Vechoochira is a village located in

Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality, city in southern Kerala, India, spread over an area of . It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37,538 (as of 2011 census). The Hindu pilgrim centre Sab ...

district 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 ...

. The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvalla, located 45km away from the village.

Location

Vechoochira is about to from Erumely, a Hindu pilgrimage centre, and to from Ranni.

History

From 1900-1920, missionaries from

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

established a farm area near Vechoochira, known as Mission Kunnu. When the English missionaries departed, the land was given to local people. Many families from the

Tiruvalla Thiruvalla, () also spelled Tiruvalla, is a municipality in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of and has a population of 52,883 people, down from 56,837 in 2001. It is also the Headquarters Of Thiruvalla ...

-Vennikulam area migrated to Vechoochira and bought land properties from the locals. No prior history is available before early 1900, but it is assumed the area was part of the vast forest area, and indigenous tribal people (Adivasis) used to live in non-permanent structures. It is likely these tribes were living there for several centuries. At the beginning of 1900, the Travancore rulers gave about 100 acres of farmland to a court advocate (believed to be from

Chengannur Chengannur () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipalityhttps://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located south east of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about ...

) for lease and later this land was acquired by NSS cooperative society and now it is known as 'Noorokkad' estate (emerging from 100 acres of ''kaadu''). In late 1960s displaced families from the Idukki dam project were rehabilitated to an area called Idukki kooppu (south west of Vechoochira-Koothattukulam). Ennooramvayal is another name for area north west of Vechoochira, denoting 800th field place of CMS missionaries. Also, in 1920-40s a severe form of smallpox (Vasoori) caused many deaths in Vechoochira. Kunnam Village is the other main place in Vechoochira. The educational institutions like Viswabrahmana college, Government LP School, MTVHS School and Marthoma LP School are situated here. Kunnam Devi Temple is another pilgrimage attraction.

Veterans' Colony

The "Ex-servicemen colony", land given to veterans of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and China conflict by the Indian government, was established in Vechoochira by the Indian Government as a reward for their services.

Education

Many well known educational institutions are located in this panchayatu (village), including two higher secondary schools, a high school, an arts college, a polytechnic institute, a Navodya high school, a vocational higher secondary school and many English medium primary schools.

Demography

People from all the major religions (Christianity, Hinduism, Islam) live here together with due respect to each other. Most of the villagers are farmers, cultivating banana, tapioca, rubber, coconut, etc.

Tourism

Perunthenaruvi falls, a famous water fall in

Pamba river The Pamba River (also called Pampa River) is the longest river in the Indian state of Kerala after Periyar (river), Periyar and Bharathappuzha, and the longest river in the erstwhile former princely state of Travancore. The Sabarimala Temple, d ...

is located in this panchayath. It is about from the town, accessible through paved (asphalt) road. The entire pampa river water is converging and flowing through channels before it falls to a 30 ft drop. The base of the fall is very shallow and deep consisting of several twistering spots. If you want to see the water fall closely, take all precaution not to step on slippery rocks and edges. Every year many people lose their lives by underestimating the force of the water flow and depth. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has built a view gallery and rest area near the fall. Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will be building a 3MW power generation station (utilizing hydro electric power) at the fall in the near future. Perunthenaruvi Weir is dam constructed across the Pamba River as part of a hydroelectric project. Dam site is a tourist spot. Notable People: Sri. Vechoochira Madhu (A well-known journalist and writer in Malayalam)

Schools

*Navodaya Vidyalaya *Govt Poly Technic college *Govt Higher Secondary School *Little Angels English Medium School *C.M.S.L.P School, Ennoramvayal, Vechoochira - The first educational institution started by CMS Missionaries *Govt. LP School, Kunnam, Vechoochuira *Viswabrahmana College Kunnam, Vechoochira *MTVHS School Kunnam *MTLP School Anamadam, Kunnam *St Thomas High School Vechoochira

Nearby places

* Navodya junction * Punchiri mukku * Mannadisala * Perunthenaruvi * Navodaya * Varkkalamukku * Arayanpara * Kollamula * Chathanthara * Ranni *

Erumely Erumely, also spelled Erumeli, is a town and panchayat located in the south-eastern part of Kottayam district in Kerala, India. Erumely is situated east of Kottayam town and north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The village is on the b ...

* Athikkayam *

Mukkoottuthara Mukkoottuthara is a developing Town located in the south eastern part of Kottayam district 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, follow ...

* Plaveli Niranu * Paruva * Kunnam * Kumbithodu * vahamukku * Anamadam * Achadippara * Koothattukulam * Kakkudukka