Madappally
Block Panchayat

Madappally Block Panchayat in Kottayam district covers five constituent Grama Panchayats—Thrickodithanam, Vazhappally, Vakathanam, Madappally, and Paippad. Situated near Changanassery, the region spans midland rubber plantations down to the low-lying Kuttanad wetland ecosystem.

1. Thrickodithanam Grama Panchayat

Thrikkodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

One of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu) and one of Central Travancore’s five ancient Pancha Pandava temples—traditionally attributed to Sahadeva, the youngest Pandava brother.

• Architecture & Murals: Built in classic Kerala style with a circular wooden-roofed sanctum (Vatta Srikovil) and 18th-century mural paintings depicting Vaishnavite themes.
• The Kazhuvetti Kallu: Near the eastern entrance stands a unique granite pillar showing a man suspended upside down. According to local historical lore, King Marthanda Varma (or an earlier Chera ruler) erected this carving as a public warning against temple corruption and financial dishonesty.
• Deepam Festival: The annual temple festival in November/December features Kazhuvetti Utsavam and the ritual lighting of thousands of terracotta oil lamps (Deepam) across the complex walls.

Kokkottuchira Recreation Park

• Context: Built surrounding the historic Kokkottuchira pond in Thrickodithanam.
• Significance: A public community space featuring paved walkways, seating, and landscaping, serving both as an urban wetland recharge basin and a local evening park.

2. Vazhappally Grama Panchayat

Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

An ancient temple associated with the Second Chera dynasty, revered as one of the 108 major Shiva temples of Kerala.

• The Vazhappally Inscription: The temple is nationally known among historians for the Vazhappally Copper Plate / Granite Inscription dating back to ~830 CE (reign of King Cheraman Perumal Rajasekhara Varman). Written in the Vattezhuthu script, it represents the earliest recorded epigraphical document recovered from the Second Chera Kingdom.
• Wood Carvings: The outer walls of the inner sanctum feature wooden relief carvings detailing stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Vettithuruth & Parallum (Western Vazhappally)

• Geography: Situated on the far-western edge where Vazhappally borders Alappuzha district.
• Significance: Known locally as the "Gateway to Kuttanad," this hamlet transitions from midland agricultural plots into sprawling canal networks, duck-farming zones, and below-sea-level paddy fields (Kayal cultivation). It is popular for local backwater canoe rides and rustic village scenery.

3. Vakathanam Grama Panchayat

Vallikkattu Dayara

• Significance: Established in 1868, Vallikkattu Dayara is a prominent monastery and pilgrimage destination belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
• Patronage & Tomb: It houses the tomb of His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese I (the second Catholicos of the East). Thousands of devotees gather here annually during the Ormapperunnal (memorial feast) held in December.

Vakathanam Agricultural Belt

• Geography: Characterized by hilly midland terrain dominated by natural rubber plantations, pepper vines, and traditional Travancore homestead farms.
• Local Landmarks: Includes historical parish churches like St. John's Orthodox Church and busy rural junctions such as Unichira and Vakathanam Town.

4. Madappally Grama Panchayat

Thengana Junction & Commercial Hub

• Significance: The primary commercial crossroad of the Block Panchayat, located at the intersection connecting Changanassery, Kottayam, Mallapally, and Karukachal.

Madappally Sree Bhagavathy Temple & Thengana Mahadeva Temple

• Cultural Role: Serving as central spiritual landmarks for the Madappally region, these temples host prominent annual Utsavams featuring traditional performing arts, Garudan Thookkam, and cultural processions.
• Madappally Sree Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient temple located 7 km from Changanassery in Kottayam district. The goddess spirit of this temple was discovered by Vilvamangalam Swamiyar, who had the vision of Guruvayoorappan, who established many great temples in Kerala.
• While traveling from north to south, the divinely enlightened Swamiyar reached Tenganai, realizing that the spirit of Mahadev was present in this area, and decided to install a Shivalinga there. Later, when he looked towards the east, he saw the presence of Bhadrakali, one of the incarnations of Shiva, and performed an idol installation near the Vayalungal Bhavan near the present-day Karikkandam area.
• One of the important pujas at Madappally Sree Bhagavathy Temple is the first Friday puja of the Malayalam month. On this day, many devotees visit the temple, prepare to perform the first Friday puja and light ghee lamps to achieve their desired results.

Administrative Headquarters

• Infrastructure: Houses the Madappally Block Panchayat Samiti offices, Community Health Centre (CHC), agricultural officers' hub, and rural development agencies serving all five panchayats.

5. Paippad Grama Panchayat

Paippad Paddy Fields (Padashekarams)

• Geography: Extensive low-lying agrarian plains intertwined with natural streams and irrigation canals flowing toward the Manimala River basin.
• Role: Serves as the key rice-producing belt of Madappally block, preserving traditional paddy farming techniques alongside coconut groves.

Nalunnakkal Junction

• Significance: A major transit point within Paippad Panchayat linking road traffic moving between Thiruvalla, Changanassery, and Karukachal.

Gateways to Kuttanad: Vettithuruth and Parallum Vettithuruth and Parallum are two very beautiful villages in the western region of Changanassery, which share the border of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The lush green paddy fields and water bodies make these villages special. Vettithuruth is a historically famous area adjoining Changanassery Municipal Council and Vazhapally Panchayat. Behind the name: In ancient times, this place was a 'thuruth' surrounded by backwaters, and it got the name 'Vettithuruth' because it was cleared and transformed for agriculture and residence.

Cultural Heritage: This land has centuries-old history of Thekkumkur administration and the history of Travancore wars. There are many ancient families and temples here. The main attraction here is the friendly rural life.

 Paral

Paral is a border village of Kuttanad where the backwaters and natural beauty come together.

Natural Beauty: Paral, filled with vast paddy fields and small streams, is a place to enjoy the true rural beauty of Kuttanad. An active community of farmers and fishermen resides here.

Unique Culture: Paral has a way of life that is intertwined with agriculture and the lake. The unique agricultural culture and rural communities of Kuttanad can be seen here.

Paral Ambal Vasantham

Paral Ambal Vasantham is a beautiful natural phenomenon that forms in the village of Paral near Changanassery in Kottayam district. Like the famous 'Malarikkal Ambal Vasantham' in Kottayam, it has recently become a favorite place for tourists.

Key Features:

A beautiful sight: After the monsoon season, thousands of pink/red ambal flowers bloom together in the vast paddy fields here. The entire field looks like a pink carpet.

Time to visit: The best time to enjoy the beauty of the ambal flowers is between 5:30 AM and 8:00 AM. The flowers start to bloom as the sunlight becomes stronger.

Boat trip: Small boats and canoes are arranged locally for tourists to travel among the ambals. This helps in getting to know the flowers up close and taking beautiful pictures.

Main season: Ambal flowers are in full bloom here usually in the months of August, September and October.

The joy of water transport (the pleasure of travelling on the blue sea)

What makes these two regions more famous is the water transport facility here. The main boat services of the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) connecting Alappuzha and Changanassery pass through Vettithuruth and Paral.

Alappuzha - Changanassery Boat Service: Daily boat services are a major feature of these areas, allowing you to travel while enjoying the beauty of the backwaters at a low cost.

Boats, which operate at regular intervals from Changanassery to Alappuzha and back, are also the main means of transportation for the people here.