Chalakudy ചാലക്കുടി Chalakudy,Thrissur |
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Town, Taluk, Municipality, Assembly constituency | |
Chalakudy river
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Location in Kerala, India | |
Coordinates: 10°18′N 76°20′E / 10.30°N 76.33°ECoordinates: 10°18′N 76°20′E / 10.30°N 76.33°E | |
Country | India |
State | Kerala |
District | Thrissur District |
Government | |
• Type | Taluk |
• Body | Municipal Council |
• M L A | B.D. Devassy |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 49,525 |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 680307 |
Telephone code | 0480 |
Vehicle registration | KL-64,KL-8,KL-45 |
Chalakudy is a municipal town situated on the banks of Chalakudy River in Thrissur District of the Kerala State in India. It has already become a taluk called Chalakudy Taluk. It is the base camp for travellers to Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls. Chalakudy lies on National Highway 47 and located about 47 km (23 mi) north of the city of Kochi, and 30 km (19 mi) south of Thrissur.
The name "Chalakudy" is derived from two words "Yagashala" (temporary settlement for conducting sacrifices) and "kody" (flag). Once Chalakudy was famous all over India as a place for conducting sacrifices. Many "rishis" (including Saptarshis) used to come over here as it was considered as a sacred land. In order to identify these settlements, they hoisted flags next to it. Thus those entire area got its name "yagashalakody". This however evolved into "Shalakody" and finally into today's Chalakudy.Chalakudy was the headquarters of Kodassry Nadu.Maharaja, Kingdom of Cochin formed Kodassery(Chalakudy)Taluk in the 1762 by adding KuzhurNadu,Ayyanezhi Nadu,KorattyNadu, Malayattur proverty (now in Aluva and Kothamangalam Taluks)& Vellarappilly proverty(Kanjur-Chowara)(now in Aluva Taluk) to Kodassery Nadu. Majority area of this taluk were amalgamated into Mukundapuram taluk in AD 1860 and Vellarapilly proverty was given to Kanayannur taluk.According to Brahminical traditions Chalakudy was part of Adur(Annamanada) Grama and Potta in Chalakudy Municipality was part of Irinjalakuda Grama. It was also an old seminary at Sanpaulur(Ambazhakkad) at the bank of chalakudy river.
Chalakudy is a place of historical importance as its nearby places like Thazhekkad proverty of MukundapuramNadu was the base of operations for Mysore invader Tipu Sultan during his attack on the Travancore lines. He kept the nearby places of Chalakudy as a Southern Army Base for attacking Travancore and southern provinces of Cochin. In 2013 new Chalakudy taluk was formed by UDF Government led by Shri Oommen Chandy.