Meenachil is the name of the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. Palai is the main town in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil. The river finds mention in Arundhati Roy's Booker Prize winning novel, The God of Small Things.
The river Meenachil, also known as Kavanar, originates in the Western Ghats of Kerala, flows westward through Erattupetta, Palai, Kidangoor, Ettumanoor and Kottayam. Near Kottayam it splits into a number of distributaries before emptying into the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom, the bird sanctuary and tourist resort is on one such branch.
The current Meenachil taluk was a principality under the local chieftains, the Meenachil Karthas before Marthanda Varma annexed it to Travancore in the Eighteenth century. The name of the place comes from Goddess Meenakshi, the deity of the Karthas. The southern bank of the river was the kingdom of Thekkumkoor with capital at Changanassery and the northern bank, that of Vadakkumkoor, with its capital at Kaduthuruthy. The Poonjar royal family also held sway over significant areas of the district towards the east.
Some of the important festivals
The Arattu at Lalam Sree Mahadeva Temple. (January)
The Katappattor temple festival (April)
Meenachil Kavu Festival (December)
Pala Jubilee thirunal (December 8)
The Cherpunkal Church festival(December 25 - January 2)
The festival of St. George's Church, Aruvithura
The Paika Church festival
Pala Rakkuly thirunal - Epiphany (Jan 7)
Bharanganam Sr Alphonsa's feast (July 28)
Bharanganam Sreekrishna Swami temple festival (January-February)
Poovarany Mahadeva temple festival (January-February)
Ramapuram Church feast
Kidangoor Temple Festival
The river Meenachil, also known as Kavanar, originates in the Western Ghats of Kerala, flows westward through Erattupetta, Palai, Kidangoor, Ettumanoor and Kottayam. Near Kottayam it splits into a number of distributaries before emptying into the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom, the bird sanctuary and tourist resort is on one such branch.
The current Meenachil taluk was a principality under the local chieftains, the Meenachil Karthas before Marthanda Varma annexed it to Travancore in the Eighteenth century. The name of the place comes from Goddess Meenakshi, the deity of the Karthas. The southern bank of the river was the kingdom of Thekkumkoor with capital at Changanassery and the northern bank, that of Vadakkumkoor, with its capital at Kaduthuruthy. The Poonjar royal family also held sway over significant areas of the district towards the east.
Some of the important festivals
The Arattu at Lalam Sree Mahadeva Temple. (January)
The Katappattor temple festival (April)
Meenachil Kavu Festival (December)
Pala Jubilee thirunal (December 8)
The Cherpunkal Church festival(December 25 - January 2)
The festival of St. George's Church, Aruvithura
The Paika Church festival
Pala Rakkuly thirunal - Epiphany (Jan 7)
Bharanganam Sr Alphonsa's feast (July 28)
Bharanganam Sreekrishna Swami temple festival (January-February)
Poovarany Mahadeva temple festival (January-February)
Ramapuram Church feast
Kidangoor Temple Festival
