Geography and Map
Kerala’s Thrissur district, Vallachira Grama Panchayat is situated in Thrissur Taluk under the Cherpu Block. The Panchayat has an area of 10.19 square kilometers. It is bounded by Avinissery Grama Panchayat and Thrissur Corporation to the north; Nenmaneekara Grama Panchayat and Parappukkara Grama Panchayat to the east; Porathissery, Cherpu Grama Panchayat, and Parappukkara Grama Panchayat to the south; and Cherpu Grama Panchayat to the west.
Arattupuzha Panchayat was formed in 1940, followed later by Vallachira Panchayat. Paraykkal Varith became the first President. In the democratic elections held in 1953, Mullappilly Govindankutty Nair was elected President and continued in office through elections until 1979. In 1978, Avinissery Village, which was part of the Panchayat, was separated to form Avinissery Panchayat. From 1979 to 1985, K.W. Kesavan Elayathu served as President. From 1985 to 1988, the Panchayat was under administrative rule. From 1988 to 1995, C.N. Menon served as President, and from 1995 to 2000, P. Chandran was elected President.
Vallachira is a fully literate Grama Panchayat. Geographically, it is a midland region where the major crops are paddy, banana, and coconut. The Manali River, Kurumali River, and Karuvannur River flow through the Panchayat. Vallachira Lake is situated in this village. Major irrigation canals in the Panchayat include Chappakkayal Canal, Vallachira Watershed, Chittengara Kayal Canal, and Perunkulam Canal.
The Arattupuzha Pooram grounds, a unique feature of Vallachira Grama Panchayat, are a major tourist attraction. Urakam–Puthukkad Road and Puchunnippadam–Chathakkudam Road are the major roads passing through the Panchayat. The nearest major bus station is located in Thrissur. The bridges at Palakkadavu and Sasthamkadavu provide transportation facilities and have significantly contributed to the Panchayat’s development.
Government institutions within the Panchayat include the Village Offices at Arattupuzha and Cherpu, the Kerala State Electricity Board office at Cherpu, the Water Authority Office at Cherpu, and the Krishi Bhavan at Vallachira. The police station is situated at Cherpu. Post offices function at both Vallachira and Arattupuzha, while the telephone exchange is located at Cherpu. The All India Radio station at Thrissur also functions nearby.
The Panchayat has around 13 temples, including Arattupuzha Sastha Temple, Vallachira Bhagavan Temple, Vallachira Bhagavathi Temple, and Chathakkudam Sastha Temple. Christian churches in the Panchayat include St. Mary’s Church Pallissery, St. Thomas Church Vallachira, St. Antony’s Church Vallachira Kappola, and Vallachira Vadakke Kappola Church. The Muslim mosque in the Panchayat is Jumamasjid Veliyathparambu Kandheswaram.
Major festivals celebrated in the Panchayat include Arattupuzha Pooram, Vallachira Kumbha Bharani, Chathakkudam Pooram, St. Mary’s Church Feast, and St. Thomas Church Feast.
Notable personalities from the Panchayat who have passed away include literary critic N.V. Krishnavariyar, artist Sankaravariyar, renowned physicians Eechrath Vaidyar and Narayanan Vaidyar, Aksharasloka expert Aalekkatt Chovvoor Manakkal Narayanan Namboothiri, freedom fighter M.N. Nair, Mizhavu expert Krishnan Nambiar, Kombu expert Ramankutty, Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, recitation expert P.K.N. Nambiar, culinary expert Kallingatt Kunjan Namboothiri, and novelist Vallachira Madhavan.
Prominent living personalities from the Panchayat include music director Vidyadharan, film director Priyanandanan, Nangyar Koothu artist Usha Nangiar, writers C.R. Das, Dathan Master, Ashtamoorthy, Aravindan Vallachira, technology researcher Moorkkath Nandakumar, and humor writer Nandakishore.
