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Thodupuzha

Thodupuzha
തൊടുപുഴ
Gateway of Highrange
Municipal town
Thodupuzha Civil Station
Thodupuzha Civil Station
Coordinates: 9°54′00″N 76°43′01″E / 9.9000°N 76.7170°E / 9.9000; 76.7170Coordinates: 9°54′00″N 76°43′01″E / 9.9000°N 76.7170°E / 9.9000; 76.7170
Country  India
State Kerala
District Idukki
Government
 • Type First Grade Municipality
 • Municipal Chairperson Mrs Safiya Jabbar
Elevation 40 m (130 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 52,045
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 685584
Telephone code 04862
Vehicle registration KL-38
Nearest city Kottayam, Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam
Nearest Railway Station Aluva
Lok Sabha constituency Idukki
Climate Tropical monsoon (Köppen)
Avg. summer temperature 32.5 °C (90.5 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 20 °C (68 °F)
Major town in the District of Idukki

Thodupuzha is the largest town and municipality in Idukki district in the Kerala state of India, spread over an area of 35.43 km2. Thodupuzha is 57 km (35 mi) from Kottayam and 62 km (39 mi) south east of Kochi. Thodupuzha is 200 km from the state capital, Trivandrum. Geographical classification of Thodupuzha Region is Malanad or Idanad.

Thodupuzha is also the name of the river that flows through the town. It is one of the largest town in the district and is a main commercial center. The town is being modernised with the help of a program sponsored by the World Bank, financing through the Government of Kerala. It was once part of the territory of the princely state, Travancore. It lies in central Kerala, southeast of Muvattupuzha. The Thodupuzha municipality area is characterized by hilly terrain with a lot of green vegetation.

The name 'Thodupuzha' might have come from two words, 'thodu' (which means a rivulet) and 'puzha' (which means a river). It is believed that the stream developed into a river, and the town on the banks of the river came to be known as Thodupuzha.

There is another version which defines the word ‘thodu’ (Malayalam word) as ‘touch’ and ‘puzha’ as ‘river’. Thus the town touching the river became Thodupuzha. Mattathil Kovilakam was the protectors and rulers of the Desham (region) Thodupuzha that they were in and a reported relationship emerged to a "Naadu Vaazhi" (Ruler of the land)of Keezhmalainadu. Naadu, which is a group of Deshams, came to known as Thodupuzha. The last ruler of the desam was Elasamprathi(Ruler of a region appointed by Maharaja of Keezhmalainadu) Shri Narayana Menon originally from Trivandrum and he was the representative of Maharaja Raja. His official residence was Mattathil Kovilakam located in Chalamkode Village. Official Headquarters of Keezhmalainadu were Karikodu.


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