Kanamala Explained

Kanamala
Other Name:Pambavalley
Settlement Type:village
Pushpin Map:India Kerala
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:9.4222°N 76.9361°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kerala
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Kottayam
Named For:Kanamla causeway
Government Type:Panchayath
Governing Body:Erumely grama panchayath
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation M:115
Population Total:998
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Malayalam
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:686510
Area Code:04828
Registration Plate:KL-34, KL-62
Blank1 Name Sec1:Coastline
Blank2 Name Sec1:Nearest cities
Blank2 Info Sec1:Erumely, Mukkoottuthara, Koruthodu
Blank3 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha constituency
Blank3 Info Sec1:Pathanamthitta
Blank4 Name Sec1:Assembly constituency
Blank4 Info Sec1:Poonjar
Blank1 Name Sec2:Climate
Blank1 Info Sec2:Tropical monsoon
Blank2 Name Sec2:Nearest Airport
Blank2 Info Sec2:Cochin International Airport Limited

Kanamala, commonly known by the name Pambavalley, is a village in Erumely panchayath in Kanjirappally tehsil of Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala.[1] It is situated in the border of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, but officially recorded as a part of Kottayam district only.

Etymology

The name Pambavalley derived from two words Pamba and valley, which denotes a place situated on the banks of holy Pamba river.

Economy

Kanamala is a rural remote hilly area where rubber is the most cultivated crop. Many rubber plantations are located here. People also engages in small scale cultivation of pepper and tapioca.

Landmarks

Kanamala bridge

There was a causeway linking Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts at Kanamala which was later replaced by the new bridge inaugurated on 23 December 2014, by Oomman Chandy. The construction cost of the bridge was 7.60 crore. The bridge here is an important landmark of Kanamala, which has two footpaths on either side. It has a length of and width of . The bridge is a big relief for thousands of pilgrims and locals who earlier depended on the narrow causeway, which would often create traffic blocks and submerge in Pamba river during heavy rainfalls.[2]

St.Mary's Clarist Convent

When Kanjirappally diocese came into being in 1977, the church authorities were quite aware of the need of having convents in its backward and not easily accessible hilly regions. Hence with great pleasure, Mar Joseph Powathil, the first Bishop of Kanjirappally granted permission to start an FC convent at Kanamala. Thus St. Mary's Clarist Convent came into existence on 18 June 1978. The house was blessed by Mar Joseph Powathil. A tailoring centre for giving vocational training to the poor girls of the locality started functioning under the guidance of the sisters on 15 July 1978. A nursery school was also started in the same year considering the request of the people around. Now the sisters are active in teaching, parish service, and social welfare activities.There is also a St. Thomas Church near to the convent which came into existence in 1956 under the Kanjirappally diocese.[3]

Transport facilities

Kanamala is connected by both state highway and rural roads. Sabarimala, a pilgrim centre, is from there. Both state-run and private buses operates there. Bus services are commonly from places like Mukkoottuthara, Erumely, Koruthodu, Mundakkayam, Changanassery and Kottayam. During Sabarimala pilgrimage, thousands of pilgrims passes through Kanamala via Neriyamangalam-Pamba state highway (SH-44).

Kanamala

During the Mandalam-Makaravilakku period, many fatal accidents took place at Kanamala causeway and Attivalavu spots. In the last five years, over 25 persons have died there. Kanamala had victimed several severe and minor accidents during the recent years.[4]

Schools and Colleges

Nearby places

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pampavalley, Erumeli Panchayat, Kottayam District, Kerala, India Kerala Tourism. www.keralatourism.org. 2016-12-22.
  2. News: Chandy to open Kanamala bridge on Dec. 23. Correspondent. Special. The Hindu. 2016-12-22.
  3. Web site: FCC - St.Thomas Province, Kanjirappally. www.fcckanjirappally.org. 2016-12-22.
  4. News: 20 Sabarimala-bound pilgrims injured near Kanamala. 25 December 2011. The Hindu. 11 November 2018.
  5. Web site: A Complete List of CBSE Affiliated Schools in India & Abroad. iCBSE. 2016-12-22.