Pala, Kerala

Pala
City
Pala Kurishupalli
Pala
Pala
Coordinates: 9°42′46″N 76°41′01″E / 9.71278°N 76.68353°E / 9.71278; 76.68353Coordinates: 9°42′46″N 76°41′01″E / 9.71278°N 76.68353°E / 9.71278; 76.68353
Country India
State Kerala
District Kottayam
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Body Pala Municipality
 • Municipal Chairperson to be elected
Area
 • Total 74.09 km2 (28.61 sq mi)
Elevation 31 m (102 ft)
Population (2012)
 • Total 122,640[1][2]
 • Density 1,375/km2 (3,560/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 686574, 686575
Telephone code 9148 22
Vehicle registration KL 35
Nearest city Kottayam
Official Website Official Site

Pala (also written as Palai), is an Indian municipal city located 28 km east of the district capital Kottayam in the Indian state of Kerala. It's spread over an area of 74.09 km2 and is situated 173 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Pala is on the banks of the Meenachil river and is the headquarters of the Meenachil Taluk and the Pala Revenue Division.

Pala is located 5 km west of Bharananganam, an important Syro-Malabar Catholic pilgrimage centre which also holds the tomb of Saint Alphonsa. It is one of the main gateways to the southern high ranges of the Western Ghats. Pala connects to the highranges through Thodupuzha and Kanjirappally taluks.

Demographics

Pala is one of the main Christian cultural centers in Kerala. Population of Pala is predominantly Saint Thomas Christians (Syrian Catholics) who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. As of 2001 India census,[3] Pala had a population of 22,640. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pala has an average literacy rate of 98%, higher than the national average of 73%: male literacy is 98.5%, and female literacy is 97.8%, still much higher than the state average. This is thought to be because of the plantation industry influence despite having large number of schools. In Pala, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. According to the 2011 census, Pala has a population of 22,056. Christians make up 65.09% of the population, Hindus 34.19%, Muslims 0.51%, Jain 0.01%, other religions 0.05% and 0.15% not stated.

Cuisine of Pala

Kappa Erachi (Beef & Cassava)

Kappa and Beef is a favorite dish of People of Pala . Appams, kallappams, or vellayappams are rice flour pancakes which have soft, thick white spongy centres and crisp, lace-like edges.[4]

Pesaha Appam is the rice bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians to be served on Maundy Thursday night.[5] Traditionally, Pesaha Appam is served in a ceremonial manner on Maundy Thursday night in Syrian Christian households. The head of the family cuts the appam, dips it in paalukurukku (syrup) or Pesaha Pal (made of coconut milk), and serves it to the other family members.[5]

Beef ularthiathu is a beef dish cooked with a variety of Indian spices. Other dishes include Piralan (chicken stir-fries), Meat Thoran (dry curry with shredded coconut), sardine and duck curries, and Meen molee (spicy stewed fish).[4] Pork ularthiathu and pork chaps are another main dishs of pala." Poochayappam" (Also called as kumbilappam in other parts of Kerala , it's called as poochayappam only in pala) is a sweet dish made from jack fruit and rice flour .

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/towns/ker_towns.pdf
  2. ↑ "About Pala". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  4. 1 2 Marks, Gil (2010), Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons
  5. 1 2 Amprayil, Kuruvilla Cherian (16 March 2008). "Kerala Nazranee Pesaha Receipes". Nasrani Syrian Christians Network. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
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