Kanjirapalli

Kanjirappally The Gateway of Highrange
Town
A Rainy Morning in Kanjirappally Town
Coordinates: 9°33′0″N 76°47′0″E / 9.55000°N 76.78333°E / 9.55000; 76.78333Coordinates: 9°33′0″N 76°47′0″E / 9.55000°N 76.78333°E / 9.55000; 76.78333
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Population (2012)
• Total	27,127
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	686507 (Kanjirappally Head Post Office)
Telephone code	04828
Vehicle registration	KL-34 (Kanjirappally) or KL-05 (Kottayam)
Coastline	0 kilometres (0 mi)
Nearest cities	Kottayam, Thodupuzha, Pala
Lok Sabha constituency	Pathanamthitta (Kanjirappally Niyamasabha Mandalam)
Climate	Tropical monsoon (Köppen)
Avg. summer temperature	31 °C (88 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	23 °C (73 °F)

Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district situated about 38 km (24 mi) away from the district capital, in the state of Kerala, India. National Highway (old NH 220 Kollam - Theni now NH 183) connects Kanjirapally to major nearest cities. Kanjirappally, also known as the Gateway of Highrange since it is the geographic entrance to the 'Malanad' or the Hill country of Kerala, which extends to Idukki district and then to Tamil Nadu.

Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. Part of the Syrian Christian belt, the place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians. The Christians of Kanjirapally are known to be the earliest agrarian group in Kerala to have switched to plantation agriculture by the beginning of the 20th century. The place is, therefore, home to many legendary Syrian Christian families of Kerala, who owe their affluence to plantation agriculture, particularly Rubber.

Since the early 1980s, Kanjirapally has won a special place in the hearts of Keralites, through scores of Malayalam movies that depict the region as a pocket of Christian affluence. The term 'Achayan', which is colloquially used among the Nasranis of Central Travancore, has always been synonymous with Kanjirapally.

The Syrian Christian colonization of Kanjirappally had a profound impact on the history of commerce and agriculture in these parts. The Christians claim their roots from early settlements at Nilackal or Chayal on the banks of Pamba River, in the Sabarimala Hills of eastern Kerala. There is also a strong belief that the flourishing Christian community here was founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle himself. The place was in the forest recesses far away from seats of power. Nilackal became an important depot for spices like pepper, cardamom etc. and the Christians were engaged in this lucrative trade as procures and sorters. Following a catastrophic event in the mid 14th century, the Christian inhabitants of Nilackal fled the region, a large section of whom migrated to the present day Kanjirapally, which is 30 miles Northwest of the ancient town. The direct descendants of these settlers constructed the Pazhayapally (meaning the 'Old Church') in the middle of the town. Following the agrarian expansion of the 19th century, the Syrian Christians spread to places around Kanjirapally, such as Manimala, Ponkunnam, Erumely, Mundakayam and their surrounding regions, clearing forests and setting up farms.