Kuthiathode

Kuthiathode is a gram panchayat in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.^[1] It is only 20 minutes from Kochi city.

Kuthiathode
Village
Coordinates: 9°48′0″N 76°20′0″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alappuzha
Government
• Body	Panchayat
Population  (2001)
• Total	22,880
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	688533
Telephone code	0478
Vehicle registration	KL-32
Nearest city	Kochi
Lok Sabha constituency	Alappuzha
Niyamasabha constituency	Aroor
Civic agency	Panchayat

Church festival at Kuthiathode

Shrimp farming in the backwaters near Thycattusery -Thuravoor ferry

Geography

The Kuthiathode or river stream, was once the major waterway for transporting goods to the local market from Kochi via the Vembanad lake.^{[according to whom?]}

History

The name Kuthiathode comes from Kuthia (dug)+ thode (canal) means a dug-canal.

The Panchayat has a Gandhi memorial inside its office dedicated to Mahathma Gandhi who visited this place during the Pre-Independence period.

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census, Kuthiathode had a population of 22,880 with 11,098 males and 11,782 females.^[1]

The population consists of Ezhavas, Nairs, Nampoothiris, Gouda Saraswat Brahmins, Tamil Brahmins, Pulayas, Kudumbis, Muslims, and Christians living harmoniously together.^{[citation needed]}

Administration

Kuthiathode is under the Pattanakkad development block.^[2]

Kuthiathode, Vallethode, Parayakad, Nallukulanagara, Pallithode, Chapakadavu, Tirumalabhagom, Thazhuppu, Thuravoor North, and Valamangalam North are the local areas under the panchayat.^{[citation needed]}

The panchayat office has a library and a community hall. The Kuthiathode village office, Krishi Bhavan office, government veterinary clinic, excise range office, BSNL telephone exchange and sub-treasury are also located in Kuthiathode.

Kuthiathode is within the Aroor state assembly constituency.

Schools

• Govt.West UP School,Thuravoor
• Government Primary School, Tirumalabhagam
• Government Upper Primary School, Parayakadu
• St. Sebastian High School, Pallithode
• St. Thomas Lower Primary School, Pallithode
• Spring of Arts Academy,Kuthiathode.(Study center of Music & Arts)
• T.D. Higher Secondary School
• V V H S S Kodamthuruth

Transportation

The village is well connected to the nearest towns by NH-47, Thuravoor-Ezhupunna road and the Pallithode-Chellanam-Kochi beach road. The Alapuzha-Ernakulam Railway has a crossing station at Thuravoor.

Economy

The local market on both sides of the river was a major commercial hub around the locality. ^{[fact or opinion?]}Even now, the market exists with a few wholesale traders selling vegetables and other provisions. The vast agricultural lands on the western side, or the Thuravoor Kari, where large-scale paddy cultivation and shrimp farming are done annually and serve as the seasonal livelihood for many of them. A large number of shrimp peeling sheds operating in this panchayat provide large-scale employment.^{[citation needed]}

Industrial Units

• Steel and Heavy Industries Kerala Ltd.
• Higasimaru Feeds
• Veepack Industries

Tourism

The landscape of paddy fields on both sides of the Pallithode-Chavady road is really splendid. One can enjoy the evening panoramic view of Chinese fishing nets across the Pallithode backwaters from the Pallithode bridge. A small backwater lake at Tazzupu connects Kuthiathode with Valiathode.During Onam boat racing is held in Tazzupu backwaters and attracts many seasonal tourists.

Religious buildings

Pallithode bund road running across the Thuravoor kari

Hindu temples

• Pattukulangara Devi Temple
• Amedathu kavu Devi temple
• Nalukulangara Devi Temple
• Nalikattu Subramanian Temple
• Kuthiathode Dharma Sastha temple
• Thirumala Devasom - Sree Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
• Thirumala Devasom - Arthikulangara Devi Temple
• Thuravoor Thirumala Bhagom Sree Mahadeva Temple
• Pallithode Helapuram Devi Temple
• Pallithode Sree Krishnaswamy Temple

Mosques

• Rahmathul Islam Masjid, near KP Junction
• Ponnpuram Jamat Masjid- Chavady
• Masjid-Ul-Ansar - near North Railway cross
• Salafi Masjid, near petrol pump
• Thuravoor Jumua Masjid, near NCC Junction
• Kuthiathode Juma Masjid & Darul Uloom Madrasa

Churches

• Kodamthuruthu Fathima Matha Church
• St. Joseph Church, Kuthiathode
• St. Sebastein Church, Nalukulangara
• St. Monica's Church, Mariapuram, near railway station
• St. Sebastian Church, Pallithode
• St. Antony's Church, Chappakadavu