Kadapra (Malayalam: കടപ്ര) is a village in the Thiruvalla subdistrict of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India.[1][2] It shares an intradistrict river border with Nedumpuram village separated along the Manimala river towards its north and an interpenetrating intradistrict land border with Niranam village towards its west.[3][4]
All interdistrict borders are river borders shared with parts of Alappuzha district of which the border with Thalavady towards its northwest is separated by streams of the Manimala river. All other interdistrict river borders are formed by Pampa river which splits into three, near to the east of the village. One of the splits flows northwest and immediately merges with Manimala river forming a border with Thiruvanvandoor towards its northeast. The other two splits forms its island of Parumala of which the outer split shares a border with Pandanad, Ennakkad and Mannar towards its southeast. After merging, the splits flows westard sharing a border with Kurattissery towards the south of the village and Veeyapuram towards its southwest.[3][4]
The village has a total area of 14.74 km2 (3,640 acres)[5] and as per the 2011 census data, it has a total population of 23,502 of which 10,810 are males and 12,692 are females.[6][7] The average sex ratio is 1174 which is higher than Kerala state average of 1084. The literacy rate stands at 96.94 percentage.[8][6]
The State Highway 6 forms the skeleton of transportation through the village which enters through Pulikeezhu bridge across the Manimala river from Nedumpuram, passing north–south and exits through Parumala bridge across Pampa river towards Mannar. Buses of the state transport corporation and private ownership connecting Thiruvalla with Kayamkulam via Mavelikkara passess through this segment of road. The Eramallikkara bridge directly connect the village with Thiruvanvandoor and Illimala bridge directly connect its island of Parumala with Pandanad.
The Travancore Sugars and Chemicals Limited (TSCL) is a state government company which was incorporated in 1937 with registered office and factory in Valanjavattom and commenced commercial production in 1948. The company then owned by M/s Parry & Co. had three divisions; Sugar division, Distillery division and Blending-Bottling division. Government of Kerala overtook the company in 1974 and the sugar division was closed in 1998 due to the non-availability of sugarcane, which was used to be cultivated in large scale in the village at the time of its establishment.[9][10]
In 1872, the then Metropolitan of Malankara, Joseph Mar Dionysius established a seminary in the island of Parumala to train the students of Malankara church. The metropolitan and the students used to live in an old building called Azhipura which is still conserved. The land also had a church built by the Arikupurathu family of its owner, Mathen Karnavar.[12][13]
Mar Dionysius invited the Chorbishop of Vettickal St. Thomas Dayara, Geevarghese Mar Gregorios to Parumala and given him the title of Ramban (monk-priest). Geevarghese later succeeded as the Metropolitan of Malankara and inherited the existing old church and the land after the death of Mathen Karnavar. He renovated the church as a result of his long term effort. He was canonized by the church after his death and the Parumala church became one of the prominent pilgrimage centers in Kerala. At the end of the last century, the church was extensively renovated to accommodate the large number of pilgrims and the present church at Parumala was designed by renowned architect Charles Correa.[12][13]
The collection of mural paintings of the temple is very famous in India that the murals are precision and suitable color combinations for linear accuracy. The age of these paintings are hard to find. However it is believed that these crystal structure happened in two stages where frescoes surrounding the rectangular main shrine were early paintings and paintings on the square sanctum sanctorum were completed later. It is believed that temple murals were completed in the period of the last king of the Odanad Royal House. During this period, the Vaishnava customs and the practice of pure worship were made in a more colorful, ceremonial way.[14]
According to local tradition, around AD 52, Thomas the Apostle arrived in Niranam through Kottachal an ancient and important water way of early days and landed at Thomathukadavu, which is now located on northwestern part of Kadapra village. Through the ministry of the word and miraculous deeds, he brought many high class hindus to Christian faith. He baptized them at Nerkadavu located adjacent to the Niranam Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church. The first Christians of Niranam were from four families; Pattamukku, Thayyil, Maankki and Madathilan.[15][16]
Overview
Thiruvalla subdistrict map with Kadapra village shown in pale yellow. Note: Map of Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Kerala
