Vakathanam

History

In ancient times Vakathanam was ruled by Kings of Thekkumkur. Njaliakuzhy was the place where the culprits were executed by hanging. The surrounding places are Puthupally, Thenganal, Kurumbanadam and Thottakad. The first bus service between Kottayam and Changanacherry via Vakathanam began in the year 1940s. T.U. Abraham (Avarankutty) Thayil drove the first bus from Kottayam to Thenganal via Puthupally, Eravinalloor and Vakathanam in 1949. Before that there was a bus running from Kottayam to Thenganal via Thottakad and Vakathanam.

Geography

The terrain is hilly with fertile soil. The western border of the panchayat has vast paddy fields. Fundamentally, this is an agricultural village. During earlier years, Vakathanam was famous for "Kappa" and "Chakka" which are the Malayalam terms for Tapioca and Jackfruit. Over time rubber plantation trees have replaced them. Vakathanam is an important commercial center of Kottayam. The chief crops are rice and rubber. Rubber was planted in Vakathanam already in the year 1930s. In the year 1940s some cultivators of rubber cut down the trees because its cultivation did not bring any income. Its plantation began to be widespread in the year 1970s.

Churches

Most of the people residing here are Syrian Christians. The Orthodox Syrian Church is the numerically biggest Christian denomination in Vakathanam. St. John's Syrian Orthodox Church is the oldest Christian Church, built in 1847, until which year the Orthodox faithful had Puthupally Church as their parish. Yuhanon Mar Severious, Perupally Thirumeni and Parekulathu Thrumeni, are bishops in vakathanam. Orthodox Syrian Christians are the second largest Christian community in Kerala and they trace their origins to the mission of St. Thomas in South India in the second half of the first century AD. Services of C. V George Cor-Episcopa, Chirathalatt is notable to Vakathanam community as the founder of Jerushalem Mount Higher secondary School and many other developmental activities. There are about 20 orthodox parishes in the village of Vakathanam, as also the shrine of Baselius Geevarghese I, Catholicos of the East. St. John's Orthodox Valiyapally, Vakathanam is the ‘ Thalapally ‘ of all these parishes. Founded about the year 1847, the parish celebrated its 150th Anniversary (sesquicentuary) in 1997-’98. One of the oldest churches at Vakathanam is Saint Ignatius Jacobite Church near Njaliakuzhy also known as "Kunnel Pally" which was established on January 28–29, 1929 by the main Patron Ignatius Nurono and includes St Mary and St. John, the baptist. Manikandapuram temple (which is mentioned also in Unnuneeli Sandesam, written in the 14th century) is the most ancient religious worship centre, built by the Thekumkur Kings probably in the 14th century. The Knanaya Christians had their parish in Kottayam Valiyapally and Kottayam Edacattu Church, until the construction of Puthussery church for the Knanaya Jacobites in 1870 and St Mathew's Catholic Church for Knanaya Catholics in 1910 at Njaliakuzhy. Besides the members of the above-mentioned Churches, the believers of the Catholic Church, Syrian Orthodox Church (the famous St. Adai's church, Nalunnakal, belongs to this Church), Mar Thomma Church, CSI Church,catholic church in eravuchira and thottakkad.orthodox and jaobite churches in thrikothamangalm.etc. are also present and active at Vakathanam. Mar Baselious Dayara is a monastery built by late Metrapolitan Ghevarghese Mar Ivanios is a place of meditation located at Thattumpuram Kunnu, near to Njaliyakuzhy.

Demographics

Vakathanam has a population of 31,222, of which 15,559 are male and 15,663 are female. The area has a literacy rate of 97% and a population density of 1179/_km².

Banks

Education

Schools include:

Vakathanam has one college: M.G.University College of Teacher Education, Thottakkad.