Nilakkal
|
Nilakkal/Nilackal നിലയ്ക്കൽ Chayal |
|
|---|---|
| village | |
Lord Shiva statue upon Nilakkal temple arch gate (2007 photograph)
|
|
 Nilakkal/Nilackal
 Nilakkal/Nilackal
|
|
| Coordinates: 9°22′49.43″N 76°59′52.6″E / 9.3803972°N 76.997944°ECoordinates: 9°22′49.43″N 76°59′52.6″E / 9.3803972°N 76.997944°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Kerala |
| District | Pathanamthitta |
| Government | |
| • Type | Panchayath |
| • Body | Perunad panchayath |
| Elevation | 333 m (1,093 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 689662 |
| Area code(s) | 04735 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-KL |
| Vehicle registration | KL-62 (Ranni) KL-03 (Pathanamthitta) |
| Coastline | 0 kilometres (0 mi) |
| Nearest city | Chittar, Angamoozhy |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Pathanamthitta |
| Assembly constituency | Ranni |
| Climate | Tropical monsoon (Köppen) |
| Nearest Airport | Cochin International Airport Limited |
Nilakkal (/-ˈnɪləkəl/), also spelled Nilackal, is a remote ghat region located in the Goodrical range of Ranni forest division in Pathanamthitta District in the Indian state of Kerala. The place is noted mainly as an edathavalam or halting-place for the Ayyappa devotees during Sabarimala pilgrimage. Administratively, it falls under the Perunad grama panchayath in Ranni tehsil.Sabarimala, the famous Hindu pilgrim centre in South India is located at a distance of 23 km (14 mi) in the north-east hilly region of Nilakkal.
Pursuant to some historical records, the name Nilakkal is associated with Nilavaaya, considered to be the presiding deity of old Shasta temple (present Sabarimala) at the forest interiors. While some other records has it that the name Nilakkal came from "Nilakkal thavalam". The place has an alternate name Chayal which denotes a place sloping towards Pamba river. But in another context, Chayal (in Hebrew) is referred to someone who is left alone.
The historical background of Nilakkal was based on its geographical position which date backs to the ancient times. Kerala had age-long trade relations with Pandiyas and Cholas through a trade route passed through Nilakkal. It was a well established populous trade center during the first century AD, primarily exporting spices such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper and forest products like timber and ivory. The place at that time was commonly known as Nilakkal thavalam and it was connected to ports like Muziris (present Kodungalloor) and Purakkad. Merchants who traveled with their trade items had a sojourn at the thavalam. In the later stages, the region came under the possession of Vel kings of Ay kingdom (later became Venad). When the Pandalam dynasty was established in c. 79 CE, it came under the rule of Pandalam rulers. St. Thomas, an apostle of Jesus Christ accompanied by Habban arrived there in 54 AD and baptized almost 1100 people, which eventually led to the emergence of a Christian community. Many churches were established in the regions including Nilakkal and Thulappally by the apostle's visit. Even today, the places like Plappally and Thulappally indicates it. The head Church of all these small Churches were known as Thalappally which later became Thulappally, which is about 11 km from Nilakkal.
...
Wikipedia