Midnight river

The Karthikappally Thodu in the night, shot using night mode...

Night sky

Pictures of night.. and nature..!

a rainy eve...

night under sky

Greener!

Unlike the barren highways and freeways with no trees or vegetation for miles like any other village in Kerala, Karthiakappally too has roads with trees over shading them from the scorching heat!

Roads with trees in the side is a common scene everywhere...

The picture of a flowering tree... a road side view..

Green!

As all the places in the Gods own county... Karthikappally is best adorned by the natures fullest decors. Like may places in the state, wherever you look its green and green, Karthikappally embellished by the coconut,green grasses, mango grooves, and whatnot..!

The green soothing scene is everywhere... a scenic destination!

Farmyards, fields and lush greenery was a scene here like elsewhere but changing times make prominent impact on nature... like any other place..
farmlands, now are not that occupied as old times...but still remains..adding a place for the children to enjoy their afternoon...

pond and green grass adds beauty to this charming wonder of nature...

Karthikappally ‘Thodu’

This is one of the oldest and most accessed inland water ways in the Kuttanad region. This was once the major lifeline for trade and export both with the foreigners and the local tradesmen. Presently due to construction of roads in every nook and corner, the ‘Thodu’ lost its privilege and is misused and polluted heavily.

The Karthikappaly thodu

There are may bridges across the Thodu... an old bridge in the picture

on a bridge

the waterway is now polluted and less accessed causing degradation and destruction and in the verge of 'extinction'... a pathetic site

Then and now

A small town, a market, a palace, Karthikappally had seen it all... Karthikappally was once a Buddhist center. About in the year 904-933 the Great ruler of Travancore, King Marthanda Varma, added Karthikappally to Travancore. In 1742 and 1753 the nearby places namely, Kayamkulam and Ambalapuzha was added to the Karthikappally Natturajyam, making it a prominent region since then. The area between the now existing Purakkad and Kayamkulam was the once Karthikappally.

remains of old marketplace

What made Karthikappally the most unique and important was the proximity of an inland waterway or a Thodu which enabled free flow of traffic and evolved Karthikappally into a Trading center. The market was huge and crowded, still remains of the old market stays..!

Many years after its glorious past, the Karthikappally Panchayat was formed. Shri. K Damodaran was its first man in place. In 1912, the Govt. School in Mahadevikadu was constructed followed by The Govt. L P School in memory of Divan Krishnan Nair. Many great Leaders had their footprints on the sands of time of Karthikappally.

This included the only Minister from Karthikappally and MLA Shri. A Achutan, Achutan Vakeel, A V Anandarajan, Kanikara Madhava Kurup, Krishnankutty Sir, Putathu Narayan were all the lost heroes who fought for the Nation.

Many Iconic landmarks were constructed in Karthikappally, which stands as testimonials to the great heritage of this place. The St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral or the Kottakakatthu Suriyani Palli, Karumbali Koikkal Kottaram, Karthikappally Kottaram, Valikulangara Devi Kshetram , Kottaram Mudiyil Shri KrishnaSwami Kshetram, VathaloorKolical Kshetram , The Haripad Shri. Subrahmaniya Kshetram or temple and the centuries old mosques in Karthikappally are also famous. The Ananthapuram Kottaram is also famous in many ways adding to the proud history of this place. the world famous Mannarshala Nagaraja temple also yet another mark of history.