Aluva ആലുവ Alwaye |
|
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 10°07′00″N 76°21′00″E / 10.1167°N 76.3500°ECoordinates: 10°07′00″N 76°21′00″E / 10.1167°N 76.3500°E | |
Country | India |
State | Kerala |
District | Ernakulam |
City UA | Kochi |
Established | 1921 |
Government | |
• Mayor | M. T. Jacob |
Area | |
• Total | 7.18 km2 (2.77 sq mi) |
Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 24,110 |
• Density | 3,358/km2 (8,700/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 6831xx |
Telephone code | 91.484 |
Vehicle registration | KL 41 |
Sex ratio | 1000:1050 ♂/♀ |
Website | www |
Aluva (formerly Alwaye), is a town in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India which is also considered as the Commercial City of Kochi. Located on the River Periyar, Aluva is the industrial epicenter of the state.[1] A major transportation hub, with easy access to all major forms of transportation, Aluva acts as a corridor which links the highland districts to the rest of the state. Aluva, home to the summer residency of the Travancore royal family - the Alwaye Palace -[2] is also famous for the Sivarathri festival celebrated annually at the sandbanks of Periyar. The Advaita Ashrams in Aluva founded in 1913 by Sree Narayana Guru, one of India's greatest social reformers adds to the cultural significance of the town.[3] Today, whilst part of the Kochi urban agglomeration, Aluva is an autonomous municipality, its civic administration conducted by Aluva Municipal Council. The town also serves as the administrative centre of the Aluva taluk.The headquarters of the District Police Chief of Ernakulam Rural Police District, Superintending engineer, PWD(Roads) and of the District Educational Officer, Aluva are also located here.It is the starting point of Kochi metro rail under construction.
Contents
History
Archaeologists have found evidence of settlements in Aluva as far back as 250 BC.[4] The place used to be a continuous area of land spread across Kakkanad and Alangad; historians have recorded that it was so up to AD 1341. The town, by then thickly populated, became a holiday resort and a centre of commerce.[5] Mangalappuzha, a branch of Periyar which bifurcates at Aluva was known to be the nerve centre of trade and commerce in this part of South India. Before Indian independence, Aluva was part of the Kingdom of Travancore and was the official summer residence of the royal family.
The etymology of the name of the town of Aluva has been the subject of speculation for centuries. One of the more accepted version relates to the story of Hindu god Shiva drinking the Kalakootam poison to save the world. It is said that Shiva with the poison -Alam- in his mouth -Vaa- was made into a deity which was then rested in a temple in Aluva.[6] The Sivarathri festival for which the town is famous for is celebrated in the honor of Shiva. In the twentieth century, when there was a community of Jews in Cochin, some used to have holiday homes in Aluva on the banks of the River Periyar. [7] it also has a name "gate way to east"
Politics
Aluva is a constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Aluva assembly constituency is part of the Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency). Anwar Sadath is the MLA of Aluva.[8] It is part of Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency).
Administratively, Aluva is a municipality.[9] The current municipal council is ruled by Indian National Congress Party, led by M. T. Jacob
Aluva
Tourism
Popular tourist spots include:
- Sivarathri Manappuram(Sree Mahadeva temple)(Dekshina Kaashi)
- Kadungalloor Sree Narasimha Swamy temple
- Thiruvalloor Sree Mahadeva Temple
- Aluva Palace
- Periyar banks
- Cheerakkada Temple
- Desom Sree Pallippattukavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Desom Sree Ananthapuram Mahavishnu Temple
- Desom Sree Dhattha Anjaneya Temple
- Adwaitha Ashram
- Sree Krishna Temple
- Uliyannoor Sree Mahadeva Temple
- Pottachira Sree Krishna Temple
- Municipal Park
- Thuruthu in periyar river(Small island)
- St.Dominic Church
- Aluva Masjid
- Kunjunnikara Juma Masjid
- Thottumughom Thangal Jaaram
- Thottumughom Padinjare Palli Juma Masjid
Tourists would find the Manappuram on the left as a long stretch of sand bank followed by a plain. In the festive weeks of Sivarathri lakhs gather here.
By going downtown from the NH bypass after the bridge, you will be heading towards the Bank Junction.The road ahead would take you to the Palace Road. This road runs parallel to the Periyar along the Municipal Park, Aluva Palace(now the Guest House), and Sivagiri Ashram. Sivagiri Ashram has a small temple which worships Sree Narayana Guru.
Aluva Railway Station
Aluva Railway Station is a major stop for every train that passes North to South of Kerala, though there are exceptions. The station is important for southern railway because of the number of passengers itself. The commuters and travelers from Idukki district have only this station for all their train journeys as there is no possible railway in the Idukki topography.There are no trains starting or ending at this station.But there are a lot of trains which stop for considerable duration here.
Aluva Railway Station is situated at the Railway Station Road junction near the KSRTC Stand.The KSRTC stand hosts many buses from Ernakulam and a lot of City Low Floor buses,both A/C and non A/C.
Aluva Mahadeva Temple (ആലുവ ശിവ ക്ഷേത്രം )
The Mahadeva Temple is situated at a distance of 1Km from the Marthanda Varma bridge in NH-47. Periyar river splits into two near Aluva railway bridge and after the splitting one part is called Mangalappuzha. Aluva Mahadeva Temple is located on the sand bank in between the Mangalppuzha and Periyar river. Aluva Mahadeva Temple is managed by Travancore Devaswom Board.
The unique feature of Aluva Mahadeva Temple is that the Shivalinga is not enshrined in a Sreekovil. The Swayambhoo Shivalinga installed by Lord Parasurama and worshipped by Lord Sree Rama rises out of the sand banks of the Periyar river. This place is called the Aluva Manal Puram (land with sand).
There are many legends associated with this temple. After installing the Lingam Parasurama built a temple here but was destroyed by flood. Lord Shiva told him that no temple structure will exist at that place because He does not want a temple structure for protecting the Lingam. Another legend goes like this. The Bhuthaganas of Lord Shiva worshipped the Lingam every night. They decided to construct a temple there. But Lord Shiva told them that they must complete the temple in a single night. Bhuthaganas agreed and started the construction. When the foundation was completed, Lord Vishnu came there, disguised as a cock and crowed to mislead the Bhuthaganas. The Bhuthaganas, fearing that dawn had approached, left the work unfinished. Sri Rama, during his search for Sitha, performed tharpana for Jadayu here. Another legend is associated with Vilwamangalam Swamiyar. One day he visited this place and realised the presence of Lord Shiva and identified the Shiva Linga installed by Parasurama. He started worshipping the Linga and Lord Mahadeva appeared infront of him and told him to start poojas there. Pottayil Ilayathu, Thottathil Nambiar and Idamana Nampoothiri made proper arrangements for Shiva Pooja and Vilwamngalam started the pooja. But there were no vessels to offer Nivedyam. So Vilwamangalam used a Kavungin Pala (aracanut leaf) to offer Nivedyam. Even today the nivedyam is offered in Kavungin Pala and is called Palanivedyam. Later Vilwamangalam and his associates - Ilayathu, Nambiar and Nampoothiri - constructed a temple but it was destroyed by flood in AD 1343. During the monsoon season the whole region gets flooded and the Shivalinga gets submerged in water. So the Ooranma Nampoothiris were decided to construct a small temple on the bank of the river inorder to perform poojas during monsoon season. This temple is called Bala Kshetram. It is a fact that though unfinished in nature, this temple has withstood many a flood and still stands as an enigma to the architects, regarding its foundation and structure. The Travancore Devaswom Board authorities constructed a temple structure here some years ago. but the Deva Prasna conducted later revealed that constructon of the temple structure is against Lord Shiva's wish.
See also
- Kaprassery, a village nestled in between Aluva and Angamaly
- Kadungalloor, village situated 3 kilometres from the town.
- Edathala, village situated 5 kilometres from the town.
- Aluva Sivarathri festival
- Aluva Railway Station
- Aluva West
- Aluva East
Location
|
North Paravur | Chengamanad | Angamaly | |
Kalamassery | Perumbavoor | |||
|
||||
Vytilla | Kakkanad, Thrippunithura | Muvattupuzha, piravom |
References
- ^ 26 March 2014, 10:57 am. "Home | Aluva Municipality". Aluvamunicipality.in. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ "Alwaye Palace Aluva - Aluva Palace Kerala". Kerala-tourism.org. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ "Biograby by Dr. S. Omana". Sndp.org. 1928-09-20. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ 26 March 2014, 10:57 am. "ചരിത്രം | Aluva Municipality". Aluvamunicipality.in. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ "Kerala". Ashextourism.com. 1999-05-13. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ 26 March 2014, 10:57 am. "ആമുഖം | Aluva Municipality". Aluvamunicipality.in. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ Weil, S. 2009 'The Place of Alwaye in Modern Cochin Jewish History', Journal of Modern Jewish Studies 8 (3): 319-335.
- ^ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- ^ "Local Administration - Ernakulam District". NIC Ernakulam (Govt. of India). Retrieved 21 April 2011.
|
|
|
|