Neerattupuram

Situated 9  km from Thiruvalla town, the place is home to the Chakkulathukavu Temple. Edathua Church famous for the pilgrimage is just 3kms west of neerattupuram.

Chakkuathukavu temple is well known for the Ponkala, a typical Hindu festival, which takes place every year during the month of November. The main festival of this temple is during the last two weeks of December (Malayalam calendar, Dhanu 1-12). Neerattupuram is also called Neerettupuram.

The place is also known for the boat race (Vallam Kali) which is scheduled on the Thiruvonam day. This is the only boat race in Kerala which is scheduled on this Thiru Onam day. Thiru Onam is an important day in Malayalam calendar. Legend says that long back an Asura king named Mahabeli ruled Kerala. He was disposed by Lord Vamana. The king was allowed to visit Kerala once every year. In Malayalam calendar, Thiruvonum day is celebrated to commemorate his great rule and his annual visit to his kingdom.

This road is a shortcut road to Earnakulam.

The area is surrounded by more than seven churches such as Thalavady Padinjarekara Marthoma Church(TPMTC), St.Johns Marthoma Church, St Thomas Evangelical Church and St Thomas Orthodox Church. There is also a historical church Kuzhipally which is jointly run and maintained by the TPMTC and the orthodox church. Near by hospitals is Manak hospital- Nedumpuram and the government primary health centre.

Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, with its unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says this area had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in the Middle Ages. The early Cheras, who had their home in Kuttanad, were called `Kuttuvans`, so named after this place. Pliny and Ptolemy of the 1st and 2nd centuries had mentioned places like Purakkad or Barace in their classical works. The backwaters and wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal, ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. One of the major feature of this land is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. The average monthly temperature is 27C. Cochin International Airport, which is 107 kilometres to the North, is the closest airport. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 136 kilometres to the South, is the other airport that links the district with other countries.

There are couple of schools in Neerattupuram, St Thomas Higher Secondary School, Titus Mar Thoma High School and Anaprampal North M T L P School function in the same campus.

Anaprampal North M T L P School may be the oldest. It was started somewhere near PanayannarKave temple. Later it was shifted to Mundakkal Chira. The management was entrusted to Thalavady Padinjarakara Marthoma Parish as the family of Mulackal found difficult to sustain the school. The management shifted the location of the school to present site. In 1957, the management was entrusted to Mar Thoma Schools Corporate management. Ever since they operate the school. For a long time the name was unofficially known as Mulackal School. There were a few other schools started by missionaries prior to this one. But this one survived and made possible universal elementary education in this area. Now the school does not have enough strength and the buildings are dilapidated.

• Narakattaramukku
• Manattara
• Karikkuzhi
• Arthicherry
• Trikkayil
• Anaprambal
• Vellakkinar
• Edathua
• Parumala
• Thalavady and
• Niranom
• Vyasapuram

Source: Neerattupuram