Cherthala | |
|---|---|
 Cherthala | |
  Cherthala Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Cherthala Cherthala (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°41′13″N76°20′10″E / 9.68694°N 76.33611°E /9.68694; 76.33611 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha |
| Government | |
| • MLA | P. Prasad |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.18 km2 (6.25 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 45,827 |
| • Rank | 11 (Cherthala Urban Agglomeration) |
| • Density | 2,832/km2 (7,336/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 688524 (town) |
| Telephone code | 0478 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-32 orKL-04 |
| Sex ratio | 1030♂/♀ |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Alappuzha |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Cherthala |
Cherthala is a suburb and satellite town of Kochi City located in theAlappuzha district of Kerala, India, alongNational Highway 66.
As per the2011 Indian census, Cherthala has a population of 45,821 people, and a population density of 2,727/km2 (7,060/sq mi).
According to local legend,Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, the KeralaHindu saint, while travelling through Cherthala, found an idol of theDevi with its head immersed in a muddy pond. The Swami understood the divinity of the idol, took it out of the mud, cleaned it and consecrated it in a temple near the pond. Thus the place is believed to have gotten its name ascher meaning "mud" andthala meaning "head" in Malayalam. The deity of the temple has the nameCherthala Karthiyayani.[2]
During the medieval period Cherthala was an important hub for the spice trade, with merchants from across India and abroad trading spices, textiles, and other commodities. Its proximity to the backwaters and Arabian Sea made it ideal for such activities.[3]
In the 18th century, following the 1762 treaty between Travancore and Cochin, Cherthala came under the Kingdom of Travancore and remained a vital trade center. The economy and culture flourished, with various institutions established.[4] It served as a strategic center during conflicts such as the Travancore-Dutch War (1757–1758), when Dutch outposts in Alleppey were key targets.[5] The region experienced political instability in the early 20th century, culminating in the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising of 1946, a communist-led revolt against Travancore rule that spread from Cherthala to Ambalapuzha.[6]
After the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Cherthala became part of Kerala.[7] Today, it is a thriving municipality with a diverse economy and rich cultural heritage.[8]
| Climate data for Cherthala, Kerala | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.8 (89.2) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.7 (90.9) | 29.4 (84.9) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.3 (84.7) | 29.3 (84.7) | 29.9 (85.8) | 30.5 (86.9) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.5 (86.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 24.8 (76.6) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.6 (74.5) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.7 (74.7) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.8 (74.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) | 39 (1.5) | 56 (2.2) | 145 (5.7) | 351 (13.8) | 705 (27.8) | 621 (24.4) | 392 (15.4) | 297 (11.7) | 317 (12.5) | 199 (7.8) | 53 (2.1) | 3,200 (125.9) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org[9] | |||||||||||||
According to 2011 census report, Cherthala Municipality had population of 45,827 of which 22,192 are males while 23,635 are females.
The population of children aged 0–6 is 3988 which is 8.70% of total population of Cherthala (M). In Cherthala Municipality, the female sex ratio is 1065 against state average of 1084. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Cherthala is around 911 compared to Kerala state average of 964. The literacy rate of Cherthala city is 97.02% which is higher than the state average of 96.2%.[10] In Cherthala, male literacy is around 98.58% while the female literacy rate is 95.59%.[11]
Cherthala Town Municipality has 35 wards.[12] The town is the site of theKarthyayani Devi temple, located in the center of the town.
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