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Ettumanoor | |
|---|---|
 North entrance to the temple | |
  Ettumanoor Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Ettumanoor Ettumanoor (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°40′N76°34′E / 9.67°N 76.57°E /9.67; 76.57[2] | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.8 km2 (10.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
• Total | 51,129 |
| • Density | 1,840/km2 (4,760/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 686631 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-05 |
| Nearest city | Kottayam |
| Literacy | Nearly 100% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kottayam |
Ettumanoor ([eːt̪uːmaːnuːr]) is amunicipality in theKottayam district ofKerala,India.[4] It is located approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the district headquarters atKottayam and about 163 km (101.3 mi) north of the state capital,Thiruvananthapuram. According to the2011 Indian census, Ettumanoor has a population of 51,129 and a population density of 1,839/km2 (4,760/sq mi).
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The nameEttumanoor is traditionally explained through several local and mythological interpretations. One interpretation traces the name to theMalayalam wordsmaan (deer) andooru (place), meaning "place of deer". Another version suggests that the name is derived fromEttu Mana Ooru, meaning "the land of eight manas", referring to eight Namboothiri Brahmin households (Ashta Grihas) who are traditionally regarded as the originalooralans (trustees) of the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple.
It is also believed that LordShiva appeared at this place (ooru) in eight (ettu) different forms, which contributed to the name Ettumanoor.[5]
According to local tradition, Ettumanoor is considered a historically significant site, with myths stating that thePandavas and the sageVyasa were associated with the establishment of the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple.
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Ettumanoor has two bus stands: aKerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) station master's office with an adjoining bus station, and a privately operated bus stand. Deluxe, express, and inter-state buses halt at the town. Direct bus services are available to several destinations, includingBangalore,Mangalore,Theni,Cumbum,Velankanni,Palani,Madurai,Tuticorin,Kanyakumari,Salem, andCoimbatore.
The two bus stands are located close to each other, with a large market situated between them, contributing to Ettumanoor's role as a local commercial centre. Two state highways intersect within the town, and two additional highways originate from it, making Ettumanoor an important transit point for commuters in the region.
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Ettumanoor hosts an industrial estate under the Government of Kerala, along with a production centre under the Government of India, which together form the town's principal industrial facilities. The industrial estate is noted as the only such facility in Kerala functioning under the Ministry of Labour, Government of India. The main products manufactured in the area include rolling shutters, bakery items, rubber products, and wood-based products.
Since the 1950s, Ettumanoor has also been recognised as a major centre for the trade of building materials in theCentral Travancore region.
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Mahatma Gandhi University, established on 2 October 1983, is located at Athirampuzha, approximately 6.7 km (4.2 mi) south-west of Ettumanoor. Government-run educational institutions in the town include an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), a Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, a Government Girls' Model High School, a Teachers' Training School, and a Lower Primary School.
Privately managed institutions include SFS Public School and Junior College, Shree Vidyadhiraja Higher Secondary School, and Ebenezer International Residential School. The Town U.P.S. School is a privately aided institution established in 1918. Higher education institutions in and around Ettumanoor includeMangalam College of Engineering andEttumanoorappan College, Ettumanoor.
There are more than a dozen colleges and professional institutions within the Ettumanoor Assembly constituency. Ettumanoor also serves as the headquarters of the Kerala Chuvar Chithra Kala Kendram, under the Government of Kerala.
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Government Medical College, Kottayam is located approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) from Ettumanoor town. Direct public and private bus services operate between Ettumanoor and the medical college. A Kerala Government–run general hospital is also located in Ettumanoor, near the former panchayat office, providing general treatment services.
Private healthcare facilities in and around Ettumanoor include Caritas Hospital and Matha Hospital, both situated within a 3 km (1.9 mi) radius of the central junction towards Kottayam. Mitera Hospital, which specialises in maternal and child healthcare, is located atThellakom.
Ettumanoor Assembly constituency forms part of theKottayam (Lok Sabha constituency).[6]
The major political parties active in Ettumanoor include theIndian National Congress, theCommunist Party of India (Marxist), theCommunist Party of India, theKerala Congress, and theBharatiya Janata Party. As of the most recent municipal administration, the Ettumanoor Municipality is governed by the Indian National Congress.
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The ancientEttumanoor Mahadevar Temple is one of the most prominent landmarks of Ettumanoor and has contributed significantly to the town's cultural and religious identity.[7] According to local tradition, thePandavas and the sageVyasa are believed to have worshipped at this temple. One interpretation associates the name of the place with the word manoor, meaning "the abode of deer".
The present temple structure, including the gopuram and the surrounding fortifications, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). The temple featuresDravidian-style mural paintings on the walls inside and outside the main entrance. Among these, thefresco depicting Pradosha Nritham (the dance ofShiva) is regarded as one of the finest examples ofwall painting inIndia. The temple has a golden flagstaff topped with a sculpted bull, adorned with small bells and metal leaves shaped like those of a banyan tree. The roofs are covered with copper sheets and are crowned with 14 ornamental finials. In addition to the main deity, shrines dedicated to Bhagavati, Sastha, Ganapathy, and Yakshi are present. Tradition also holds that the philosopherShankaracharya composed the Saundarya Lahari while staying at the temple.
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The Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple is known for its annual arattu festival, celebrated on a large scale on the day ofThiruvathira during February–March. Large numbers of devotees visit the temple, particularly on the eighth and tenth days of the festival, when the Ezhara Ponnana—seven-and-a-half golden elephants weighing approximately 13 kg (28.7 lb)—are ceremonially displayed. These golden elephants were donated to the temple by a Maharaja ofTravancore. The temple, administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board, possesses several valuable ritual and ceremonial objects.
TheThulabharam ritual is also an important practice at the temple, in which devotees are weighed against offerings such as fruits or other items, symbolising gratitude for perceived blessings received. As a result of its religious significance, Ettumanoor is recognised as an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.
According to temple tradition, the deity Ettumanoorappan is believed to have originated fromKattampakkam, a village in the Kottayam district. Local legends further associate the temple town with visits by sages, including Vyasa, reflecting its long-standing religious importance.
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Ettumanoor railway station played an important role as a logistical hub for the supply of steel during the construction of theIdukki dams. Several express trains, including theVenad Express and theParasuram Express, have scheduled halts at the station. During major festivals at the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, additional express services, such as theVanchinad Express, are provided with special stops at Ettumanoor railway station.
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Radio Mangalam 91.2 FM is a community radio station managed byMangalam College of Engineering. It has been operational since 2016 and broadcasts programmes primarily aimed at the local community.
The station airs three live programmes daily. Mangalam Wishes, broadcast from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., features greetings and messages from listeners. Mangalam Vani, aired between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., focuses on discussions, interviews, and topics of local and community interest. The evening programme, Crazy Time, broadcast from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., provides entertainment-oriented content. These programmes reflect the station's emphasis on community participation and locally relevant broadcasting.
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