Uzhavoor

Since the area was famous for its agricultural practices, it is believed that the name Uzhavoor came from two Malayalam words Uzhavu (Ploughing or a word related to agricultural practices) and Oor (Place or Region). When translated, it means The Land of Agriculture.

Uzhavoor is a village located in the Kottayam District of Kerala.[2] Uzhavoor is located about 6 km from Kudakkachira, 7 km from Kurichithanam, 6 km from Monipilly, 7 km from Kurianad and 15 km from Palai. Uzhavoor is famous for its St. Stephen's Church, St. Stephen's College, and the Capuchin Monastery.[2] Uzhavoor belongs to the Kaduthuruthy constituency.[1] The scenic beauty of the area is quite noteworthy. The place is filled with rubber trees, jack fruit trees, mango trees and coconut trees. Uzhavoor is surrounded by small, but beautiful places like Edakkoly, Poovathumkal, Melareekara and Pius Mount. A place called "Anakkallumala" meaning "Mountain shaped like an elephant" is a site with a fabulous view.

St. Stephen's Church, Uzhavoor

The St. Stephen's Church of Uzhavoor belongs to the Kottayam Arch Diocese of Knanaya Catholic community which was built in 1631.[1] It is a forane church and is the biggest forane under the vast Kottayam Arch Diocese. The people of this village are friendly and hospitable.[2] Karunechi and Sasthamkulam temples are the main Hindu temples in Uzhavoor. The deity of Sasthamthamkulam the deities of Shiva and Parvati is very special that they are present as Kirathamoorthis that is they are present in the hunters form which is a speciality of the temples in Kerala. The majority of the population are members of the Knanaya Catholic community.[1] St. Stephen's Church in Uzhavoor is famous for its grand feast on 8 and 26 December. This is the biggest event in the town and a lot of people take part in this event. The temples also celebrate all major festivities and their major festival. The Sasthamkulam Temple's Thiruvathira Makiyiram Maholstavam is famous in the area and the Shivarathri Maholstav of Karunechi Temple is also famous.[1]

The people of this village who belong to different religions and communities live here in peace, harmony, and unity.[1] Mr. K. R. Narayanan, who came from one of the poorest families of this village, is the role model for these people even today.

Sunset from top heights of Uzhavoor

K. R. Narayanan

Kocheril Raman Narayanan (4 February 1921 – 9 November 2005) was the tenth President of India. He was the first Dalit and the first Malayali to become President.Born in Perumthanam, Uzhavoor village, in the princely state of Travancore (present day Kottayam district, Kerala), and after a brief stint with journalism and then studying political science at the London School of Economics with the assistance of a scholarship, Narayanan began his career in India as a member of the Indian Foreign Service in the Nehru administration. He served as ambassador to Japan, United Kingdom, Thailand, Turkey, People's Republic of China and United States of America and was referred by Nehru as "the best diplomat of the country".[1] He entered politics at Indira Gandhi's request and won three successive general elections to the Lok Sabha and served as a Minister of State in the Union Cabinet under former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Elected as the ninth Vice President in 1992, Narayanan went on to become President in 1997.

E. J. Lukose Ellankil

E. J. Lukose Ellankil (25 January 1933 – 12 March 2012) has represented Ettumannor constituency as in the 7th Kerala Legislative Assembly (1982-1987). He was affiliated with the Kerala Congress party and Knanaya Catholic Congress a very good part of his life. He was very instrumental in the development of the Ettumanoor constituency and the village of Uzhavoor. Formation and installation of M.G. University in Priyadarshini Hills, Ettumanoor KSRTC and private Bus Stands, expansion work in the Kottayam Medical college, Pattarmadam and Velloparambu water supply schemes, Founding of Food Kraft Institute at Kumaranalloor, Cosmetology School at Panambalam, Govt. Commercial Institute at Ettumanoor, Model Pre-Primary School at Kumaranalloor, Velloparambu Bridge are some of the achievements of Mr. Lukose as the MLA. Participated the 1975 Holy Year celebration in Vatican, Rome as the Representative of Diocese of Kottayam. He has served 3 terms as the Knanaya Catholic congress President and was the creator of Knai Thoma Bhavan and Knai Thoma Tower, Kodungalloor. He also served as Working Committee Member and the Vice-President of Al Kerala Catholic Congress (A.K.C.C.) and the representative of Kerala to the All India Catholic Union. He has served as the Kottayam District President, Secretariat Member, Vice President, General Secretary of Kerala Congress. He has also served as the Syndicate Member of the M.G. University, member of Kerala Khadi Board. member of Kottayam DDC, Governing Body Member of St. Stephen's College Uzhavoor and BCM College, Kottayam, member and Vice President of Uzhavoor Panchayat, President of Uzhavoor Service Co-operative Bank, President of A.I.C.U Kerala Region etc.

Sunny Thomas

Sunny Thomas is a former Indian national shooting champion in the rifle open sight event from Kerala. He was the coach of the Indian shooting team for 19 years from 1993 to 2012. India won 108 gold, 74 silver and 53 bronze medals from various tournaments including the World Championships, Olympics and the Asian Games during his stint. He received the Dronacharya Award in 2001.

The well known St.Stephen's College is situated here.[2] The educational system of Uzhavoor is enhanced by the Government authorized O.L.L.H.S Schools.[1] Well known CBSE, ICSE & CMI schools are also situated very closely to the town of Uzhavoor. The Mahatma Gandhi University, one of the six universities is just 24 km from the town. The Kottayam Medical College is about 27 km from the town. Uzhavoor is surrounded by self-financed and managed well-known engineering colleges, such as, St. Joseph College Of Engineering & Technology, Amal Jyothi College Of Engineering, CMS College, BMS College and Mangalam College Of Engineering. Several Polytechnic and Nursing colleges are situated nearby. It is neighboured by well Known KR Narayanan Institute Of Visual Science & Arts

The city of Uzhavoor is connected with the city of Cochin and other major cities with well expanded roads.[2] Uzhavoor is also a major route for Sabarimala. Public transport in the town is largely dependent on buses, run by both private operators and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). It is a main bus route to all the major cities. KSRTC bus station is situated in the nearest city of Palai.[1] Cochin International Airport is situated in 60 km from the city.

The nearest railway station is Kottayam (KTYM) railway station which is under the administration of the Southern Railway. It lies on the busy rail route between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam and is served by several long distance trains connecting most major cities in the country, like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Kottayam Port, India's first multi-modal Inland Container Depot (ICD) and a minor port using inland water way, is situated at Nattakom (near Kodimatha), on the banks of Kothoor river is situated is just 38 km away from the city. The Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) operates ferry services through the backwaters in and around Kottayam city. Ferries are a major mode of transport to the town connect to the tourist destination of Kumarakom and Alappuzha, as well as several smaller destinations. There are two major ferry jetties in the city - Town Jetty and Kodimatha Jetty. In recent years, the boat jetty at Kumarakom has acquired international fame as a launch point for the backwater rides on Vembabad lake, which has virtually become a poster image for tourism in Kerala.

Besides local bus services for traveling within the town, Kottayam is well-connected to the rest of Kerala through inter-state bus services run by KSRTC. Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto-rickshaws.[2] The major port city of Kochi (70 kilometres (43 mi)) can be reached by the well connected roads from Uzhavoor to Piravom and to Ernakulam

The Climate in this region is moderate and pleasant. Uzhavoor has an average elevation of 4 metres from the sea level. According to the division of places in Kerala based on altitudes, Uzhavoor is classified as being a midland area. The general soil of the area is Alluvial soil. The area is very and well suitable for every type of agriculture and agricultural practices. The vegetation is mainly Tropical Evergreen and Tropical Deciduous type. The area is a main and major gateways to the hilly parts of Kerala and to the Western Ghats. Annual temperatures range between 20 to 35 °C (68 to 95 °F) From June through September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains, as Uzhavoor lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Uzhavoor receives light rain from the northwest monsoon. The average annual rainfall is 3200 mm. Soon after the monsoon season in the middle of December the winter season starts here with moderately cold up to the mid of February or March. Since the land is very fertile all types of vegetation is possible here and from the onset of April the land bloomed flowers and freshness up to July. The land itself creates naturally for all the cultural fiestas of land on December. The land is climatically very fair, it also helps Babymon to grow rubber crops.

Nearest major stations :

• Bus : Koothattukulam (10 km)
• Bus : Palai (15 km)
• Bus : Thodupuzha(20 km)
• Train : Kottayam, Ernakulam
• Air : Cochin International Airport