Karukachal

Karukachal കറുകച്ചാൽ கருகச்சால்
Village
Karukachal bus station
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Panchayath	Karukachal
Government
• Type	Panchayath
Area
• Total	22.4 km2 (8.6 sq mi)
Elevation	81 m (266 ft)
Population
• Total	20,133
• Density	900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	686540
Telephone code	+91- 0481
Vehicle registration	KL -33, KL-05
Website	http://lsgkerala.in/karukachalpanchayat/

Karukachal (Malayalam:കറുകച്ചാൽ) is a small fast-growing town in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. The name "Karukachal" was coined from the words "Karuka"(Karukapullu in Malayalam) which is a type of grass which grew in plenty and "chal" meaning a small body of flowing water.

It is located 20 km from Kottayam town. The nearest railway station is Changanassery which is at a distance of 13 km. Karukachal lies south-east of Kottayam and east to Changanacherry. It is a major road junction that comes in between Changanacherry to Manimala and Erumely which proceeds to Sabarimala. It is connected to Vazhoor via Changanacherry-Vazhoor Road (12 km) where it meets the Kottayam-Kumily Road (KK Road).

Educational Institutions

The first school of the Nair Service Society (NSS) is located at Karukachal in Changanacherry-Vazhoor Road which is almost a century old. Other schools nearby include St. John the Baptist School and B Ed College at Nedumkunnam, 2 km east of Karukachal.

Hospitals

There is a Govt. Hospital and many private hospitals.

1. Government Hospital (PH Centre)

2. NSS Hospital

3. Mercy Nursing Home

4. Royal Med Care Centre

5. SJ Eye Hospital (specialised for Eye)

There are a number of dental clinics and laboratories as well.

Religion

Hindus and Christians constitute majority of the population with a minority of Muslims.

Places of Worship

There are a number of temples in Karukachal. Nethalloor Devi Temple in Kottayam Road, Sree Mahadevar temple, Vettikavumkal Jn. and Ayyappa Temple in Central Jn. are the temples. St. George's Malankara Catholic Church is the church in Karukachal with a number of churches nearby like St. Mary's Church, Koothrappally and St. Thomas Marthoma church in Kottayam Road. There is a mosque on Changanacherry road as well, in the centre of Karukachal Town.

Banks and Financial Institutions

All the major banks have branches in Karukachal. These include State Bank of Travancore, Kerala Gramin Bank, South Indian Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, Canara Bank, Federal Bank etc. There are a number of Service Co-operative Banks as well.

Hotels

There is a 4-star hotel in Changanacherry-Vazhoor Road (Arcadia Fort) and a number of small restaurants all around Karukachal.

Transportation

Round-the-clock bus services connect Karukachal to Kozhencherry, Changanacherry, Erumely, Kottayam etc. One of the State Highways (SH-09) connecting Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts from Kanjikuzhy to Kozhencherry pass through Karukachal and is the most frequent bus route.