Thodupuzha is the largest town and main commercial centre in Idukki. It is bordered by the Kottayam district on the southern side and the Ernakulam District on the western side. It also acts as a gateway to various tourist spots in the High Range regions towards its east, including Munnar, Thekkady, and Peermade.
Etymology
During the annexation of the Vadakkumkoor principality by the Kingdom of Travancore, the capital Karikkode was destroyed by Diwan Ramayyan and his forces. In response, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, appointed Elasamprathi Narayana Varma as the administrator of the newly acquired territory. A nearby area called Edavathuruth, surrounded by hillocks and rocky terrain, was selected as the new headquarters of Thodupuzha taluk. The former capital Karikkode was reduced to a small village known as a "Pakuthy". The Maharaja also appointed Mallan Sankaran of Palliyadi as surveyor to prepare land revenue records, including the Ozhukku survey and Kandezhuthu settlement. As Mallan Sankaran failed to execute his mission due to widespread objection and riot of the local people, survey was only completed during the reign of Karthikathirunal Ramavarma. The place was named Thodupuzha by the Raja of Vadakkumkoor Maluvakon Manikantan who used to reside in his palace at Vaickam and Edavetty(Mattam Palace) near Karikkode, used to mention the nearby flowing wide "Valiyathodu" as thodu (transl."rivulet") puzha (transl."river"). It is believed that the stream developed into a river due to the changes in geophysical conditions of the area wherefrom it originates and enter the vally of Arakulam, to be known as Thodupuzha river and the town on the banks of the river came to be known as Thodupuzha. There is another version that defines thodu as "touch" instead. The Mattathil Kovilakam were the protectors and rulers of the region. The last ruler of the region was Elasamprathi Narayana Varma, who originally came from Trivandrum and was the representative of Maharaja of Travancore Anizhamthirunal Marthanda Varma.
History
Sarvadhikari Elasamprathi Narayana Varma of Vadakkumkur
The Vadakkumkur kings used to live in Karikode for several years. Vadakkumkur was a late medieval/early modern feudal principality located in Kerala. After the kingdom separated, Thekkumkur became an independent kingdom, while Vadakkumkur became a vassal of Cochin. During the time of Portuguese dominance in Cochin, disputes arose between the Vadakkumkur chieftain and the Kingdom of Cochin over the pepper trade, and the Vadakkumkur raja was killed in battle with Cochin and their Portuguese allies. After the attack, Vadakkumkur palace split into two branches: one was known as Mattathil Palace, which remained in Thondikkuzha; and the other one in Kadanadu Pala. Vadakkumkur and Thekkumkur were later annexed by Marthanda Varma and incorporated into the kingdom of Travancore. Maharaja appointed his representative known as Elasamprathi Narayana Varam to develop the region called Keezhmalainadu. Varam became known as the father of Keezhmalainadu and modern Thodupuzha.
Varam erected many monuments, including the government offices, Pandikasala, and temples. The Karikode mosque and other buildings in Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha also date from his reign. Elasamprathi Narayana Varma is credited with introducing a new system of tax collection in the region. Thodupuzha is an ancient town with a history spanning several centuries. Buddhist and Jain influences reached Thodupuzha and surrounding areas as early as the 3rd century BCE.
In the 14th century, Kerala was divided into several administrative provinces, including Venadu, Otanadu, Navishainadu, Munjunadu, Vempolinadu, and Keezhmalainadu. Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were part of Keezhmalainadu, which existed until 1600, when it was defeated by Vadakkumkoor and subsequently became part of that principality.
After Indian independence, from 1949 to 1956, Thodupuzha was a part of the Kottayam district in Travancore-Cochin state. In 1956, when Kerala state was formed, Thodupuzha remained as a part of Kottayam district until 1958, when Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958 and C. A. Mathew (മാത്യു ചൂരപുഴ) became the first member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1960, and from 1960 to 1965. In 1972, the Idukki district was formed by merging the Thodupuzha taluk with the Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermade taluks, which were part of the Kottayam district.
As of 2011 Census, Thodupuzha Taluka, with an area of 884.93km2 (341.67sqmi) had a total population of 325,951; males comprised 49% of the population and females 51%. The literacy rate of Thodupuzha Taluka in 2011 was 95.56%, in which, male and female literacy were 96.81% and 94.33% respectively. In Thodupuzha, 9% of the population was under the age of six.
Thodupuzha taluk (later bifurcated into Thodupuzha and Idukki taluks) lies mostly in the low-range plains of central Kerala. The area serves as a major trading hub for hill produce, including rubber, coconut, black pepper, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, and cocoa.Prior to the rise of real estate development, large areas in the region were used for paddy cultivation. However, paddy farming has largely been abandoned by farmers in recent decades. Agriculture, particularly rubber cultivation, has traditionally been the mainstay of Thodupuzha's economy. Other crops such as pineapple, coconut, rice, pepper, cocoa, tapioca, banana, ginger, turmeric are also cultivated. In recent decades, Thodupuzha has seen growth in small-scale and village industries, supported by state government policies. Several manufacturing units have been established in the area, including The Dhanwanthari Vaidyasala (the first Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing unit in the district), Nagarjuna, Guardian Controls, Lunar Chappals, Saro Plast, and Brahmins Industries.
The town has also benefited from improved infrastructure, including bypass roads, and the presence of numerous public and private institutions.
Thodupuzha was administered by a village panchayat and village union for several years, but on 1 September 1978, it was upgraded into a municipality. The Thodupuzha municipality was formed by merging the Thodupuzha panchayat with the neighboring panchayats of Kumaramangalam, Karikkode, and Manacaud. It was administered by a special officer for the first ten years. In 1988, the first popularly elected municipal council was formed, with N. Chandran as its chairman.
Sri Krishna Swami temple
Sports
The Thodupuzha Cricket Stadium constructed by the Kerala Cricket Association is located in Thekkumbhagom, approximately five kilometers away from Thodupuzha, which is large enough to host two cricket matches at the same time.
The second college of Thodupuzha was established in 1982: St. Joseph's College in Arakkulam.
The University College of Engineering, Thodupuzha, managed and run by the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, is located in Thodupuzha. The college started functioning in 1996.
↑Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Idukki(PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. p.78,79. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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