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Mavelikara | |
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  Mavelikara Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Mavelikara Mavelikara (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°16′01″N76°33′00″E / 9.267°N 76.55°E /9.267; 76.55 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha |
| Named after | Mahabali |
| Government | |
| • Type | Taluk |
| • Body | Municipal Council |
| • MP | Kodikunnil Suresh |
| • MLA | M S Arun Kumar |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.65 km2 (4.88 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 26,421 |
| • Density | 2,100/km2 (5,400/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 690101 |
| Telephone code | +91-479 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-31 |
| Nearest cities | Thiruvalla (19 km) Alappuzha (43 km)Kottayam (44 km) Kollam (46 km) |
| Literacy | 92.3% |
| Website | www |
Mavelikara (IPA:[ma:ʋe:lik:aɾa]) is amunicipality[3] in theAlappuzha district ofKerala,India. It is located 43 km (26.7 mi) south of the district headquarters inAlappuzha and about 95 km (59.0 mi) north of the state capitalThiruvananthapuram. As per the2011 Indian census, Mavelikara has a population of 26,421 people, and a population density of 2,088/km2 (5,410/sq mi).
Mavelikara was the erstwhile capital of the feudal kingdom ofOdanad, and is today a primary economic and cultural hub of theOnattukara region.
The name Mavelikara is believed to be turned out from the wordsMaveli orMahabali, the mythical king of Kerala, andKara means land. This land is believed to be the place 'Mattom Mahadeva temple'where king Mahabali knelt before Vamana, offering his head for Vamana to keep his feet.[citation needed]
Mavelikara was a major centre of trade and commerce in ancient Kerala and the erstwhile capital of the rulers ofOnattukara. As a result of the close association with theTravancore Royal Family, Mavelikara gained modern facilities well ahead of other places in the state. It is one of the oldest municipalities of the state. Even before India attained independence, Mavelikara had a super express transport service toTrivandrum.[citation needed]
The town boasts about a rich historical and cultural background. The place is home to one of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala created by LordParashurama, theKandiyoor Mahadeva Temple. Mavelikara Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Sree Krishna Swami Temple is managed and owned by the Travancore Devaswom board. TheChettikulangara Devi Temple, known for theKumbha Bharani festival is located near the municipality. The only sarvam swayambhu shiva Temple in India is situated in Chunakkara, Mavelikara.
The town also has the famous St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral founded in the year 943 AD and affiliated with theMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The church is locally referred to as "Puthiyacavu Pally" and is known for holding the Mavelikara Padiyola in 1836 in which the Malankara Orthodox Church refused the anglicization attempts of the British and severed ties with them. The church is also the diocesan cathedral of theMavelikara Diocese in close proximity to Malankara Syrian Seminary in Thazhakara which hosts the Theobhavan Aramana and bishop's residence. The Mavelikara Diocese is currently headed by Vattamparambil Dr. Abraham Mar Epiphanios with about 80 parishes and a dozen chapels.[4][5]
As of2011 Census, Mavelikara had a population of 26,421 with 12,070 males and 14,351 females. Mavelikara Municipality has an area of 12.65 km2 (4.88 sq mi) with 7,184 families residing in it. The average female sex ratio was 1189 higher than the state average of 1084. 7.7% of the population was under 6 years of age. Mavelikara had an average literacy of 96.9% higher than the state average of 94%: male literacy was 97.8% and female literacy was 96.2%.[6]
| Year | Male | Female | Total Population | Change | Religion (%) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | Muslim | Christian | Sikhs | Buddhist | Jain | Other religions and persuasions | Religion not stated | |||||
| 2001[7] | 28439 | 13506 | 14933 | - | 70.94 | 0.98 | 28.02 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| 2011[8] | 26421 | 12070 | 14351 | -7.10% | 72.22 | 1.04 | 26.49 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.05 | 0.17 |
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has a sub depot at Mavelikara (Station Code: MVKA) which is one among the 46 sub depots in the state. The KSRTC sub depot at Mavelikara has an inter state bus service which is operated toTenkasi every day; 2 trips morning & evening viaKayamkulam,Kattanam.
The Municipal Private bus stand is located at Mitchel Junction with buses toChengannur,Pathanamthitta,Adoor,Pandalam,Thiruvalla,Haripad,Kayamkulam,Changanassery.
Mavelikara railway station (Station Code:MVLK) is a mainline station in the Trivandrum Division of theSouthern Railway Zone (India), with connections toNew Delhi,Mumbai,Chennai,Kolkata,Bangalore,Hyderabad,Ahmedabad,Pune,Mangalore,Bhopal,Guwahati,Nagpur andJammu. Other nearby stations areKayamkulam Junction railway station,Chengannur Railway Station,Haripad railway station andKollam Junction railway station.
The nearest airports areTrivandrum International Airport115 km andCochin International Airport (CIAL).127 kmState highway SH 10 road start in mavelikara
Local industries in and around Mavelikara include:
Several small-scale industries are present in the Industrial Estate (an initiative ofSIDCO) located at Kollakadavu.
Mavelikara hasits own constituency in theLok Sabha.[10] Until the2002 Lok Sabha Delimitation took effect in 2008, the constituency consisted of Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kayamkulam, Pandalam, Thiruvalla and Kallupara. Since then, the assembly constituencies have comprised Changanassery, Kuttanad, Mavelikara (SC), Chengannur, Kunnathur (SC), Kottarakara and Pathanapuram. The constituency is now reserved for ascheduled caste candidate.[citation needed]
Kodikunnil Suresh of theINC has represented the Mavelikara constituency since 2009.
M.S Arunkumar from theCPI(M) is the representative of Mavelikara in theKerala Legislative Assembly.
The cultural capital of Alappuzha is Mavelikara. Mavelikara was once part of the principality ofOnattukara and has been a centre of religious harmony, culture and arts for several centuries.[citation needed]
As a testament to its link to that flourishing centre ofBuddhist culture, Mavelikara is one of the rare places in Kerala where one can find theStatue of Buddha in Seated Position, which dates back to the 9th century AD.[11]
Mar Ivanios, the pioneer of the Reunion Movement is from this holy socio-cultural land. He is from the Medayil Panicker Family situated at the center of the Mavelikara Town.
Notable places of worship include:-
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