Meenachil is the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi the Dravidian goddess. Pala is the main city in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil.
The current Meenachil taluk was a principality under the local chieftains, the Meenachil Karthas before Marthanda Varma annexed it to Travancore in 1754. The name of the place comes from Goddess Meenakshi, the deity of the Karthas. Veera Kerala Damodara Simhar was a chieftain belonging to this family. The southern bank of the river was the kingdom of Thekkumkoor, the capital of which was 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.
Economy
Though food crops like paddy and tapioca are cultivated, majority of the population depends on cash crops like rubber and black pepper for income. Recently people had diversified into the cultivation of vanilla on account of the sudden spurt in prices. However, with rubber prices ruling high and vanilla prices nosediving, the original agricultural pattern is seen reemerging. Though there are families with considerable wealth, a large section of the population are farmers with small and medium agricultural holdings. The Kerala Government has recently accorded high priority to the implementation of the Meenachil River Valley Project. The project aims at diverting excess water from the Moovattupuzha river into the Meenachil River basin by constructing a tunnel from Arakkulam to Melukavu. Once implemented the project will help in increasing the availability of water in the area.
Festivals
Some of the important festivals celebrated in the region are: 1. Moonu noyambu Feast ST. Mary's Church Kuravilangad. 2. The Katappattortemple festival 3. Meenachil Kavu Festival 4. Pala Jubilee thirunal 5. The Cherpunkal Church festival 6. The festival of St. George's Church, Aruvithura 7. The Paika Church festival 8. Pala Rakkuly thirunal - Epiphany 9. Bharanganam Sr Alphonsa's feast 10. Bharanganam Sreekrishna Swami temple festival 11. Poovarany Mahadeva temple festival 12. Ramapuram Church feast 13. Kidangoor Temple Festival 14. Edappady Subrahmanya Swamy Temple festival 15. Edappady Vazhanekkavu Devi Temple festival 16. Uzhavoor Church feast 17. VILAKKUMADOM ST. Francis Church feast 18. The Arattu at Lalam Sree Mahadeva Temple. 19. Prathista dinam at Puthuppallil Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple at Edamattom 20. Meenachil Nadeethada Hindu Maha sangamam
Traditionally, the region is the hotbed of various factions of the Kerala Congress. However mainstream parties like the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Bharatiya Janata Party also have significant following. The prices of rubber and other agricultural prices determine the agenda of many elections. It is alleged that the church influences the political agenda significantly.
Meenachil Taluk does not have rail connectivity. The nearest major railway stations are Kottayam, 28 km and Ernakulam junction, 64 km from palai. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, 85 km from Palai. The Ettumanoor - Poonjar State Highway traverses across the Taluk in the easterly direction connecting major centres like Kidangoor, Cherpunkal, Palai, Bharananganam and Erattupetta. In the north- south direction, the Main Eastern Highway passes through Kollappally, Palai and Paika. The Erattupetta - Peerumedu State Highway passes through Teekoy and Wagamon. The Sabarimala - Kodaikanal Highway passes through Erattupetta. The Main Central Road from Trivandrum to Angamaly passes through the western boundary of the Taluk.
