Kattappana
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Kattappana ( aʈ:ap:ɐna is a
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
in the
Idukki district Idukki (ഇടുക്കി; ) is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district co ...
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 ...
,
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 ...
. It is located 21 km (13.0 mi) southeast of the district headquarters in Painavu and about 140 km (87.0 mi) north of the state capital,
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
. Kattappana is the second-largest municipality in the district by population, and serves as a major hub for commercial and economic activity for the surrounding region. Kattappana was formed primarily by settlers from Pala, Kanjirapally,
Thodupuzha Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupu ...
,
Muvattupuzha Muvattupuzha () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipalityhttps://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is located east of the district headquarters in Thrikkakara and a ...
and Kothamangalam in the 1950s, and was given the status of gram panchayat in 1962. The town later attained the
Municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
status in 2015.


History


Historical development

The area was mainly settled by people from Pala,
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 ...
, Kothamangalam and
Thodupuzha Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupu ...
. Initially, it was a part of the Udumbanchola Tehsil (Taluk) within the
Idukki district Idukki (ഇടുക്കി; ) is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district co ...
. Subsequently, it became a part of the newly formed Idukki Tehsil. Notably, Kattappana emerged as the second municipality established in the district, following
Thodupuzha Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupu ...
. Mr Johny Kulampally became the first chairperson. Kattappana eventually established itself as a commercial hub within the high ranges. This development was fueled by its rapid growth in infrastructure and overall development. However, the turning point for Kattappana's commercial success can be attributed to the construction of two key roads: the Kottayam-Kattappana road and the Puliyanmala-Thodupuzha State Highway.


Economy

Cardamom agriculture serves as the cornerstone of Kattappana's economy, playing a pivotal role in uplifting the town's economic well-being.'' Spices Board'' (erstwhile Cardamom Board under Government of India) has an office in Kattappana. A Spices Park is established at Puttaday close to the town of Kattappana.


Recognition for sanitation

A significant achievement for Kattappana in field of sanitation was attaining the distinction of an Open Defecation Free Municipality in Kerala.Kattappana was first civic body in State of Kerala to achieve this status. This recognition was conferred upon the then chairman, Shri Johny Kulampallil, by the Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information & Broadcasting, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, during a ceremony held in Kochi on 18 October 2016.


Geography

The average elevation of Kattappana Municipality is 950 m above sea level.


Climate

Under the
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, the climate of Kattappana has a
tropical monsoon climate An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate subtype that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ' ...
. The place normally experiences a moderate climate. The humidity rises from March to April and mid-May. The average annual temperature is 23 °C. The months of June, July, August and October receive significant of rainfall. November and December are the coldest months in the year.


Civic administration


Administration

Kattappana is one of the two municipalities in the district, formed through the powers of Kerala Municipalities Act 1994. It was officially declared as municipality by the state government on 1 November 2015.The members of the municipal council are elected from each of 34 wards every five years, held with the local government elections across the state. The elections was held in 2021.The chairperson is the executive authority of the municipality. Kattappana town is the part of the Idukki legislative assembly constituency and the Idukki Lok Sabha constituency.The legislative assembly election is conducted every five years, last in May 2021.


Administrative divisions

For administrative convenience, the municipality is divided into 34 wards.


Politics

The major political parties active in Kattappana are
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
(INC),
Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a Communism in India, communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electora ...
(CPI(M)),
Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; , ) is a political party in India and one of the two major List of political parties in India, Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. BJP emerged out from Syama Prasad Mukherjee's ...
(BJP) and
Kerala Congress Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded in Kottayam, Kerala on 9 October 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George. The party is primarily active in central Kerala. Initially its main suppor ...
. Trade union movements are also popular in Kattappana as
Indian National Trade Union Congress The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is a national trade union centre in India. Founded on 3 May 1947, it is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. The INTUC claims a membership of over 30 million. Early year ...
(INTUC) and
Centre of Indian Trade Unions The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) is a national level trade union in India. It is associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). It has presence mostly in the Indian state of Tripura, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnatak ...
(CITU) affiliated workers engaged in the labour sector. The current member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Idukki is Roshy Augustine. He has been the member of legislative assembly of Kerala representing Kattappana town forming a part of Idukki constituency since 2001. The current member of parliament (MP) from Idukki is Dean Kuriakose.He has been elected to the Parliament since 2019.


Demographics

As of the 2011 Census, Kattappana had a population of 42,646, with 21,159 males and 21,487 females. Kattappana has an area of with 10,419 families residing in it. Kattappana had an average literacy of 95.25% higher than the state average of 94%. People migrated to this place mainly during the 1950s from Central Travancore. The migrations were majorly from Palai, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Changanassery and Kanjirapally taluks of the undivided Kottayam district and Pathanamthitta. Descendants of earlier inhabitants, the tribals of the forest, can still be seen. The Mannan tribe is now concentrated around Kovilmala, near Kanchiyar.


Tourist attractions


Anchuruli Tunnel

This is a 3.5 meters wide, 4 km long tunnel that connects the Idukki and Erattayar Reservoirs. Beyond its functional purpose, the tunnel offers a breathtaking glimpse of the Anchuruli Waterfalls.


Kalvary Mount

Kalvary Mount or Kalliyanathandu is a famous Christian pilgrimage site perched atop a hill offers that an aerial view of the Idukki Reservoir and its surrounding peaks and forests. Once a secluded spot, it gained fame after the Idukki Dam's construction. The cozy climate and picturesque scenery have transformed it into a popular destination. Guided trekking can be availed from here to nearby places. During Lent, the area turns into a pilgrimage centre as Christians go in a procession up the hillock.


Agriculture

Kattappana is the center for spice trade and the primary producer of
cardamom Cardamom (), sometimes cardamon or cardamum, is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the genus (biology), genera ''Elettaria'' and ''Amomum'' in the family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to the Indian subcontinent and Indon ...
and
black pepper Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit (the peppercorn), which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in diameter ...
. The main occupation of people of Kattappana is agriculture. Njallani, a high yielding variety of cardamom, was developed by Sebastian Joseph Njallani from Kattappana. It is also the centre of production and marketing of
coffee Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...
, cocoa and
ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is an herbaceous perennial that grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of l ...
. There are also several reputed tea plantations (Tata Tea, A V Thomas & Co, Malayalam Plantations, Kannan Devan etc.) in adjoining areas of the district. Spices Board (erstwhile Cardamom Board under Government of India) has an office in Kattappana. A Spices Park is established at Puttadi near Kattappana. Cardamom Research Institute is situated at Pampadumpara.


Healthcare

St. John's Hospital, managed by the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, is a leading health institution in Kattappana. The St. John College of Nursing is attached to the hospital.


Transportation

Kattappana has a well established road system to other districts as well as to the nearby state Tamil Nadu.


Highways

In 2015 a new national highway named
National Highway 185 (India) National Highway 185 (NH 185) is a highway in India running from Adimali to Kumily through Kattappana Anavilasam and ends in kumily Attapallam Village in Kerala. Start and end points of National Highways-Source-Government of India ...
was announced to Idukki district, through Adimali- Cheruthoni-Kattappana-
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 ...
. The Malayora highway also called as Hill Highway is another major road passing through Kattappana.In 2024 this road got a significant upgrade to 13.5 metre width.


Distances to nearby towns

* Nedumkandam - - 18 km *
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 ...
- - 26.8 km *
Thodupuzha Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupu ...
- - 78.6 km *
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 ...
- - 100.2 km * Cumbum - - 31.2 km *
Palai Pallai (, ), also spelt Palai, is a small town in the Kilinochchi District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The town is located under the division of the Pachilaipally Divisional Secretary and is administered by the Pachilaipally Pradeshiya Sa ...
- - 75.2 km *
Changanassery Changanassery, () formerly Changanacherry, is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located south of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 ...
- - 114 km * Theni - - 68.8 km * Thopramkudy - - 21. km * Murickassery - - 29. km * Adimaly - - 47. km


Major roads connecting Kattappana

* * *


References


External links


Tourist map of Idukki District

Idukki District administration
{{Northern Travancore Cities and towns in Idukki district Tourism in Idukki district