Kaduthuruthy
Encyclopedia
Kaduthuruthy (malayalam: കടുത്തുരുത്തി) is a small town in Kottayam District
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

.

Geography

Kaduturuthy is located at 9.75°N 76.50°E. It has an average elevation of 12 m (39.4 ft). The name Kaduthuruthy originated from ‘Kadal thuruth’ meaning near to the beach as it is believed that several centuries ago, the Arabian sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...

 extended inward into the place, and that it receded due to a Tsunami.

Kaduthuruthy has a picturesque nature and ecosystem. It is a transit point between the hilly middle region of Kerala and backwater coastal land. The nearest main railway station is Kaduthuruthy.

History

The first Sandesh Kavyam (Message in Poetry) in Malayalam called "Unnuneeli Sandesham" gives an insight into the history of the place. The author is believed to be a member of one of the Travancore Royal Families. The work describes the grand harbour of the town in great detail, something amazing now as the sea is several miles away now. The sea is said to have receded some time in the 14th century possibly following an earthquake or a Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...

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Religious architecture

Kaduthuruthy is a pilgrimage centre. Kaduthuruthy has several Christian churches, and many pilgrims visit this place.
St. MARY'S FORANE CHURCH (Valiapally) was established in AD 500, and is one of the most ancient churches of India. The present church is the third building there. Many historical events took place in this church. It is believed that the highest open air stone cross of Asia is in the courtyard of this church. This cross was blessed on the Holy Friday of 1599 by Bishop Dom Menesis. There are many art works being performed to the base of this cross. Bishop Mar Chandy Parambil was consecrated bishop in this church. The architecture of this church is very famous. This is one of the very few churches which has conserved some elements of pre-Portuguese church architecture. This church belongs to the Archdiocese of Kottayam. Moonu Noyambu is the main feast of this church and is celebrated 18 days prior to the beginning of lent. Valiya Pally's St. Mary is known as MUTHIYAMMA. Purathu Namaskaram near the Stone Cross is a famous liturgical celebration of this church during Moonu Noyambu. Many pilgrims visit this church and offering prayers.
ETTU NOYAMBU i.e. Birthday of St. Mary (8 September) is also an important feast of this church. 40 Hours Holy Adoration is also conducted every year in this church. Mar Kuriakose Kunnachery, the former Archbishop of Kottayam, is from this place and this parish.

St. Mary's Church Thazathupally belongs to the Pala Diocese. St. Mary's Thazathupally 'Darshanathirunnal' is very popular in Kerala. The stone is believed to have been laid for Kaduthuruthy St Marys Thazhathupally on 15 August 1009 A.D. This Church continued to be renewed from time to time. The present existing old church took its shape in 1590 with all its artistic splendor and characteristics of Gothic Art. “The altar of this church shows the excellence to which altar carving has ever reached” (Ref. Thomas Christian Architecture P.145) Throughout its history from 1009 A.D. Muttuchira Holy Ghost forane church, near to kaduthuruthy was established in AD 550

Saint Alphonsa was brought up at Muttuchira near Kaduthuruthy.

The Mahadeva Temple, otherwise known as Thali Temple in the name of Hindu god shiva. There are several other well-known temples in the area.
Mahadeva temple is one among the famous three temples which Khara (of the Khara Dhooshana demon duo) of Ramayana built along with Ettumanoor and Vaikom. A visit to three temples on the same day is believed to be very auspicious.

The famous sun temple Adityapuram is 3 kilometers away from Kaduthuruthy, which is known to be the second sun temple in India.

Government & Politics

Kaduthuruthy assembly constituency is part of Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)
Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:piravom/-/pala#Kottayam#Ettumanoor#Puthuppally#Kaduthuruthy#Vaikom #Palai#Piravom-Members of Parliament:*1952: C. P. Matthew, Indian National Congress...

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Advocate Monce Joseph
Monce Joseph
Monce Joseph, is an Indian politician, MLA and advocate, was the youngest minister in Kerala's present Left Democratic Front ministry in India. He belongs to Kerala Congress party led by P. J. Joseph, and represents Kaduthuruthy legislative Assembly of Kerala. He had been the Minister for Public...

 is the MLA of Kaduthuruthy . K. G. Balakrishnan
K. G. Balakrishnan
Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan is presently the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India. He was formerly the Chief Justice of India....

, who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India is a native of Kaduthuruthy - (Poozhikol).

External links




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