Elappara is a town in Idukki district in the southwestern

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

n state of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

. It is one of the panchayaths in Peerumedu taluk. The area is marked by a cool climate as the region is situated at an elevation of over above sea level. Elappara is famous for its vast tea plantations.

History

The history of present Elappara begins in 1836 with the clearing of the Vembanadu region by Henry Baker, a C.M.S. missionary. The first estate to start the tea industry in high-range was the ''Tyford'' estate and the first plantation ''Penshwarast -'' both of which are situated in Elappara panchayath. During the Kollam era, the regions including Elappara were a part of the Thekkumkur kingdom and were later acquired by Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, the founder of the Poonjar dynasty. History says that Manavikrama was on his journey to Poonjar and took rest at 'Thangalpara,' near Kolahalamedu. Even today we can see the remnants of Minakshi idols in the rocks, indicating its history. In the 1870s, various plantations had emerged in this region. The tea cultivated here was known by the name ''Peerumedu hybrid tea'', a type native to China. By 1896, the area was fully utilized for tea cultivation. Later, in the 1900s, the people that worked in these plantations permanently settled there.

Administration

Elappara panchayath was formed in 1953, including 17 wards, and it belongs to the Azhutha block of Peerumedu taluk. The surrounding panchayaths are Ayyappancoil, Upputhara, Kokkayar, Peruvanthanam, and

Kumily Kumily, also spelt as Kumaly () is a revenue village and Gram Panchayat in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. It is a town in Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and Periyar Tiger Reserve and a well frequented tourist destination. Kumily is a ...

Wards in Elappara panchayath

*Pullikkanam *Uluppooni *Kottamala *Vattapathal *Kochu Karumtharuvi *Chemmannu *Chinnar *Vallakkadavu *Haileyburia *Kizhakke puthuval *Kozhikkanam *Thannikanam *Elappara *Tyford *Bonami *Kolahalamedu * Vagamon

Economy

Elappara is predominantly a plantation township with its abundant tea plantations. Most people work in plantations. This hill area is known for the Elappara Tea estate and its brand MASCO. Kerala's main agricultural products are cultivated in this region. Elappara is surrounded by tea estates namely the Tyford Tea Ltd, MMJ Plantations, Haileyburia Tea Estates Ltd., etc.

Religion

The majority of the population is

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

, or

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

. Important pilgrim centers are the Luther Mission Church at Bonami, the Uppukulam Shree

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

Swami Temple, and the Muhiyudeen Juma Masjid.

Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

are a comparatively smaller part of the population.

Tourism

The natural environment and landscapes of Elappara attract visitors. There are panoramic views from the roads leading from Elappara to Kuttikkanam and Vagamon. The ''Annan Thambi'' and ''Pullikkanan'' hills, meadows at Kolahalamedu, scenic Vedikuzhi, Elappara streams, and the numerous tea plantations are the main attractions for the visitors. Vagamon, a hill station in Idukki, is just 15 km from Elappara. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Mullaperiyar dam is situated near to this panchayath.

Transportation

Elappara is located on the Kattappana - Kuttikkanam state highway, situated about 8 km (5.0 mi) from Kuttikkanam and 32 km (20 mi) from Kattappana. Major long route buses to

Kottayam Kottayam () is a city in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is the district headquarters of the district and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kottayam has a population of ...

and Changanassery stop here. Bus services are also available to places like Vandiperiyar, Kumily, Vagamon, Erattupetta, and Pala regions.

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, Elappara had a population of 18,714 with 9,284 males and 9,430 females. Elappara village has an area of with 4,754 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was 1016 lower than the state average of 1084. In Elappara, 8.8% of the population was under 6 years of age. Elappara had an average literacy of 89.6% higher than the national average of 74% and lower than the state average of 94%.

References

{{Idukki district Villages in Idukki district