Karukachal

Karukachal
Village [GRAMAPANCHAYAT]
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Elevation	81 m (266 ft)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	686540
Telephone code	91 481
Vehicle registration	KL -33

Karukachal is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Karukachal is 21 km from Kottayam town. The nearest railway station is Changanassery which is 12 km away.

The origin of the name Karukachal is possibly related to the Malayalam words karuka and chal.Karuka is a type of grass and chal means a small stream. Its also said that Karukachal and nearby places were home to many warriors and their chekavans(servants). Although there is no historical evidence to back this, its said that, the warriors used to clean their sword after battles in stream near to this place .(There was a small stream near the present bus stand in karukachal).Thus chances are that Karukachal got its name from the malayalam words vaal kazhuki chaal. vaal(sword), kazhuki (to wash) and chal (stream).Vaalkazhukeechal ultimately became karukachal.

Important Facilities

• N.S.S Medical Mission Hospital
• Travancore Foundation Senior Care Facility
• Mercy hospital
• SJ eye hospital

Famous Personalities

• Shri. K. Narayana Kurup, veteran leader, Advocate and Professor, was born on October 23, 1927 at Karukachal as the son of Shri. K. P. Krishnan Nair and Smt. Kuttiyamma.

After completing education in Travancore, Madras, Bombay and Pune Universities, Shri. Kurup enrolled as an Advocate in 1954. Later he became a Lecturer and subsequently, Professor in colleges under the management of NSS. He also served as the President of Karukachal Panchayat for over 23 years.

His long legislative career begins in 1954, when he was elected as a Member of Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly. Shri. Kurup was subsequently elected to the 2nd KLA as a Congress candidate in a bye-election from Vazhoor held on 16.10.1963. Again in 1970, 1977, 1991, 1996 and 2001 he was elected from Vazhoor Constituency as a Kerala Congress Member.

Shri. Narayana Kurup was the Minister for Transport from January 1977 to October 1979 in the four Ministries headed by Shri. C. Achutha Menon, Shri. K Karunakaran, Shri. A.K.Antony and Shri. P.K.Vasudevan Nair.

In the 9th KLA he was the Deputy Speaker from 19.7.1991 to 14.5.1996. Shri. Kurup performed the duties of the Office of Speaker from May 4, 1995 to June 26, 1995. Earlier, he has also served as the Chairman of Petitions Committee during 1973-76 and House Committee during 1976-77.

Shri. Narayana Kurup has been a member of Kerala University Senate for several years besides being the President of Changanasserry Circle Co-operative Union.

Smt. Leela Devi is his wife and they have 4 sons and 3 daughters.

• Kottayam Nazeer, a famous Mollywood actor as well as a well-known Mimicry artist.

Religious places

The present day Karukachal does not have the stream from which the village got its name. Karukachal is also home to many temples and churches,

• Champakkara Devi temple,
• St.Mary's Orthodox Church Panayampala
• St.Stephens Orthodox Church Panayampala
• St.Sebastian's Church Panayampala
• Champakkara Church,
• St.Thomas Marthoma Church, Champakara
• Nethalloor Devi Temple,
• Sri Ayyappa Temple owned by The Ayyappa seva sangham,
• Kootrappalli Church,
• Vetticavumkal Sree Mahadeva Kshetram,no 58 sndp yogam
• Chelakompu St.Andrew's CMS Anglican Church,
• Nedumkunnam St.John the Baptist Church,
• Nedumkunnam Devi Temple
• Nearest temple *anikkattilammakshethram

Banks

The Federal Bank Ltd, The South Indian Bank Ltd, The Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd, State Bank Of Travancore, Kottayam Dt. Co-operative Bank, Champakara Service Co-operative Bank, North Malabar Gramin Bank, Madappaly Service Co-operative Bank, The Karukachal Urban CS LTD K-1032

Santhi puram Shiva Temple Sree subhananda Darsana Mandapam.Kuttikkal. (Subhananda Gurudevan, a social reformer among backward caste who have been under slavery for decades) and Four more Subhanandasramams are being situated in Karukachal.

Nearest places

Morning View of Karukachal Stand

• Karukachal Town
• Karukachal-Aniyarappadi-Nethallore Road
• Panayampala
• Nedumkunnam
• Koothrapally
• Palamattom

vettikavumkal The location of Karukachal was very important during Rajavazhcha(rule of the king). It was a resting place for Royal Family members who made pleasure trips to High-ranges. For their safety, many Kuruppan families settled in Karukachal. The Royal family members enjoyed their hospitality and protection. The earliest Concrete Road runs thru' Karukachal. The present Changanacherry-Kumily Road is laid upon the old concrete Road. Bullock Carts used to ply in convoys to the western market in Changanacherry and back. Karukachal was an assembling point for these carts which were coming from various inlands.

• Kangazha

Kangazha is a beautiful place, having a serene atmosphere in Changanacherry Taluk east to Karukachal. Famous for the MGDM Hospital one of the oldest multispeciality community referral hospitals in Kerala. The first Self Finance Nursing College in private sector in Kerala, Theophilis College of Nursing is also situated at Kangazha. Other educational institutions at kangazha are PGM college of arts and Science, P Geevarghese School of Nursing, School of Laboratory Technology-MGDM Hospital, Baselios Higher Secondary School, St. Thomas School Kangazha etc.

• Panayampala
• Vettikavumkal
• Kochuparambu
• Nedumkunnam
• Manthuruthy
• Kallepuram
• Kuruppan kavala
• Punnavely
• Nethalloor
• Kaidachira
• Kochukulam
• Puthupally padavu
• Muthiramala
• Champakara
• Koothrapally
• Santhipuram
• Kavalimavu
• Mampathy
• Thommachery
• subhashpadi
• sreerengom
• aasramaom padi
• Peumpettymon
• Nedungadappally
• Plachikal
• Umbidi

Banglam Kunnu

• Perumpanachy/Thengana