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KUDASSANAD - A Colourful Village of Travencore

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Written by: Jose G

Category: Home Page articles

Published: 25 March 2010

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NSS High School KudassanadKudassanad (മലയാളം: കുടശ്ശനാട്) is a typical village with beautiful and serene landscape. The natural world in its true spirits is seen here with evergreen nature and high hills with rubber plantations. It is the rice bowl of Palamel Panchayat; resplendent with green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl, Kudassanad comes under the jurisdiction of Mavelikara Taluk in Alappuzha District. Situated on the border between Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, it is well connected by road to Pandalam to the north - Main Central (MC) Road (4 km) - and Nooranad to the south - Kayamkulam-Punalur (KP) Road (4 km): River Anchenkovil flows some five km north.

Feast of Saint Stephens CathedralKudassanad is situated on the threshold of Pandalam, where Lord Ayyappa, the Presiding Deity of Sabarimala grew up in the Palace of the King of Pandalam. Pilgrims to Sabarimala come to Pandalam Valiya Koickal Temple before proceeding to Sabarimala. The annual ceremony of carrying the Sacred Ornament (Thiruvabharanam) to adore the deity in Sabarimala is a great religious event, in which tens of thousands devotees participate.  

St Stephens Church

Kudassanad forms part of the Mavelikara Parliamentary and Pandalam Assembly Constituencies. The legendary M.N. Govindan Nair, Thoppil Bhasi and K.C. George - all veterans of the Communist Movement, who stood in the forefront of the Vayalar-Punnapra struggle, have represented the constituencies in the 1950s and 1960s. 

 

 

 Temple bullKudassanad is self reliant in almost every field. It has modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art services: Anganvadi (Baby Care Centre), Government Lower Primary (LP) School, another LP School run by the Syro-Malankara Rite of the Catholic Church, one English medium school run by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and one Higher Secondary School belonging to the Nair Service Society (NSS). The Panchayat Samskarika Nilayam (Cultural Centre) takes care of the intellectual needs of the people. The general health care is taken care of by Mar Baselios Mission Hospital and other private and homeopathy clinics as well as by other highly qualified medical practitioners. In addition to the Post Office, the region has several STD/ISD Booths. There are a number of regular government and private buses plying at regular frequent intervals to diverse directions. Daily evening markets, in addition to the two weekly markets on each Tuesday and Friday, attract people even from distant hamlets. 

Hanuman

The literacy rate of Kudassanad, having a population of over 5,000 is commendable. The mostly educated people, working abroad (Gulf Region, European Union, the U.S.A. Canada and the Far East Asia) have brought fame and prosperity to the village, which has completely changed its facet, thus tenderly earning the nickname “mini-Gulf”. The population density is 1,144 per sq. Km. 70 per cent of the population owns land.

Elephants Procession - Utsavam at Thirumani Mangalam Mahadevar Temple

The natives, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, are proud of their famous centuries old (Thirumani Mangalam Mahadevar) Temple. Kudassanad is also sanctified by the presence of the ancient St. Stephen’s Orthodox Cathedral. Consecrated in 1873, rebuilt and renovated four times the church is situated on a hill-top visible from far and wide; the Church is adoringly and affectionately called the Valia Palli (Great Church). St. Thomas Catholic Church, consecrated in 1944 is another Church besides one Guru Mandiram:  These places of worship give Kudassanad the glare and glory of a secular township.

Kudassanad has a fairly good system of commercial and cooperative banking network.

 

GETTING THERE

Rail: Well connected to major cities; nearest rail heads are Chengannur (30 km), Mavelikara and Kayamkulam.Road: 15 km from Chengannur via Kulanada-Pandalam;15 km from Mavelikara via Vettiyar-Pandalam; 18 km from Kayamkulam via Kattanam-Nooranad.

Air: Nearest International Airports are Cochin International Airport (CIAL at Nedumbassery) to the north (130 km) and Trivandrum International Airport at Thiruvananthapuram (110 km) to the south.

Article courtesy: Lt. Kochukunju Joy, Ottalil, Bonn, Germany, www.kudassanad.com