Pala () is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Pala also serves as the headquarters of Meenachil Taluk. As per the 2011 Indian census, Pala has a population of 22,056, and a population density of .
Pala is on the banks of the Meenachil River and is a major hub of Syrian Christian culture in Kerala.
Demographics Indian census, Pala had a population of 22,640. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pala has an average literacy rate of 98%, higher than the national average of 73%: male literacy is 98.5%, and female literacy is 97.8%, still much higher than the state average. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Christians make up 65.09% of the population, Hindus 34.19%, Muslims 0.1%, other religions 0.05% and 0.15% not stated.
Politics Pala is generally a stronghold of the United Democratic Front and the Kerala Congress (Mani). K.M. Mani represented the Pala constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1965 to 2019, making him the longest-serving legislator in Kerala. After the death of K.M. Mani, the Left Front won the by-election held in September 2019 for the first time in history. This victory was achieved by Mani C. Kappan of the NCP.
Pala is a municipality since its formal inauguration on December 1, 1949. The current municipal chairperson of Pala municipality is LDF-backed Independent Maya Rahul. She replaced UDF-backed Independent Diya Binu Pulikkakandam after an LDF-backed no-confidence motion was passed with support of 17 councillors.
Pala falls under the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency and Pala Assembly constituency. It is represented by Mani C Kappan in the Legislative Assembly and by K. Francis George in the Lok Sabha. Ward Ward Name Councilor Name Party Alliance 001 Paramalakunnu Adv. Betty Shaju Thuruthel LDF 002 Mundupalam Shaju Thuruthen 003 Market Josin Bino 004 Kizhathadiyoor Sonia Chitted UDF 005 Plathanam Georgekutty Cheruvallil LDF 006 Kanattupara Sebastian J. Panaikkal UDF 007 Pulimalakunnu Jiji Baiju Kollamparambil LDF 008 Kaveekunnu Riya Chiramkuzhy UDF 009 Kochidappadi Siji Tony Thottathil 010 Moonnani Biju Varikkani 011 Monastri Ruby Anto Padinjarekere LDF 012 Chethimattom Tony Thaiparambil UDF 013 Murikkumpuzha Biju Pulikkakandam Others 014 Parippil Kunnu Adv. Binu Pulikkakandam 015 Palapurayidom Diya Binu Pulikkakandam 016 Kannadiyurumbu Tomin Vattamala LDF 017 12th Mile Sanil Raghavan 018 Mukkalikunnu Lisikutty Mathew Kandathiparambil UDF 019 Pala Maya Rahul Others (later joined LDF) 020 Lalam Biji Jojo Kudakachira LDF 021 Vellappadu Leena Sunny Purayidom 022 Arunapuram Rajitha Prakash UDF 023 College Ward Princy Sunny 024 Kottaramattom Biju Mathews 025 Nelliyani Biju Palupadavil LDF 026 Puthenpallikunnu Roy Francis Sports The Municipal Stadium is the centre of sports in Pala.
The 61st Kerala State Schools Athletics Championships was held at the stadium in 2017. At least 2500 students from 100 schools attended the sports meet. The 63rd Kerala State Athletics Championship was also held at the stadium in the month of October, 2019.
See also Bharananganam Kattappana Thodupuzha Erattupetta Cherpunkal List of people from Pala Places of worship in Pala Meenachil Meenachil River Pala (State Assembly constituency) Ullanadu
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