Palackattumala

Palackattumala Palackattumala Palakkattumala
village
Population
• Total	1,500

Palackattumala (malayalam: പാലക്കാട്ടുമല)[1] is a village, in Kottayam District of Kerala with a population 1500 (~),located in a small hill, north of Pala - Vaikom road from illickal Junction. Nearest town is Pala is 7Km away. Illickal-Palackattumala-Kudackachira road crosses through palackattumala. The other major roads are Valavoor-Palackattumala Kurisupally Junction road, and Palackattumala-Andoor Road.Apart from that there are few minor roads to reach different places in palackattumala. Illickal Junction serves as the bus stop and taxi(Auto riksha stand) to Palackattumala.

Palackattumala have two lower primary schools,one pre-school, public library, RPS, Post Office, Temple, Church[2], two convents, and few shops.

"Palackattumala" got its name most probably from the fact that it is a place with hill and forest near to pala, or due to the "paala" trees at the time. Majority of people in this village rely on agriculture, with rubber, coconut, coco, pepper, tamarind ,Tapioca, pineapple and banana being the main crops. Other spices include clove and nutmeg. Eventhough Palackattumala had large paddy fields in the past, severe shortage of water above the hill makes it impractical to cultivate rice. These fields are eventually converted to rubber plantations. Also few granite quarries and few rubber related small scale businesses including GUMEX operates in Palackattumala. Palackattumala also have sizable number of people working abroad and in other states of india.

Palackattumala is a ward of Marangattupally Panchayat and Kurichithanam Village office and belongs to Meenachil Thaluk. Palackattumala was part of Palai Legislative Constituency but after de-markation part of Kaduthurithy Constituency. Part of Kottayam Lok-Sabha Constituency

BSNL serves as the only landline and internet provider available in palackattumala through its Marangattupilly and Valavoor Exchanges. Whereas all the major mobile service providers are present. Electricity distribution is by state owned monopoly KSEB. Palackattumala had a histrory severe water shortage during summer. now with some parts of palackattumala have access to water supply, provided by a cooperative society with the support from water authority.

Nara Simha Swamy Temple

This temple is believed to be of 1000 years old. is now governed by the Travancore Devaswom Borad. This is one of the 108 Temples devoted to Narasimha in Kerala. Temple Festival is a week long and is usually on the last week of december or first week of January.

MOTER OF PERPETUAL HELP CHURCH (malayalam: നിത്യസഹായ മാതാ പള്ളി)

Syrian Catholic Church, under Pala Dioces. With Feast(പെരുന്നാള്‍ ) on the second week of January.

Education

Palackattumala have two of the older L.P. schools in the region. Students attend High School in Marangattupilly St. Thomas H.S. or Kudackachira St. Joseph's H.S. and for Higher Education, St. Thomas College, Alphonsa College Pala, St. Stephan's CollegeUzhavoor, Deva Matha College Kuravilangad.

[St. Marys L. P. School]

This school is managed by SD convent Palackattumala. Started as a "Nilath ezhuth Kalari"(A pre-school which teaches kids alphabets by writing on sand) in 1900 and become an L.P. School under the management of Thazhathel Mathai Vorkey. This school is under Kuravilangad Educational Sub District. Apart From the primary school, there is one pre-primary (Nursery) school managed by SD school.

[Govt. L.P. School Andoor]

Govt. lower Primary School is Established in 1912 as a KudiPallikkoodam, in a place donated by Pallat Nayar family. Later the control of the school is transfered to the Govt of Travancore.this school is under Kuravilangad Educational Sub District.

Panchayat Anganvadi

Operated by the Maragattupilly GramaPanchayat as pre-school as well as resource center for family welfare.

Public Library(വായനശാല)

Maranattupally panchayat community center and reading room, in palackattumala started in 1951, was a public library is now supported by Marangattupally Grama Panchayat, full fledged community center. The public library operate from 5.30-8.30 PM. With thousands of malayalam books-novels,encyclopedia, dramas, poems,- and news papers, library member ship is open to the public with a very neglible fee. Vayanasala servs as a local meeting place.

Chayakada

MKSs Chayakada(Tea shop & General Stores) was the local meeting place of people, located near to the Temple, in illickal-Kudackachira Road but is now defunct.

RPS(റബ്ബര്‍ പാലുല്പ്പധന സംഗം) Palackattumala

A society of rubber produceres in palackattumala. Collects latex from producers and is working very closely with GAICO. Society also gives necessary training and equipments for rubber cultivation.

Young Mens Club (Y. M. C.) Palackattumala

Started as association of young mens in palackattumala, is one of the main driving forces in the development of palckattumala. Office of the club located in the same public library building. The public library was initially run by the club, later transferred it to panchayat. Though the name suggest Young mens, most of the members of the club are above middle age. Historically the club was active in supporting arts and sports, including volleyball team and drama club.

Transportation

Earlier Palackattumala was connected to Pala and Uzhavoor by KSRTC and private buses. Now nearest bus stop is illickal junction about 1 KM from heart of village, with buses in Pala-Vaikom route in every 15 minutes

Nearest Places

Pala- 10-15 minutes,
Marangattupally <10minutes, 
Kuravilangad -20 minutes, 
Kottayam- >1hr (45 minutes in car -30 KM), 
Ernakulam >2hr (1.30 hour in Car, 70Km).
Valavoor- 1.5 Km, 5 minute by Car, or 30 minute by walk, 
Ramapuram-10Km( 15minutes by car)
Kudackachira-3Km (5 Minute by car)
Andoor- 2Km
Vallichira-2Km
Thodupuzha-30Km
Thiruvananthapuram-180 Km

References

• Palackattumala church History and all in malayalam