Changanassery
Changanassery, (Malayalam: [t͡ʃɐŋːɐnaːʃeːɾi]) also spelt Changanacherry, is a municipality in Kottayam district in Kerala, India. It is also the headquarters of the Changanassery Taluk. The town is spread over an area of 14.3 km2 (5.5 sq mi) and has a population of 47,685. Changanassery is located 17 km (11 mi) south of the district headquarters Kottayam and 117 km (73 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Changanassery | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Clockwise, top to bottom: St. Berchmans College; The Anchuviḷakku; Iḷamkavu Devi Temple; The boat jetty | |
Changanassery Changanassery | |
| Coordinates: 9.466667°N 76.55°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 13.5 km2 (5.2 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 43.8 km2 (16.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 47,485 |
| • Density | 3,500/km2 (9,100/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 127,987 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 686101 |
| Telephone code | 0481 |
| Vehicle registration | KL 33 |
Changanassery is an important market town, was historically one of the centres of administration and culture in the Central Travancore region. The Changanassery market, established in AD 1805, served as the main trading point in the transport of rice, pepper, dry ginger, and piece goods between the coastal areas in the west and the mountains of the east. The "Anchu Vilakku" lamps were installed by the locals in 1905 near the boat jetty, and continues to serve as a symbol of the religious and ethnic harmony of the region.