Aroor

Aroor
—  suburb  —
Clockwie From the top: The premises of the kaithappuzha lake as seen from Aroor Mukkam ,AroorNH47bypass, A view from Aroor-Kumbalam Bridge
Aroor Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°52′41″N 76°18′14″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alappuzha
Government
• MLA	Adv. A.M. Ariff (2006-2011, re-elected in 2011 )
Population (2001)
• Total	35,281
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	688534
Telephone code	0478
Vehicle registration	KL-32
Lok Sabha constituency	Alappuzha
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Aroor

Aroor is a census town in Alappuzha district and it is a suburb of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. It is a seafood related industrial area at the south of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is considered as part of Kochi for all practical purposes but Aroor is technically belongs to Alappuzha district. Aroor is a two way entrance to the Cochin city.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Aroor had a population of 35,281. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Its average literacy rate is of 84% higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 51% of the males and 49% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

The name Aroor traces it origins to the phrase "Arayarude Oor", which means the place of fishermen. It later shortened as Arayaroor and subsequently to the present version.

Aroor provides the former Travancore and Cochin states with an history. In the pre-independence days, the coastal tip was known for its adventurous youngsters who would try to get goods past the vigilant customs (one state to another). Much later, in independent India, Aroor was famous for having elected K.R.Gowri Amma, the indomitable lady politician of Kerala for a record of 8 times, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly position.

Location

Aroor is the northernmost tip of Alappuzha district and lies on the National Highway 47 NH 47 (India). It is around 17 km south of Ernakulam (Kochi), the commercial hub of Kerala. Even though Aroor is a part of Alappuzha, it is often referred as the southernmost tip of the Cochin city and Aroor is the industrial hub of Allapuzha District.

Aroor is linked to the nearby land Kumbalam through a bridge. The Aroor–Kumbalam Bridge is the second-longest bridge (now the bridge is doubled with four-lane traffic) in Kerala state, spanning about 993 meters, which links Aroor with Ernakulam district at Kumbalam through Aroor–Edapally Bypass. Bypass opened to traffic since 1997.

The premises of the kaithappuzha lake as seen from Aroor Mukkam

Old Aroor-Edakochi bridge

The St. Augustine's Church is a major attraction, situated on the highway, right in the heart of Aroor. The saint, though originally from Africa, has been given an almost Aroorian identity with countless stories of how he takes a walk around Aroor at night with his staff, visiting every neighbourhood, to keep the place safe. The current church, over 120 years old, was built on land donated by the Aelavanthara family, among the oldest and most prestigious among the Christian families in Aroor.

Temple

Aroor Puthuvaranad temple is a famous temple in Aroor. The idol of Kali is similar to the Kali idol of Dakshineswaram Kolkatha. The temple is belongs to Chirammel Kambakkaran Family. They are the land lords in Aroor. hundreds of acres of land were surrendered when the time of Land reforms. Aroor Karthyayani Temple is the another main temple in Aroor. The name AROOR is derived from the this temple. It is situating in the National High Way. Arookutty road starts from the Aroor junction. Aroor Cheruvally Temple and the Kavu with the temple, known as PARADEVATHA KAVU AND KIZHAKKEDATHU KAVU are scenic attractions in the temple. The banian tree situating in the south western corner of the temple and the ganapathi idol known as the AALTHARRA GANAPATHI is another attraction of the temple.The Ganapathi idol is as similar to the idol of Pillayarpatti Ganapathi. Pillayara patti is a place near to Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. One devote prayed before Pillayarpatti ganapathi and prayed to come with him and be seat in the Aalthara. Kottilakkattu Kudumpa Paradevatha is also very near to Cheruvally Temple. The long PALA MARAM of the Devasthanam is main attraction Aroor Vattakkeril Temple is the secular temple of Aroor. The GARUDA VAHANA EZHUNNALLETH and THADI THULLAL is the main attraction in the festival. All people irrespective of religion in Aroor and in and around aroor enthusiastically participate in the festival.

Places of worship

St. Augustines Church Aroor

• Ammanezhathu Sree Bhavaneeswara Temple
• Cheruvally Devasvam
• Calasanz Bhavan Chapel, Aroor
• Holy Family Chapel, St.Augustine - Poojappura crosse Road.
• Indian Pentecostal Church of God - Philadelphia Hall
• Karthyayani Devi Temple (Travancore Devasam Major Temple)
• Kottilakkattu Kudumba Paradevatha Aroor
• Kanakakunnu Subhramanya Temple
• Masjid ul Aman
• Masjid ul Rahman
• Mahal Muslim Jamath
• Nadakal Sreedharma Shastha Temple
• Nadakkal Sree Dharma Shastha Temple Aroor
• Our Lady of Mercy Chapel. Aroor West.
• Our Lady of Ransom Church, Chandiroor
• Pavumpayil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple
• Sree Puthuvaranattu Temple (Palliyarakkavu Temple)
• Sree Kanakakunnu Temple (Poojappura Temple)
• Sreekumara Vilasom Temple, Puthenangady.
• Sree Kumarthupady Devi Temple Chandiroor
• Sree Krishna Temple Chandiroor
• Sree Palliyil Bhagavathy Temple Chandiroor
• Sree Subramania Swamy temple
• St.Augustine's Church: A major landmark, right on the Highway.
• St.Joseph's Chapel, Aroor East.
• St.Antony's Chapel, Aroor South.
• St. Mary's Church, Mariyoor, Aroor.
• St.Joseph's Chapel, Aroor North.
• St.Mary's Church, Chandiroor
• Vattakeril Sree Khandakarna Temple

Educational institutions

• Government High School, Aroor
• Government Higher Secondary School, Chandiroor
• St.Augustine's Higher Secondary School, Aroor
• Our Lady of Mercy Higher Secondary School
• Holy Angels Residential School, Aroor.
• Al Ameen Public School, Chandiroor
• Yahia ul Islam, Chandiroor
• Najmul huda Public School, Chandiroor

Prominent Hospitals

• State Government Hospital
• ESI Dispensary
• Lakshmi Hospital
• Mercy Hospital
• Karthika Hospital
• Jeevans Hospital, Chandiroor.
• Chandiroor Mission Hospital

Banks

• State Bank of India
• South Indian Bank
• The Alleppey Co-operative Bank Ltd.
• Federal Bank
• ICICI Bank
• Union Bank of India
• Canara Bank
• Punjab National Bank
• State Bank of Travancore
• All leading Banks ATM.

Industries

• Seafood Export

A seafood export processing plant at Aroor.The coldstorage shipment containers are seen in the front of the plant.

Aroor lies in the vicinity of Vembanad lake, a part of Kerala backwaters. This eco-system helps large-scale prawn and shrimp farming as an alternative in the low-lying paddy fields, which have the interlocked water system connected to the Kerala backwaters. Secondly the Cochin fishing harbour and port is just 15 km away from Aroor. The abundance of marine wealth and logistical advantages has helped the seafood export to grow especially around Aroor. There are many marine food processing units in Aroor which provide large scale employment to number of people. The raw seafood catch is also purchased by large seafood export firms from North Kerala, Kollam, South Karnataka, Orissa, Tamilnadu etc., processed and preserved in cold storages and then trans-shipped through Cochin port.

• KELTRON Controls-Control & Instrumentation division of Keltron
• Elite Food Products Pvt Ltd - Bread Making
• Studio Complex Manorama News- Prominent Malayalam Television News Channel

Politics

A.M. Ariff MLA

Aroor assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency).

The place has the distinction of electing K.R.Gowri Amma to the Kerala Assembly, on a record 8 occasions. During the last elections, however, she lost to a younger candidate A.M. Ariff of CPI(M). It was when Gowri Amma was a minister, that A.K.Antony lead Congress men blocked the NH 47 at Chandiroor over the Velluthully kayal issue. That was the start of A.K. Antony's political career. He later went on to become the Chief Minister of Kerala. Smt. Gowri Amma was the agriculture minister in his Cabinet. A.K. Antony is now the Defence Minister of India.

The panchayats that come under the Aroor Assembly constituency are Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodamthuruth, Kuthiathode, Thuravoor, Arookutty, Panavally, Thaikkattuserry, Perumpalam and Pallippuram.