Thodupuzha is the largest town and main commercial centre in Idukki. It is bordered by the Kottayam district on the southern side and the Ernakulam District on the western side. It also acts as a gateway to various tourist spots in the High Range regions towards its east, including Munnar, Thekkady, and Peermade.[3]
Etymology
In retribution to the destruction the then capital of Vadakkaumkoor principality, Karikkode, by Diwan Ramayyan and his ally Yesthacius De Lenoy on the annexation of Vadakkumkoor, by the orders of Maharajah of Travancore, His Highness Anizham Thirunal Marthandavarma, sent his representative to manage as administer of invaded principality of Vadakkumkoor, Elasamprathi Narayana Varma. A nearby area, then named "Kodanthuruth" surrounded by a number of hillocks and rocky areas was selected by the representative of Maharajah of Travancore, to be the new headquarters of the Thodupuzha Taluk. Karikkode was reduced to a petty village as a "Pakuthy". Maharajah also appointed and entrusted Mallan Sankaran of Palliyadi, his Surveyor, for the preparation of land revenue records("Ozhukkuand survey and settlement of Kandezhuthu. As Mallan Sankaran failed to execute his mission due to widespread objection and riot of the local people, survey was only completed during the reign of Karthikathirunal Ramavarma. The place was named Thodupuzha by the Raja of Vadakkumkoor Maluvakon Manikantan who used to reside in his palace at Vaickam and Edavetty(Mattam Palace) near Karikkode, used to mention the nearby flowing wide "Valiyathodu" as thodu (transl. "rivulet") puzha (transl. "river"). It is believed that the stream developed into a river due to the changes in geophysical conditions of the area wherefrom it originates and enter the vally of Arakulam, to be known as Thodupuzha river and the town on the banks of the river came to be known as Thodupuzha. There is another version that defines thodu as "touch" instead. The Mattathil Kovilakam[4] were the protectors and rulers of the region. The last ruler of the region was Elasamprathi Narayana Varma, who originally came from Trivandrum and was the representative of Maharaja of Travancore Anizhamthirunal Marthanda Varma.
History
Sarvadhikari Elasamprathi Narayana Varma of Vadakkumkur
The Vadakkumkur kings used to live in Karikode for several years. Vadakkumkur was a late medieval/early modern feudal principality located in Kerala. After the kingdom separated, Thekkumkur became an independent kingdom, while Vadakkumkur became a vassal of Cochin. During the time of Portuguese dominance in Cochin, disputes arose between the Vadakkumkur chieftain and the Kingdom of Cochin over the pepper trade, and the Vadakkumkur raja was killed in battle with Cochin and their Portuguese allies. After the attack, Vadakkumkur palace split into two branches: one was known as Mattathil Palace, which remained in Thondikkuzha; and the other one in Kadanadu Pala.[5] Vadakkumkur and Thekkumkur were later annexed by Marthanda Varma and incorporated into the kingdom of Travancore. Maharaja appointed his representative known as Elasamprathi Narayana Varam to develop the region called Keezhmalainadu. Varam became known as the father of Keezhmalainadu and modern Thodupuzha.[6]
Varam erected many monuments, including the government offices, Pandikasala, and temples. The Karikode mosque and other buildings in Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha also date from his reign. He was the founder of the new style of tax collection in this region. Thodupuzha is an ancient town with a history dating back to many centuries. The Buddhist and Jain religions which made their first inroads into Kerala in 300 BC left their influence at Thodupuzha and neighboring areas. In the 14th century, Kerala was divided for administrative reasons into several provinces: Venadu, Otanadu, Navishainadu, Munjunadu, Vempolinadu, and Keezhmalainadu. Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were in Keezhmalainadu, which was in existence until 1600; in that year it lost a battle with Vadakkumkoor and became a part of it.
As of 2011 Census,[11] Thodupuzha Taluka with an area of 884.93 km2 (341.67 sq mi) had total population of 325,951; males comprised 49% of the population and females 51%. Literacy rate of Thodupuzha Taluka in 2011 were 95.56% in which, male and female literacy were 96.81% and 94.33% respectively. In Thodupuzha, 9% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Thodupuzha Taluk now bifurcated into Thodupuzha and Idukki Taluks of which most of the lands spread over low range plainland of Middle Kerala is the hub of trade in hill produces like rubber, coconut, peppar, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric, pineapple and cocoa. Prior to the real estate drive in the district large areas were cultivated by paddy and now paddy cultivation is abandoned by farmers due to negative situations. In fact, Thodupuzha's economy was mostly driven by agriculture. Farmers in Thodupuzha raise a number of crops, mostly rubber. Other crops such as pineapple, coconut, rice, pepper, cocoa, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric are also cultivated. Very recently many entrepreneurs have come up with numerous ventures in small scale and village industries especially as a result of encouragement in state policy since for the last three decades. Corresponding development in business and trade are also visible in this area. The headquarters of the first Ayurvedic Medicine manufacturing industry in the district, The Dhanwanthari Vaidyasala, is in Thodupuzha and now a good number of industries like Nagarjuna, Guardian Controls, Lunar Chappals, Saro Plast, Brahmins industries are few examples. Thodupuzha Municipal Town can credit for its well constructed bypass roads being the foundations of infrastructure in development of the area. A good number of public and private institutions are also evidence its fast development to cope with the need of era.
Thodupuzha was administered by a village panchayat and village union for several years, but on 1 September 1978, it was upgraded into a municipality. The municipality was formed by merging the Thodupuzha panchayat and the neighboring panchayats of Kumaramangalam, Karicodu, and Manacaud. The municipality was administered by a special officer for ten years. In 1988, elections were held and the first popularly elected municipal council was formed, with N. Chandran as the chairman.
Sri Krishna Swami temple
Sports
The Thodupuzha Cricket Stadium constructed by the Kerala Cricket Association is located in Karikkode, approximately five kilometers away from Thodupuzha,[13] which is large enough to host two cricket matches at the same time.[14]
The second college of Thodupuzha was established in 1982: St. Joseph's College in Arakkulam.[16]
The University College of Engineering, Thodupuzha, managed and run by the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, is located in Thodupuzha. The college started functioning in 1996.[citation needed][17]
University College of Engineering
Notable people
This article's list of residents may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are residents, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(May 2021)
Ajitkumar Varma| Deputy Inspector General of Police| CIB| Indian High Commission London
^Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Idukki(PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. p. 78,79. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
