was established in 1982: St. Joseph's College in Arakkulam. The University College of Engineering, Thodupuzha, managed and run by the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, is located in Thodupuzha. The college started functioning in 1996.
St. Augustine`s H. S. S. Karimkunnam Govt. V H S S Thodupuzha Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Govt. H S S Thodupuzha St. Sebastian`s H S Thodupuzha ST GEORGE H S S, MUTHALAKODAM, IDUKKI Sacred Heart Girls H S Muthalakodam St. George`s H S Kallanickal M K N M H S Kumaramangalam St. Rita`s High School Paynkulam St. Antony`s H S Kuninji St. Sebastian`s H S S Vazhithala St. Sebastian`s H S Purapuzha GOVT. HIGH SCHOOL ARIKUZHA Govt. U. P. School Thondikuzha Govt. L. P. School Arikuzha N. S. S. (Govt.) L.P. School Chittoor Govt. L. P. School Edavetty Govt. L. P. School Kaloor Govt. L. P. School Karimkunnam Govt. L. P. School Kuninji Govt. L. P. School Kumaramangalam Govt. L. P. School Purappuzha St. Sebastian`s U. P. School Ezhalloor S. G. U. P. School Kallanickal M. M. U. P. School Meenmutty S M U P S NEDIYASALA L. F. U. P. School Nediyakadu S. P. U. P. School Thattarathatta S. J. U. P. School Perumpillichira L. F. L. P. School Chittoor S. T. L. P. School Kolady St. Thomas U. P. S. Paynkulam S. J. L. P. School Peryampra P. L. P. School Perumpillichira S. A. L. P. School Vengalloor TECHNICAL HS PURAPPUZHA
Notable people
Ajitkumar Varma Deputy Inspector General of Police| CIB| Indian High Commission London, Asif Ali, film actor
Askar Ali, film actor P. K. Abdul Aziz, vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Dileesh Nair, film director and screenwriter Hakkim Shajahan, film actor Jaffar Idukki, film actor P. J. Joseph, leader of Kerala Congress and former minister in the Second Oommen Chandy ministry Neeta Pillai, film actress Pappachen Pradeep, defender for the India national football team, former captain of the U23 team. Nishanth Sagar, film actor Rajesh Touchriver, film director Shiny Wilson ( Abraham), Olympian and Asian Games Medal Winner Binni Krishnakumar, singer and dancer