Kottarakkara

History

Kottarakkara, also known in the ancient days of the kings as the Elayadathu Swarupam, was a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. It is the home of Kathakali, a well known dance drama which originated initially as Ramanattam created in the 17th century by Prince Kottarakkara Thampuran and later patronized by the Raja of Kottarakkara in the early 19th century absorbing other dance forms of Krishnattam with further innovations. Other historical places of interest include the Ganapathi Temple, Edakkidom Thettikkunil Maha Devi Temple and the more-than-700-year-old Mar Thomas Church. The Head Quarters and the mother church of EL-SHADDAI MINISTRY Jesus Is Alive worship centre (Lead by Pr.Tinu George) is situated in kottarakara. [1] Kottarakara consists of different other Christian fellowships churches.

Etymology

Kottarakkara, a compound word made up of the words Kottaram, meaning "palace", and kara meaning "land", literally means "land of palaces". The area which had several palaces was thus named "Kottarakkara."

Geography

Kottarakkara is a small principality close to Kollam. As a taluk headquarters, it has six panchayats and other small towns. It is surrounded by several other towns.

Towns and Villages in Kottarakara Taluk

1. Pavithreswaram

2. Puthur

3. Ezhukone

4. Kareepra- Edakkidom

5. Neduvathur

6. Kulakkada

7. Kalayapuram

8. Mylam

9. Melila

10. Chakkuvarakkal

11. Vettikkavala

12. Kottarakkara

13. Ummannur

14. Valakom

15. Elamad

16. Odanavattom

17. Veliyam

18. Pooyappally

19. Velinallur

20. Nilamel

21. Chadayamangalam

22. Kottukkal

23. Ittiva

24. Kadakkal

25. Kummil

26. Mankode

27. Chithara

Road Network

NH 208 (Kollam to Thirumangalam) meets the MC road (Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly) at Kottarakkara. Kottarakkara is linked with Kollam (the district headquarters), both by road and rail, at a distance of 27 km. It is 72 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala) and 80 km to the south of Kottayam.

Politics

Kottarakara Assembly Constituency is part of the Mavelikkara (Lok Sabha constituency).

Aisha Potty -MLA of Kottarakara constituency has been representing Kottarakara in Kerala Legislative Assembly as CPI(M) Member for two consecutive terms.The constituency has returned the following candidates after the formation of Kerala State in 1956. 1957: E Chandrasekaran Nair (CPI) 1960: D.Damodaran Potti (PSP) 1965: R.Balakrishna Pillai (Kerala Congress) 1967: E.Chandrasekaran Nair (CPI) 1969 (Bye election):C.Achutha Menon (CPI), Chief Minister 1970: Kottara Gopalakrishnan (INC) 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 19991, 1996, 2001: R.Balakrishna Pillai (Kerala Congress - B)

Landmarks

The town contains many notable places of worship, including Sree Maha Ganapthy Temple (in the suburb of Kizhakkekara), dated to the 10th-11th century, shrine of Ganapathy, Mahadeva Temple (in the western suburb of Padinjattinkara), Kottarakkara Goshala and Kulasekharanellor Sree BhadraKali Temple, amongst many other temples.

Kottarakkara Sree Manikanteswara Mahadeva Temple is located near the "Althara", on the northern side. Shiva in the form of a fierce hunter is deified here. Another shrine next to it is a Durga temple, where the deity installed is known as Pazenadu Bhagavathy. Devi The idol of was carved out from the root of the jack tree by Perumthachan.

Edakkidom (ഇടയ്ക്കിടം) Thettikkunil Sree mahadevi temple near kottarakkara

Ambalapuram Shri Gauri Shankara Temple, Ambalapuram

Road

Kottarakara has one of the Kerala's well connected KSRTC Hub, consist of various services across almost all the parts of kerala and interstate services. Local routes are connected by private bus services as well as State Transport. It is well connected to the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram by KSRTC Fast Passenger, super fast, deluxe, a/c buses. Buses are also ply to the district headquarters of Kollam and Pathanamthitta and to towns in Tamil Nadu like Coimbatore, Tenkasi and Sengottai and Daily trips to Mookambika, Munnar, Bangalore, Kumali, Ooty, kanyakumari, nagercoil, thirunelveli, palani

Rail

Kottarakara railway station is located on the Kollam-Sengottai railway line. Kottarakara railway station, which currently connects to Kollam, Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Madurai, Nagercoil, Paravur, Tirunelveli, Guruvayur, Varkala and Punalur through the direct passenger, fast passenger and express train services. There are eight pairs of services right now and heard that many more services would be inducted in this route since the Punalur-Schengotta ghat section has been closed for Broad Gauge conversion. Once the conversion is over, this will serve as the shortest route from Kollam to Chennai and from Kollam Port & Cochin Port to Tuticorin Port. Further, a new line from Chengannur to Thiruvananthapuram via Kottarakkara and Pandalam is awaiting survey. Kottarakkara will become a junction once the new line materializes.

Air

The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram. A new green field airport has been proposed at Aranmula, 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Kottarakkara.

Notable individuals

Schools & Colleges

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