Nooranad Pakshi Gramam, Nandikesha Paithruka Gramam | |
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Town | |
     From left to right : Karingalichal Wetlands, Sree Buddha College,Padanilam Parabrahma Temple, A huge kettukala in Padanilam Shivarathri, Crowd gathering for Shivarathri kettukazhcha. | |
  Nooranad Location Nooranad in Kerala Show map of Kerala Nooranad Location of Nooranad in India Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°12′25″N76°37′55″E / 9.20694°N 76.63194°E /9.20694; 76.63194 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha district |
| Government | |
| • Body | Grama Panchayath |
| Area | |
• Total | 46.89 km2 (18.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 57,931 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 690504, 690529. |
| Vehicle registration | KL-31, KL-4 |
| Assembly constituency | Mavelikkara |
Nooranad (also anglicized asNoornad orNooranadu) is a developing town inMavelikkara taluk ofAlappuzha district in theIndian state ofKerala. It is located at a distance of 8 Km south-west of Pandalam, inKayamkulam route.[1]Padanilam is the cultural centre of Nooranad region. ThePadanilam Parabrahma Temple, known for the biggestShivarathri Kettukazhcha in Kerala, is situated in Nooranad. Nooranad is declared by theGovernment of Kerala as theNandikesha Paithruka Gramam (Heritage Village of Nandikesha) due to its importance inKettukala making, which is an icon ofOnattukara region of CentralTravancore. Nooranad is also known asPakshi Gramam of kerala.
Nooranad was a part of Kollam district in the early days.[2] A revenue division was formed inkollavarsham 1078 (1902) with Nooranad inKollam district as its centre. It was known as Nooranad Sub district. At that time Nooranad was one of the most important cultural and trade center towards west of Adoor. Hundred revenue lands from Bharanikavu, Thamarakulam, Chunakkara, Palamel, Puddallur, Kulanada, Vallikunnam and several parts of Sooranad were merged and named asNoor Nadu (Hundred regions).
In the past there were two sub-registrar offices after Karunagappally: Nooranad and Mavelikara. The firstAnchal office (Old post office in Travancore kingdom) in Nooranad was established by understanding the historical importance and extent of Nooranad sub-district. When Alappuzha district was formed on August 17, 1957, Nooranad was included inMavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district.
ThePadanilam Parabrahma Temple that we see today was once anaalthara made of a few stones under a banyan tree.[3] The current Edappon – Para road was just in front of the temple long ago. Padanilam is the administrative center of Nooranad and the resting place of Nooranad's history. The place got its name because theKarakkar (Small local divisions) used to fight for the right of the temple and led a battle. The army troops of Kayamkulam Kingdom(Onattukara) had camped near the temple for protecting the kingdom from the attack of neighbouring kings.During this period, the village had some chieftains and their supporters. They include Noorukodi Unnithans, Kadackal Kuruppans, Vettathasaans and Vettadickal Kuruppans.
Kayamkulam Raja withdrew his troops about four centuries ago. This initiated tensions between the chieftains for control of the village and the temple. Thus they divided into south and north, starting a fierce battle. The south side consisted of Noorukodi Unnithans and Kadackal Kuruppans. The north side had Vettathasans and Vettadickal Kuruppans with them. 22karakal (small local divisions) supported their respective sides. During the battle, many soldiers on both sides died in large numbers. They were buried in thechira near the temple. Thechira (Large pond) was used to bathe the Kayamkulam king's war horses at Nooranad Padanilam. Later it came to be known asPottanchira.
The common people started worrying about the devastation of the battle and approached the Pazhoor Panamana Thampuran to find a solution to end the war. He tried to intervene but the parties were not in a position to stop. He made a tent in the eastern part of the temple and started fasting unto death. But that also did not deter the warring parties. But when he was on the verge of death due to the fast, they, fearing theBrahmanasaapam, agreed to stop war. They demarcated the boundary in the north-south direction and stopped the war in the name ofParabrahma, the presiding deity of the temple.
Hundreds of people used to earn their livelihood by doing agriculture and related jobs in Nooranad. It can be understood from the place names that the region had hills, valleys, thickets, big trees, creepers and wild animals (Example: Pulikunn, Pulimel, Thathamunna, Pannithadam, Kadamankulam, Mailadumkunn, Karimankav etc.).
Kayamkulam – Punalur Road(KP Road), as seen today was a very importantroyal road that passed through the center of Travancore. Just like today, travellers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka etc. used this royal road to carry goods to and from various princely states. Another feature is that shade trees(chola trees) were planted on both sides of KP road to provide shade to the travellers, and there were load-sheds and wayside rest centers (inns) for the travellers to unload their heavy goods in those days when there were no vehicles like today. The trees that were planted that day can be seen on both sides of the road, still providing shade. These trees were planted during the reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal Maharaja. It was also on this route thatAnchalotakkar (Old Post carriers) used to take posts from Nooranad to other places.
FromKaringalippuncha (Karingalichal Wetland), in the eastern part of Nooranadu, there were no water routes after reaching Pallimukkam on the north side. So an artificial channel was cut and connected with thePeruvelippuncha (Peruvelichal Wetland) on the western side of Nooranad. This old water channel is came to be known as thePandyan thodu.
Nooranad region is located at the south-eastern edge ofAlappuzha district. It shares its northern boundary withChengannur Taluk in Alappuzha district itself, eastern boundary withPandalam inPathanamthitta district, and southern boundary withKunnathur Taluk inKollam district.Achankovil river flows through the northern boundary of Nooranad in westward direction. The Nooranad cultural region consists of Nooranad and Palamel Grama Panchayaths of Alappuzha district and part of Pallickal panchayath in Pathanamthitta district. Topographically, the village has 3 areas: small hills, slope regions and plain land.Laterite is the major soil type found here. Alluvium and loam soil types can be found in the low lying areas of Nooranad including plain lands. The Karingalichal wetlands in the north eastern portion of Nooranad is a large body of water connected to Achankovil river through Ayranikudy stream. It attracts a lot of migratory and other birds. Due to this, Nooranad is well known as thePakshi gramam (Bird Village) of Kerala.
Peruvelichal is another wetland on the north-western area of Nooranad. It is also connected to Achankovil river through theVettiyar bridge. Karingalichal and Peruvelichal wetlands has a large extent of cultivable land and forms a major part of theonattukara agricultural region.
The Padanilam Parabrahma Temple[4] is one of the major temples in Kerala. The presiding deity of the temple is LordParabrahma. The temple is very much like theOachira Parabrahma Temple. The temple has no compound walls and no roofs. A large number of festivals are celebrated here annually. The temple is one of theidathaavalam ofSabarimala Ayyappa Swami temple. There are KSRTC buses from Padanilam to Pamba during the Mandalam – Makaravilakku season. The temple has mainly 16karakal (territories), who conduct the annualSivarathri Festival. This is one of the biggest Nandikesha (ox vehicle ofLord Shiva) kettulsavams inKerala. Other festivals in the temple include Irupathiyettaamonam (ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ടാം ഓണം), Vrischika Mahotsavam (വൃശ്ചിക മഹോത്സവം), kara chirapp (കര ചിറപ്പ്) khoshayathra, niraputhari (നിറപുത്തരി), Vidhyarambham (വിദ്യാരംഭം) etc.
DuringIrupathiyettam onam mahotsavam, arts clubs & self-help groups around Nooranad region bring festival floats, tableau and kettukazhcha to the temple. This festival is conducted on theThiruvonam day of Malayalam monthkanni. DuringVrischika Mahotsavam, there will be a carnival and other associated cultural events. Devotees stay in huts made of coconut leaves within the temple compound itself for 12 days. Those devotees won't even visit their own house during these 12 days. Each day of the vrischika mahotsavam will have cultural programs and public conferences like Youth conference, agricultural conference, educational conference etc. Chief guests will be mostly experts in those corresponding fields or state ministers handling those respective portfolios. On 11th day, there is an event calledvahanapooja. All the auto-taxi vehicles, trucks, tourist & stage carriage buses etc. in Nooranad will assemble in the temple compound for the vahana pooja. It's a spectacular sight. In the month of December, there is another event calledchirapp Mahotsavam conducted by 16karakal, 1kara each day in a predetermined order. Grand processions (ഘോഷയാത്ര) are conducted during these 16 days with a competitive mindset between thekarakal.
Sivarathri[5] is the main festival in Padanilam Parabrahma temple. Giant effigies of bulls, known locally askettukala, are pulled to the temple from 18 territories (kara) of the temple. Some of these have a height of more than 50 feet. Its one of the largest festivals of its kind inKerala. There are many people in the Nooranad area, who are involved in the making of these colossal effigies. Due to this,Kerala Government recognized Nooranad as theNandikesha Paithruka Gramam Thousands come to the temple on Sivarathri day to see thekaavadiyattam for LordSubrahmanyan in the morning. Kaavady from all parts of the area come separately and meet at the temple.Kettulsavam is the most spectacular sight of the festival and is held in the evening. Kettulsavam from the distinct areas of the village come to the temple at around 4 p.m. The rituals and programmes only end at next day midnight.
Nooranad region is spread mainly across 2 panchayaths: Nooranad Panchayath &Palamel panchayath. Office of Nooranad Grama Panchayath is situated nearPadanilam Junction and that of Palamel panchayath at Erumakkuzhy (Nooranad Town). Nooranad panchayath has 17 wards spreading across an area of 21.29 square kilometers. Palamel panchayath has an area of 25.6 square kilometers and have 19 wards.
As per Census 2011, Palamel grama panchayath was having a population of 32556 people with 15250 males and 17306 females. Nooranad panchayath had a total population of 25375 people with 11511 males and 13864 females. The two panchayaths together have 15,455 households.[6]
Nooranad is situated in the Parliamentary and Assembly constituency ofMavelikkara. The current MP of the area isKodikunnil Suresh (INC) and the MLA isM. S. Arun Kumar (CPM). The LDF rules the two Panchayats in the region. Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are the major political parties in this area.
Nooranad is well connected to the rest of the state through a network of major roads.National Highway 183 (Kollam – Theni NH) passes throughCharummoodu Junction situated at the western end of Nooranad panchayath. The oldroyal roadKP Road connects Nooranad withNH 66 atKayamkulam,MC Road (SH 1) atAdoor andMain Eastern Highway (SH 8) atPathanapuram. 10th Mile – Pandalam road connects Nooranad withPandalam Municipality and is a shortcut to reach MC Road. TheHarippad –Pathanamthittadistrict road passes throughEdappon Junction in the northern part of Nooranad panchayath. This road runs parallel to the Achankovil river and gets submerged under water during heavy rains. Para Junction – Edappon road connectsKP Road with Harippad – Pathanamthitta road and it passes throughPadanilam Junction.
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The major railway station near Nooranad isKayamkulam Junction railway station, which is about 16 Km west of Nooranad town.Mavelikkara railway station is located about 14 Km north-west of Padanilam Junction.Chengannur railway station is about 18 Km north of Padanilam Junction.
The proposedSilver Line (K-Rail) alignment passes right through the centre of Nooranad region, between Kollam and Chengannur stations.
The region of Nooranad is served by theThiruvananthapuram International Airport, which is about 105 kilometers south of the town via MC Road.Cochin International Airport is situated at a distance of 146 Km in the northern direction via NH 66.
Nooranad region has a number of schools and colleges which provide a great platform for higher education. CBM HSS is the most prominent school in this area, which is an aided school located about 1 Km east of Nooranad Junction alongside KP Road. Padanilam HSS is another important government school in the locality, which is situated in close proximity with Padanilam Parabrahma Temple. Sree Buddha College of Engineering is anNBA accredited professional higher educational institution located at Nooranad Pattoor. Josco College of Nursing is located atEdappon, alongside Harippad – Pathanamthitta road. The Kuriakose Chavara Mission (KCM) school of Nursing is located adjacent to KCM hospital,[7] about 1.5 Km west of Nooranad Junction.
Major healthcare institutions in Nooranad include:
The vast Karingalichal wetland (Karingali Puncha) is the main reason why Nooranad gets the title of Kerala's bird village (Pakshi Gramam). Covering an area of over 13 square kilometers, it is a beautiful area filled with paddy fields, streams, deep pools and swamps. Karingali puncha is spread across Nooranad & Palamel panchayats and Pandalam municipality of Pathanamthitta district. This area is the rice bowl of Onattukara. The paddy fields here are cultivated mainly for 4 months from December to April. To help this, water is released fromThenmala Dam through the right bank canal of Kallada Irrigation Project (KIP). Water reaches Karingalichal from the main canal through several sub-canals. Water from Achankovil river also reaches Karingalichal through theAyranikuzhi bridge in the north. This causes the water level to rise significantly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Nooranad is a paradise for bird watchers. Many species of birds including migratory birds can be seen here. Nooranad became famous among bird watchers through a report published in 1988 by prominent bird watcher Shri P. K. Uthaman in the Journal of The Bombay Natural History Society.[8] Great Egret, Little egret, Siberian stonechat, Alpine swift, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Indian Pitta, Oriental Darter, brown backed needletail, Black headed ibis, Red-wattled Lapwing and several hundreds of bird species can be seen here. Tourism activities likeKuttavanchi Savari is also happening by making use of the vast area of water.
A leprosy sanatorium is there in Nooranad, which is first of its kind inKerala and one of the largest inAsia. Currently, anIndo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) unit has started functioning in the sanatorium compound. One of the seventeen 220 kV substations ofKSEB is located near Pattoor, the northernmost portion of the village.
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