Vettikkavala is a village located in the

Kollam district Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 List of districts in Kerala, districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major La ...

in the 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 ...

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 village is famous for Shiva-Vishnu temples which hosts a special deity called ''Vathukkal Njaali Kunju.'' An annual celebration of Pongala is held at the temple. The village is also well known for ''temple arts (kshetra kala)'' and a palace constructed by

Sree Moolam Thirunal Sir Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in Indi ...

Etymology

The village Vettikkavala derives its name from the origins of idol worship of the temple here. The initial worship was carried out on an idol beneath a ''Vetti( aporosa cardiosperma)'' tree that existed near the temple. According to local historians, this tree was roughly situated near the present-day government school.

Demographics

India census, Vettikkavala has a population of 20,118 with 5,313 households. The majority of the population identifies as Hindu and Christians are the largest religious minority. Scheduled Castes make up 17.02% of the total population; 0.12% of the population are Scheduled Tribes.

Administration and Politics

In local self governance, the village of Vettikkavala falls within the

Block panchayat Panchayat samiti or block panchayat is a rural local government ( panchayat) body at the intermediate tehsil (taluka/mandal) or block level in India. It works for the villages of the tehsil that together are called a development block. It has b ...

named Vettikkavala (one among the 11 blocks in

) and the is spread across Gram panchayats of Vettikkavala and Melila. In revenue administration it comes under in the Kottarakara

Taluk A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...

of Kerala. Vettikkavala is part of the

Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency) Mavelikara is one of the 20 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. Assembly segments Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly regions: Members of Parliament As Thiruvalla ...

and in the state legislature, it forms part of

Pathanapuram Pathanapuram is a Town in Pathanapuram Taluk Kollam district, Kerala, India. Pathanapuram is a part of Grama Panchayat and Block panchayat of same name and part of Kollam District Panchayat. History The history of Pathanapuram goes back to ...

legislative seat.

Attractions and Notable Locations

Vettikkavala Sree Mahadevar temple

Vettikkavala Sree Mahadevar temple is one of the largest and most famous Shiva-Vishnu temples in Kerala. As per oral history there was an idol worship carried out beneath a ''vetti'' tree near the present day temple in olden times. The available records suggests that in around the 17th or 18th century, a temple was constructed near the tree by the queen of Elayadath Swaroopam. The Elayadath Swaroopam centered at

Kottarakkara Kottarakkara (IAST: Koṭṭārakkara), also transliterated as ''Kottarakara'', is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies to the east of Kollam city centre. History Kottarakkara, also known in the ...

was brought under

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

in 1742 by troops of

Marthanda Varma Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: ; 1706 – 7 July 1758) was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore (previously Venadu) from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja") ...

as a result of

Travancore–Dutch War The Travancore–Dutch War was a war between the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Indian kingdom of Travancore, culminating in the Battle of Colachel in 1741. Causes In the early 18th century, the Malabar Coast region of present-d ...

. The temple remained in a dilapidated state for many years after the annexation. However, in 1900 ( Malayalam era 1176), and under the insistence of palace manager Sankaran Thampi the king of Travancore,

Moolam Thirunal Sir Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in India ...

renovated the temple into its current structure. The

Travancore Devaswom Board Travancore Devaswom Board is statutory and autonomous body managing around 1252 temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the ...

made a major investment in restoring the temple. In 1996, another round of maintenance was undertaken. During this work, a portion of ''kulikadavu'' around the temple pond was inadvertently damaged. On the southern side of the temple lies a palace constructed by Travancore kings during the reign of

. This palace was designed for kings and royal family members who were visiting the adjacent temple. Presently, weather and encroaching vegetation are leading the temple into further ruin.

Other Religious Places

* Ancient Sadananda Ashram, Sadanandapuram * Kannamcode Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple * Edamana Madom Sree Bhagavathy Trust Raktheshwari Kudumba Paradevatha Temple * Koikkal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple * Villur Vaikuntanatha Temple * Chirattakonam Church *Thalachira Mosque * India Pentecostal Church of God * Assemblies of God in India *The Pentecostal Mission *APA *Kattalanchavarkavu pachoor *Bethel Marthoma Church, Panavely

Tourist Attractions

* Kallada Irrigation Project * KTDC Motel Aaram, Sadanandapuram * Pinnacle View Point * Kazhuvudayan kunnu, Pachoor * Muttamala

Educational Institutions

Vettikavala Government Model High School is a high-tech, high-achieving secondary school. Another higher secondary school is in Sadanandapuram and is also high achieving academically. High schools are situated in Thalachira, Chakkuvarakkal, Kottavattom and are at a good level. Some lp, up, and welfare schools are also run by the government. Sector and some aided schools are also run by the private sector. There is also a polytechnic college in Thalachira. *Govt Model Higher Secondary School Vettikavala *Govt High School Thalachira *Govt Higher Secondary School Sadanandapuram *Govt high school chakkuvarakkal *D Krishnan Potti Memorial High School Kottavattom *Travancore Devaswom Board School Vettikavala *Mar baselios ocean star public school Chirattakonam *SDA school Karickom *Karickam international public school *Aala achan memorial English medium school Thalachira *Younus polytechnic college Thalachira

Transportation

Road

State-run KSRTC buses are the primary form of transportation. The village is well connected to

, Kokkadu, Thalachira, Chakkuvarakkal and

Punalur Punalur is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Punalur Taluk and Punalur Revenue Division. It is in the eastern part of the Kollam district of Kerala, on the banks of the Kallada River and footh ...

through frequent bus services. Three daily KSRTC Fast Passenger bus services ensure connectivity to neighboring districts of

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 ...

and

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 ...

. * Kollam - Tirumangalam NH 744 passes through Chengamanad which is situated 2 km away. *

- Valakom ( Mc road) Sabarimala Bypass pass through Vettikkavala. * Kadakkal-Chengamanad road is another important road passing through Vettikkavala that connects Vettikkavala with Anchal.

Rail and Air

The Kottarakara and Avaneeswaram railway stations, located on the Kollam-Sengottai railway line, are the nearest stations. Both of them are 8 km from Vettikkavala. However, Vettikkavala is better connected with Kottarakkara railway station through public transportation. The nearest airport is

Trivandrum International Airport Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is an international airport that serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and the fifth international airport of ...

(68 km).

References

{{Kollam district Villages in Kollam district