Uthimoodu

"Uthimoodu" means "at the base of Uthi tree (Indian Ash Tree, Lannea coromandelica)". The area around the present Uthimoodu was dense forest before the establishment of human settlements. Christians & Ezhavas were the pioneering settlers in Uthimoodu. Ezhavas & Syrian Christian traders immigrated in the late 1880s. Mar Thoma Christians founded the Uthimoodu Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1918. Kottamala Vampukkara Shiva Temple built in 1990 is the one of the famous Shiva Temple in Uthimoodu. The Other Community Centres are SNDP Mandiram @ Poykamon, SNDP Mandiram @ Nursery Padi, St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, The Pentecostal Mission Church, Muruppel Tribal Colony is the only tribal colony in Ranni Grama Panchayat. Uthimoodu - Valiyakalunku Bridge is made by British during the reign of Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma. 2500 Years old Muniyaras are found in Uthimoodu Muruppel Colony & Uthimoodu - Ottakallu. Uthimoodu PIP Canal is one of the biggest stone made canal in India.

Uthimoodu is the second largest business centre in Ranny Grama Panchayat. The main establishments in Uthimoodu are Uthimoodu Co-operative Society, Indian Overseas Bank, Krishibhavan, Milma, Cornerstone International School, Chamathackal MTUP School, Uthimoodu MTLP School and NMLP School Valiplackal, Federal Bank ATM, Akahaya Centre, Vetinery Sub Centre...

The primary occupation is agriculture. Rubber is the major contributor to the agricultural sector. Other major crops are cocoa, coconut, tapioca and pepper. Remittances from non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Uthimoodu make important contributions to the economy.

Uthimoodu is a place of communal harmony. The majority of the people are Hindus (mostly belonging to the Ezhava caste) and Christians especially are Marthomites. However there are other Hindu groups such as Acharis, Saivavellalimars, Velakkathara Nairs, Pulayars, Kuravas, Tribals in good numbers besides to Malankara Catholics , Orthodox , Pentacosts, CSI denominations...

The major places in Uthimoodu are Valiplackal, Valiakalungu, Dippo Padi, Nursery Padi, Maruthickal Padi, Velivayalpadi, Anakuzhickal, Kottamala, Karimkuttickal, Poikamon, Panthalathu Mukku and Chamathackal.

Uthimoodu is on the route from Ranni to Pathanamthitta about 7 km from Ranni, 8 km from Pathanamthitta and 10 km to Kozhenchery. The place is centroid of Pathanamthitta, Ranni and Kozhenchery. The nearest railway stations are Chengannur (27 km) and Thiruvalla (32 km). The nearest airports are Trivandrum (106 km) and Cochin (130 km).The newly prosposed Sabari International Airport is just 23 km travel from Uthimoodu.

The world-famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Swami temple is only about 60 km from Uthimoodu Junction.

Kottamala Shiva temple

Uthimoodu Mar Thoma church is renowned for its annual Olivu Mala convention (Olive mount convention) also called the "Maramon Convention of the East" established by Christian evangelist, Sadhu Kochoonju Upadesi. The Marthoma church has Completed its 100 years of existence.

The Kottamala Shiva Temple, commonly known as Vambhukkara Shiva Temple is within 3 km built in the early 1990s. People used to do coconut breaking (nalikeryam udakkal) and lighting the lamp (vilakkukathikal), customs and rituals followed in Hindu beliefs. The temple was built in the late 1990s at a place where devotees saw a resemblance of Lord Shiva in banayan tree(ആൽമരം).

Other religious centers include the St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, the Pentecostal Mission Prayer Hall and a couple of SNDP Mandirams.