Alappuzha: A detailed Study for PSC
May 2020|🟡Review|7 min read|64 entries
Key Takeaway
Alappuzha(formerly Alleppey)was a part of the Kottayam & Kollam districts.
Alappuzha: A detailed Study for PSC(64)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic Facts About AlappuzhaFormed on | 17 August 1957 |
| Architect/Founder/Designer | Raja Kesavadas(Diwan of Travancore) |
| Taluks | 6 |
| Taluk of Alappuzha with the longest coastline in Kerala | Cherthala |
| District without mountains.No. of Assembly Constituencies | 9.No. of Lok Sabha Constituencies– 2 |
| Onlyreserve forestin Alappuzha | Veeyapuram(14.5 acres, 2013) |
| Rivers | Manimala river, Achan Kovil river, Pamba river |
| Lakes | Vembanad Lake |
| Famous Beaches | Purakkad, Thumboli & Thaikkal |
| Cultural Capital of Alappuzha | Ambalappuzha |
| Famous Temples | Mannarasala Snake Temple, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Chakkulathukavu, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple(approx. 2000 years old) |
| Major Festivals | Kumba Bharani– Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple |
| Panthrandu Vilakku | Ochira Parabrahma Temple |
| Famous Islands | Pathiramanal island, Perumbalam island, Kakkathuruth |
| Famous Places | Kumarakodi(Pallana, resting place of Kumaranasan) |
| Originated from Alappuzha | Velakali & Ottamthullal(Ambalappuzha),VanchipattuKarumadikuttan, a black granite statue of Lord Buddha was found in Karumadi near Alappuzha indicating the influence of Buddhism in ancient Kerala |
| Sree Moolavasam | Oldest Buddhist religious center in Kerala |
| Tourist Spots | Kumarakom, Saradha Mandiram(residence of Kerala Panini) |
| Transport:Road | National Highway 66 |
| Water | National Waterway 3 |
| Ancient names of Places in Alappuzha'Barace' | Purakkad.‘Bettimani’ – Karthikapally.'Karappuram' – Cherthala.'Odanadu' – Kayamkulam |
| Epithets of Alappuzha‘Venice of the East’(by Lord Curzon).‘Netherlands of Kerala’ | Kuttanad.'Holland of Kerala' – Kuttanad.‘Gift of Pamba’ – Kuttanad.'Rice bowl of Kerala' – Kuttanad.‘Bird Village of Kerala' – Nooranad.‘Mural Pagoda’ – Krishnapuram Palace.‘Mayoora Santheshathinte Nadu’ – Haripad.'Dwaraka of the South' – Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swami Temple.'Dakshina Palani' – Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple |
| First Coir Factory in Kerala | Darragh Smail & Co. Ltd(1859) |
| First Coir Village in Kerala | Vayalar |
| First Film Studio in Kerala | Udaya |
| First Siddha village in India | Chandiroor |
| First Seafood Park in Kerala | Aroor |
| First 100% literate Village in Kerala | Nedumudi |
| First Cartoon Museum in India | Krishnapuram, Kayamkulam |
| First Grama Panchayat to win Swaraj Trophy | Kanjikuzhy(1995-96) |
| First Labour Organization/Trade Union in Kerala | Travancore Labour Association(1922) |
| First Naphtha based Thermal power plant, Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant of Kerala | Kayamkulam |
| First Lighthouse along the Western Coast of India | Alappuzha Lighthouse |
| First Cyclone Shelter in Kerala | Mararikulam |
| First Labour Movement Museum in India | Alappuzha |
| Famous Personalities of AlappuzhaAnizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma | Maker of Modern Travancore |
| Resting place of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai | Sankaramangalam |
| Kunjan Nambiaris known as ‘Father of Ottamthullal.’K.R. Gowri | First Revenue Minister of Keralawho introduced theLand Reforms Billin the Kerala legislative assembly |
| Kayamkulam Kochunni | Robinhood of Kerala |
| Former name | Prime Ministers TrophyEpithets– ‘Olapparappile Olympics/Kuttanad's Olympics on Water.’Award– Silver Trophy(replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus) |
| First conducted on | 1952(to honor then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru when he visited Alappuzha) |
| First Winner | Nadubhagam Chundan |
| Most time Winner | Kaarichal Chundan |
| Tracks | 1400 meters(length) divided into 4 tracks of 10 meters wide from East |
| Chundan | Amaram: 5 persons, Nilakkar: 5 persons |
| Winners in Recent YearsYearWinner2014Champakulam Chundan(United Boat Club)2015Jawahar Thayankari(Vembanad Boat Club)2016Kaarichal Chundan(Vembanad Boat Club)2017Gabriel Chundan(Thuruthippuram Boat Club)2018Payippadan Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2019Nadubhagom Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2022Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekkathil(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2023Veeyapuram Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)Other Major Boat racesAyyankali Boat Race | Vellayani lakeMother Theresa Boat Race– Achankovil riverChampakkulam (Moolam Snake boat race)– Vembanad Lake📝 Read More:Vembanad LakeBoat Races of KeralaInstitutions, Memorials & HeadquartersAutokast Ltd– Cherthala |
| Coir Research Institute | Kalavoor |
| Kerala Spinners Limited | Komalapuram |
| Punnapra Vayalar Rebellion Memorial | Kalarcode |
| Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts | Mavelikara |
| Sugarcane Research Station | Thiruvalla |
| Vayalar Rama Varma Memorial | Chandrakalabham(October 27, 2020)* |
| HeadquartersKerala Coir BoardKerala State Water TransportKerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) | KayamkulamCentral Coconut Research station– KayamkulamKerala State Drugs & Pharmaceuticals– Kalavoor |
| Mankombu Rice Research Institute | Kayamkulam.📝SideNotes:Ancient remnants of the shipwreck were found near –Thaikkal |
| Battle of Purakkad | 1746 |
| Kerala Panini | A.R. Raja Raja Varma |
| First Coir Factory in India, Darragh Smail & Co. Ltd was owned by | James Darragh (Irish American) & Henry Smail |
| Second largest mural painting in Kerala | Gajendra Moksham |
| Dalai Lama described the Granite statue of Lord Buddha, Karumadikuttan as | 'Kankanda Daivam'(കൺകണ്ട ദൈവം, 1965 when Dalai Lama visited Alleppey) |
| Another place with Kunchan Nambiar Smarakam | Killikkurissiimangalam, Lakkidi |
| First scholar from Kerala to write aSanskrit Drama | Saktibhadran |
| Birthplace of Saktibhadra, the author of ‘Ascharyachoodamani’ | Kodumon Village(nowadays in Adoor, Pathanamthitta) |
| Inscription of NBTR Silver Trophy | "To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore Cochin."First boat race that marks the beginning of the season of the boat race in Kerala –Champakkulam boat race.'Pooram in Water’– Aranmula boat race |
| President's Trophy Boat Race | Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam |
Basic Facts About AlappuzhaFormed on
17 August 1957
Architect/Founder/Designer
Raja Kesavadas(Diwan of Travancore)
Taluks
6
Taluk of Alappuzha with the longest coastline in Kerala
Cherthala
District without mountains.No. of Assembly Constituencies
9.No. of Lok Sabha Constituencies– 2
Onlyreserve forestin Alappuzha
Veeyapuram(14.5 acres, 2013)
Rivers
Manimala river, Achan Kovil river, Pamba river
Lakes
Vembanad Lake
Famous Beaches
Purakkad, Thumboli & Thaikkal
Cultural Capital of Alappuzha
Ambalappuzha
Famous Temples
Mannarasala Snake Temple, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Chakkulathukavu, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple(approx. 2000 years old)
Major Festivals
Kumba Bharani– Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
Panthrandu Vilakku
Ochira Parabrahma Temple
Famous Islands
Pathiramanal island, Perumbalam island, Kakkathuruth
Famous Places
Kumarakodi(Pallana, resting place of Kumaranasan)
Originated from Alappuzha
Velakali & Ottamthullal(Ambalappuzha),VanchipattuKarumadikuttan, a black granite statue of Lord Buddha was found in Karumadi near Alappuzha indicating the influence of Buddhism in ancient Kerala
Sree Moolavasam
Oldest Buddhist religious center in Kerala
Tourist Spots
Kumarakom, Saradha Mandiram(residence of Kerala Panini)
Transport:Road
National Highway 66
Water
National Waterway 3
Ancient names of Places in Alappuzha'Barace'
Purakkad.‘Bettimani’ – Karthikapally.'Karappuram' – Cherthala.'Odanadu' – Kayamkulam
Epithets of Alappuzha‘Venice of the East’(by Lord Curzon).‘Netherlands of Kerala’
Kuttanad.'Holland of Kerala' – Kuttanad.‘Gift of Pamba’ – Kuttanad.'Rice bowl of Kerala' – Kuttanad.‘Bird Village of Kerala' – Nooranad.‘Mural Pagoda’ – Krishnapuram Palace.‘Mayoora Santheshathinte Nadu’ – Haripad.'Dwaraka of the South' – Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swami Temple.'Dakshina Palani' – Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple
First Coir Factory in Kerala
Darragh Smail & Co. Ltd(1859)
First Coir Village in Kerala
Vayalar
First Film Studio in Kerala
Udaya
First Siddha village in India
Chandiroor
First Seafood Park in Kerala
Aroor
First 100% literate Village in Kerala
Nedumudi
First Cartoon Museum in India
Krishnapuram, Kayamkulam
First Grama Panchayat to win Swaraj Trophy
Kanjikuzhy(1995-96)
First Labour Organization/Trade Union in Kerala
Travancore Labour Association(1922)
First Naphtha based Thermal power plant, Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant of Kerala
Kayamkulam
First Lighthouse along the Western Coast of India
Alappuzha Lighthouse
First Cyclone Shelter in Kerala
Mararikulam
First Labour Movement Museum in India
Alappuzha
Famous Personalities of AlappuzhaAnizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma
Maker of Modern Travancore
Resting place of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Sankaramangalam
Kunjan Nambiaris known as ‘Father of Ottamthullal.’K.R. Gowri
First Revenue Minister of Keralawho introduced theLand Reforms Billin the Kerala legislative assembly
Kayamkulam Kochunni
Robinhood of Kerala
Former name
Prime Ministers TrophyEpithets– ‘Olapparappile Olympics/Kuttanad's Olympics on Water.’Award– Silver Trophy(replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus)
First conducted on
1952(to honor then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru when he visited Alappuzha)
First Winner
Nadubhagam Chundan
Most time Winner
Kaarichal Chundan
Tracks
1400 meters(length) divided into 4 tracks of 10 meters wide from East
Chundan
Amaram: 5 persons, Nilakkar: 5 persons
Winners in Recent YearsYearWinner2014Champakulam Chundan(United Boat Club)2015Jawahar Thayankari(Vembanad Boat Club)2016Kaarichal Chundan(Vembanad Boat Club)2017Gabriel Chundan(Thuruthippuram Boat Club)2018Payippadan Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2019Nadubhagom Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2022Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekkathil(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)2023Veeyapuram Chundan(Pallathuruthi Boat Club)Other Major Boat racesAyyankali Boat Race
Vellayani lakeMother Theresa Boat Race– Achankovil riverChampakkulam (Moolam Snake boat race)– Vembanad Lake📝 Read More:Vembanad LakeBoat Races of KeralaInstitutions, Memorials & HeadquartersAutokast Ltd– Cherthala
Coir Research Institute
Kalavoor
Kerala Spinners Limited
Komalapuram
Punnapra Vayalar Rebellion Memorial
Kalarcode
Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts
Mavelikara
Sugarcane Research Station
Thiruvalla
Vayalar Rama Varma Memorial*
Chandrakalabham(October 27, 2020)
HeadquartersKerala Coir BoardKerala State Water TransportKerala People's Arts Club (KPAC)
KayamkulamCentral Coconut Research station– KayamkulamKerala State Drugs & Pharmaceuticals– Kalavoor
Mankombu Rice Research Institute
Kayamkulam.📝SideNotes:Ancient remnants of the shipwreck were found near –Thaikkal
Battle of Purakkad
1746
Kerala Panini
A.R. Raja Raja Varma
First Coir Factory in India, Darragh Smail & Co. Ltd was owned by
James Darragh (Irish American) & Henry Smail
Second largest mural painting in Kerala
Gajendra Moksham
Dalai Lama described the Granite statue of Lord Buddha, Karumadikuttan as
'Kankanda Daivam'(കൺകണ്ട ദൈവം, 1965 when Dalai Lama visited Alleppey)
Another place with Kunchan Nambiar Smarakam
Killikkurissiimangalam, Lakkidi
First scholar from Kerala to write aSanskrit Drama
Saktibhadran
Birthplace of Saktibhadra, the author of ‘Ascharyachoodamani’
Kodumon Village(nowadays in Adoor, Pathanamthitta)
Inscription of NBTR Silver Trophy
"To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore Cochin."First boat race that marks the beginning of the season of the boat race in Kerala –Champakkulam boat race.'Pooram in Water’– Aranmula boat race
President's Trophy Boat Race
Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam
* Time-sensitive data — verify for latest information
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