Udayamperoor
Grama Panchayat

History of Udayamperoor Grama Panchayat

Udayamperoor

Udayamperoor Grama Panchayat is situated in the Manakunnam Village under the Mulamthuruthy Block in Kanayannur Taluk of Ernakulam District, Kerala. The Panchayat covers an area of 24.85 square kilometers.

The Panchayat is bounded by Thrippunithura Municipality and Chottanikkara Panchayat to the north; Amballoor Panchayat, Chempu Panchayat of Kottayam District, and Perumbalam Panchayat of Alappuzha District to the south; Kumbalam Panchayat and Perumbalam Panchayat of Alappuzha District to the west; and Chottanikkara, Mulamthuruthy, and Amballoor Panchayats to the east.

The historical boundary stones marking the border between the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin still remain within the Panchayat limits as historical monuments.

The historically significant Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) took place in this Panchayat in 1599. With the arrival of the Portuguese, efforts were made to bring the Syrian Christians under the Roman Catholic Church. As part of this mission, a major assembly of nearly 150 Syrian Christian representatives was convened in the courtyard of the Udayamperoor Church, which later became known as the Synod of Diamper.

The Perumthrikkovil Temple, considered the first temple within the Panchayat boundaries, is believed to have been constructed by Bhargava Rama (Parasurama) according to local belief.

Paravoor (Thekkan Paravoor), meaning “the land of the sea,” had been a bustling commercial center for centuries, especially the marketplace street of Thekkan Paravoor.

Udayamperoor comprises a major portion of the Manakunnam region, while the remaining areas include Chempu, Thuruthunnu, and Palamkadavu regions. Historically, this area was under the control of the Vadakkumkoor royal dynasty headquartered in Vaikom, and land ownership was mainly vested in traditional Mana (Brahmin households).

The Panchayat’s indigenous system of governance began in 1948. The first Village Union election was held through a meeting convened by the Vaikom Tahsildar. Apart from taxpayers, graduates were also given voting rights. K.T. Varkey was elected as the first President. This administration governed the Panchayat until 1952, when a democratically elected governing body based on universal adult franchise came into existence.

Transportation to and from Perumbalam Panchayat in Alappuzha District is primarily dependent on water transport. A Panchayat-owned boat jetty is located at Poothotta, from where government boat services operate to Perumbalam and Panavally. In addition, Yamaha boat services run from Paravoor Ferry to Perumbalam Island.

The Ameda Temple, often referred to as another Mannarasala of Kerala, attracts thousands of devotees from within and outside Kerala during the Ayilyam festival in the Malayalam month of Kanni.

The historic church associated with the Synod of Diamper, along with other religious and cultural institutions, stands as a symbol of the Panchayat’s rich historical and cultural heritage.