Manimala

Manimala
Village
Manimala Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	686543
Telephone code	+91 48287
Vehicle registration	KL

Manimala is an area in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala, situated about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the nearest town Kanjirappally.

Geography

The River Manimala is 92 kilometres (57 mi) long and is a tributary of the River Pamba. The area is mostly hilly with Kuranganmala, Varukunnu and Poovatholymala being the most important hills. Ponthenpuzha forest separates the village from Pathanamthitta district.

Manimala is acclaimed for its high literacy rate and access to primary and secondary education facilities within walking distance. There are three main high schools within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the town center. In recent years the schools have undergone significant modernization with the installation of state of the art facilities such as IT and science labs. The village boasts hundred percent literacy rate. Girls are generally high achievers than boys at schools and universities. The people from all religions, mostly Syrian Christians, Hindus and Muslims live in harmony and peace in this village.

The village has many commercial banks such as Catholic Syrian Bank, Federal Bank ltd, Co-Operative Bank, and government owned State Bank of Travelcore. Access to modern health care is also possible through village based primary health centre and other seven modern hospitals within 16 kilometers.

Manimala has access to all major cities and inter national airports in Kerala through roadways. The nearest railway stations are at Kottayam,(district capital) and Changanacherry.

The River Manimala and the Manimala bridge are the two nostalgic signs to the people of Manimala who are living abroad.

Demographics

The population is about 10,000, of whom the majority are farmers whose main income comes from rubber plantations.. The farmers of Manimala are mostly Catholic Syrian Christians, who are the descendants of settler farmers who migrated to the region from Kanjirapally and Meenachil regions centuries ago.

Notable individuals

• Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara.
• Writer James K C Manimala

List of places of worship

There are many places to worship in the village, one of which is the Manimalkkavu Bhagavathi Temple, which at one point owned a lot of land in the area, which included the villages of Manimala and Vellavoor.

List of local temples

• Manimalkkavu Bhagavathi Temple
• Kulathumkal Sreedevi Temple,Manimala
• Kadayanickadu Bhagavathy Temple
• Kadayanickadu Dharmashastha Temple
• Koodathingal Mahadeva Temple
• Moongani Sree Dhrama Sastha temple

List of local churches

• St. Basil’s Church (Puthanpally):The church was founded by Rev. Fr. Joseph Pygnottu. When Holy Magi forane church and a group of people get caught in "Meloos Seeshma", Fr.Joseph established the church.Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara was the member of this church.
• Holy Magi Forane Church manimala (Pazhayapally)- Established in 1812 as a daughter church of the Kanjirapally Pazhayapally, It is a prominent pilgrim center of Kerala. The church is named after the Three wise men of the East/ Three Kings who adored Jesus Christ on his birth. The feast days start by 31 December every year through 1-7 January of the next year. The procession of the chariot on 5 January evening- in memory of the journey of the three wise men to adore Jesus-from Karikkattoor to the church at Manimala and 'KAZHCHA VEYPPU" in memory of epiphany are attended by more than one lakh people every year.Throughout the procession the chanting " Holy Magy Pray For Us" reverberates the air.
• Sacred Heart Church Karimpanakulam
• Vallamchira Fathima Matha Church
• Karikkatoor St. james church
• St.Thomas Church Perumkave
• St.Joseph's Church Karikkattoor( Vijayapuram diocese).
• St.Antony's Church Karikkattoor center

See also

• Kanjirappally.