Alleppey Fairvalue
Alappuzha is one of the most popular districts in Kerala. The District Registration Department of Alappuzha comes under South Central Zone. At present, there are 20 Sub Registration Offices in this district. It is located on the Arabian sea and has a network of rivers flowing through it. Alappuzha District was formerly known as Alleppey district which was changed as per Government Order issued on 7 February 1990. Alleppey District was formed by carving two districts Kottayam and Kollam (Quilon) on 17 August 1957. There are many beautiful places in this district, among them Alleppey is popularly well-known and liked by many people. The name Alappuzha means ‘the land between the sea and the network of rivers’ was derived by the geographical position and physical features of the place.
On 29 October 1982, a new district named Pathanamthitta was formed by taking portions from Alappuzha, Kollam and Idukki Districts. The whole Thiruvalla Taluk, a part of Chengannur and Mavelikkara Taluks belonging to Alappuzha District were taken to form the new district. Many important places which added colour to Alappuzha district were given to the new district.
This District Holds Six Taluks
The present Alappuzha district comprises six taluks namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara. Kuttanad is the rice bowl of Kerala which looks like an unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms. In olden days, Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome. The history of this district reveals that few coastal taluks like Cherthala, Ambalappuzha and Karthikappally might have been under the water. Some areas were formed by the accumulation of silt and sand later than the other parts of the district. In early Sangam age, Kuttanad was the home of Cheras which was called as ‘Kuttuvans”. Some stone inscriptions found in the temples, churches, rock-out caves and literacy discloses the stories of the district.
Literature Found In This District
From 1st Century A.D onwards the Christianity religion had a strong foot in this district. St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ founded a church at Kokkamangalam or Kokkothamangalam which is considered as one of the seven churches. He landed at Maliankara in Muziris Port, presently known as Cranganore or Kodungallur and preached Christianity in South India in 52 A.D. Under the Chera Empire, the religion and culture was spread during 9th and 12th centuries under the second Chera Empire. Ascharya Choodamani, a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadra, a scholar of Chengannur Gramam, was a famous literacy of this period.
During 16th Century Sreekrishna Swami temple at Ambalappuzha was built and the idol of Lord Krishna installed during 16th Century. The eminent scholars who patronized the court were Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, Sri neelakanta Deekshithar and Sri Kumaran Namboothiri. Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayana, the author of Vedantha Retnamala, the first verse of Bhagavat Geetha and a great scholar was found in the kingdom of Chempakasseri.
Modern Alappuzha
Raja Kesava Das, the then Diwan of Travancore was the main reason for the development of ‘Maker of modern Alleppey’ now Alappuzha, a port town of Travancore. Many roads and canals were built for easy communications and storage places like warehouses. Merchants and traders got all facilities during this period. Later Velu Thampi Dalava, one of the important rulers brought the island of Pathiramanal under coconut cultivation and paddy cultivation in Alappuzha. The first post office and first telegraph office was started in Travancore state in this district. In 1859, the first modern factory for manufacturing coir mats was established in Alappuzha.
During Freedom Struggle
This district played an important role in the freedom struggle. T.K. Madhavan, a journalist, organized a campaign for eradication of untouchability and roads to temples like Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swami temple in 1925. In the year 1938, the first political strike happened in Kerala.