Arakuzha
Encyclopedia
Arakuzha is a village 6 km south east of Muvattupuzha
in Kerala
, India
. It is Located on SH41 to Pandappilly and Koothattukulam
,the Alternate Route for Main Central Road
. The Moozhi Bridge Connects Arakuzha to Vazhakulam
Town which is also 6 km from Arakuzha.
has some very old Churches.
Arakuzha Moozhi was the main trading center before fifty years as this place is in the riverside. Goods are transported to Cochin from Moozhi by Boat through Muvattupuzha River. Most of them are traditional Catholic farmers and business people mainly Abkari's (the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors). early 1980s abkari business was in the peak mainly people from arakuzha, St. Mary's Forane Church has a very important role in the life of the people. Many people migrated to different part of Kerala for search of Agriculture land mainly to Malabar and high range area.
Arakuzha, being an ancient Syrian Christian Centre has given asylum to many a migrant syrian christians during the Tipu
's persecution of non believers.
Servant of God
Varghese Payapilly Palakkappilly
had served as the parish priest in Arakuzha (1920-22). During his tenure in Arakuzha he started a school here. He also purchased 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land in M.C.Road for constructing the famous Meenkunnam Church.
In the Arakuzha area, including Marady and Muvattupuzha villages, an affluent Nair community came to stay who originally belonged to ‘Azhvancheri’ Samooham. They left Azhavancheri Thambrakkal (Land Lords) and reached Chembazhakunnel at Perumballoor, settled there, and as their number increased, they spread to other parts of Muvattupuzha. In their search for their roots they recognized this historical connection and relationship. A pilgrimage to Azhvancherry is still a matter of nostalgia to them.
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is Located on SH41 to Pandappilly and Koothattukulam
Koothattukulam
Koothattukulam is situated in the Muvattupuzha Taluk, towards the South East corner of Ernakulam district in Kerala, South India. The town lies 50km south east of Kochi City, 17 km to the south of Muvattupuzha, and 35 kilometres east of Kottayam town and lies on the M.C. Road. It lies at the...
,the Alternate Route for Main Central Road
Main Central Road
The Main Central Road is the arterial State Highway in the Travancore region of Kerala state, India. It is designated as SH 1 by the Kerala Public Works Department.The highway was built by Raja Kesavadas, Dewan of Travancore...
. The Moozhi Bridge Connects Arakuzha to Vazhakulam
Vazhakulam
Vazhakulam lies east of the town Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district on the Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha road in Kerala, India. This town is famous as Pineapple City since most are growing pineapple as well as it is the biggest Asian pineapple market...
Town which is also 6 km from Arakuzha.
History
The village has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians. Syrian Christians of Arakuzha have more than 1500 years of recorded history. This Region of Kothamangalam, Vazhakulam, Arakuzha, Mylakompu, Nagapuzha, Muthalakodam of Northern TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
has some very old Churches.
Arakuzha Moozhi was the main trading center before fifty years as this place is in the riverside. Goods are transported to Cochin from Moozhi by Boat through Muvattupuzha River. Most of them are traditional Catholic farmers and business people mainly Abkari's (the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors). early 1980s abkari business was in the peak mainly people from arakuzha, St. Mary's Forane Church has a very important role in the life of the people. Many people migrated to different part of Kerala for search of Agriculture land mainly to Malabar and high range area.
Arakuzha, being an ancient Syrian Christian Centre has given asylum to many a migrant syrian christians during the Tipu
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
's persecution of non believers.
Servant of God
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
Varghese Payapilly Palakkappilly
Varghese Payapilly Palakkappilly
Varghese Payapilly Palakkappilly was a Syrian Catholic priest from the Indian state of Kerala and the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute.-Family:...
had served as the parish priest in Arakuzha (1920-22). During his tenure in Arakuzha he started a school here. He also purchased 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land in M.C.Road for constructing the famous Meenkunnam Church.
In the Arakuzha area, including Marady and Muvattupuzha villages, an affluent Nair community came to stay who originally belonged to ‘Azhvancheri’ Samooham. They left Azhavancheri Thambrakkal (Land Lords) and reached Chembazhakunnel at Perumballoor, settled there, and as their number increased, they spread to other parts of Muvattupuzha. In their search for their roots they recognized this historical connection and relationship. A pilgrimage to Azhvancherry is still a matter of nostalgia to them.