Karukutty (Malayalam: കറുകുററി) is a village panchayat in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Classified as a Grade A panchayat, Karukutty comprises of 13 wards and falls under the Angamaly block in Aluva taluk. It is part of Angamaly Assembly constituency and Chalakudy Parliament constituency.

History

Located on the southern border of the erstwhile Cochin kingdom, Karukutty has been influenced by the cultures of both Travancore and Cochin kingdoms. Remnants of an old fort, referred to locally as Kottathendu (കോട്ടത്തെണ്ട്), can be seen here. The fort - Nedumkotta (നേടുംക്കോട്ട) was built jointly by the Travancore and Cochin kingdoms to resist invasions by Tipu Sultan. Numerous other artifacts and vessels used by natives to store their treasures and valuables have also been excavated. There is a popular saying that goes "Karukutty kandaal maru kutty venda" (കറുകുററി കണ്ടാല്‍ മറുകുററി വേണ്ട). It roughly translates to "If you have reached Karukutty, then you need not go looking else where" – a sign of the self-sufficient and prosperous nature of the locality.

Karukutty panchayat was formed on 28th December, 1961 and was originally part of the Kunnathunadu taluk in Kottayam district. It later became part of Aluva taluk when the Ernakulam district was formed. P V Ouseppukutty Pynadath became the first president of the panchayat in 1961. After the elections in 1964, an eight member administrative council took charge under the leadership of P C Sani. Other popular leaders who later became presidents were Thomas Aikkareth (1980), P L John and C T Devassy (1988).

Geography

Spread of over an area of 33.57 km² in central Kerala, the terrain in Karukutty is primarily of five types - plain land, valley, high land, sloped terrain and hilltops.

Borders

East: Mookkannoor panchayat
North: Chalakudy River and Koratty panchayat
West: Parakkadavu panchayat
South: Angamaly municipality

Major Localities

• Munnoorppilly
• Palissery
• Edakkunnu
• Besleham
• Panthackal
• Marangadam
• Moonamparambu
• Azhakam
• Neerungal
• Palliyangadi
• Kappelappadi
• Companippadi
• Koventha
• Areekkal
• Karayamparambu

Water Sources

An 18 km long network of canals and creeks along with 27 public ponds and over 200 private tanks serve as the primary water source for the panchayat.

Culture and Community

The panchayat has 9 libraries, of which, 2 of them are A grade libraries with more than 10,000 books.
Various social organizations such as NSS, SNDP, and KPMS along with many other Christian organizations contribute actively to the social and cultural upliftment of the region.

Commerce and Transport

Karukutty is situated on the northern edge of the Ernakulam district, bordering Thrissur. National Highway 47 runs from north to south along a 4 km stretch on the western side of the panchayat. The border also serves as a geographically centered Excise and Sales Tax check post for the state of Kerala.
Karukutty has a railway station (Station code KUC) that serves hundreds of passengers travelling between their offices and homes on passenger train services running between Ernakulam and Shornur/Guruvayur. It is also a major stop over for long distance buses plying to locations such as Bangalore, with a choice of hotels and eateries lined along the highway.

Tourism

Karukutty is blessed with bountiful natural resources and the numerous brooks flowing through lush greenery themselves provide an excellent tourist opportunity. Major destinations in the panchayat include

• Ezhattumugham
• Thumboormoozhi Dam

Education and Health

The various socio-cultural communities that emerged in Karukutty, actively contributed to the development of many educational and medical institutions including

• Govt. UPS Palissery
• St. Thomas Upper Primary School
• Star Jesus High School
• St. Joseph's Girls High School
• Adam Public School, Karayamparambu
• SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Vidya Nagar, Paduvapuram^[1]
• Govt. Dispensary, Palissery
• Alphonsa Hospital
• Stella Maris Hospital, Paduvapuram
• Naipunnya Public School, Paduvapuram^[2]

Religion and Pilgrimage

Major religious centers in Karukutty include

• Sree Narayanagurudeva Temple, Munnoorppilly
• Mattapilly Devi Temple, Palissery
• St. Xavier's Church (Established in 1829)
• Christ the King Monastery
• Assisi Shanti Kendra (Kolbe Ashram)
• Sacred Heart Convent (Established in 1899 by the Carmelite sisters)
• St. Anthony's Church, Edakkunnu
• Othadam Bhagavati Temple
• Karayamparambu Unnimadom Temple
• Chirakottu Bhagavati Temple

References