Erattupetta is a major town spread across the banks of the Meenachil River in the eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala. Serving as the headquarters of the Poonjar Legislative Assembly constituency, Erattupetta is located 40 kilometers away from Kottayam.

Nearby towns include Pala (12 km), Kanjirappally (17 km), and Thodupuzha (30 km). The renowned tourist destination of Vagamon is just 28 km from here. It is also a key route to the prominent Hindu pilgrimage center, Sabarimala, which is situated 120 km away. Erumeli is 31 km from the town. Additionally, the famous Christian pilgrimage center, St. George Forane Church, is located in Erattupetta.

Kottayam is the nearest major railway station, and Nedumbassery (Cochin International Airport) is the closest international airport. According to a state cabinet decision on January 13, 2015, it was decided to upgrade the Erattupetta Panchayat into a Municipality. This upgrade was implemented without changing the existing boundaries. Following the local body elections in 2016, the Municipal Council officially came into existence. Currently, the town has three post offices: under the Erattupetta Head Post Office, there are two sub-post offices—Nadackal and Erattupetta 2 (Aruvithura).

General Information

Origin of the Name

This place, where the Poonjar River (Thekkanar) and the Teekoy River (Vadakkanar) merge to form the Meenachil River, was originally known as Eerattida, meaning "the land between two rivers" (Eer-Aar). Eerapoli, Eerapuzha, and Erattupuzha were all evolutionary variations of this name. (Even today, when the names of the newly elected office bearers are announced at the famous St. George Forane Church, the chief celebrant still calls out the name 'Erattupuzha').

The transformation of Erattupuzha (the river formed by the merging of two rivers) into Erattupetta signifies the region's progress from a mere hamlet into a bustling commercial center. The Malayalam dictionary Sabdatharavali defines the word 'Petta' as a specialized trading place, an open market, a suburban market, or a camp. In every sense, it lived up to the name 'Petta'.

Besides serving as a commercial hub with the grandeur of a natural inland port, Erattupetta was a resting camp for bullock carts that transported trade goods from Tamil Nadu until the 18th century. It also served as the military base where the soldiers of the erstwhile princely state of Poonjar were stationed.

River Dynamics and Trade History

Before bridges were built in Erattupetta, the region was split into three distinct areas by the Meenachil River and its tributaries. During the monsoon floods, the eastern bank would be isolated like an island. Only the highly adventurous would dare to swim across the waters to reach their destinations. Despite overflowing at regular intervals, the Meenachil River was the lifeblood of Erattupetta.

The Randattum Munni (the river confluence) where ferryboats and rafts connected the three banks during the monsoon is now just a memory. Lined-up Kettuvallams (houseboats/cargo boats) arriving from the west carrying groceries and waiting to return with hill produce highlighted the commercial supremacy of the Mukkada (river junction). Timber rafts floating westward in a line with lit hurricane lamps were a regular night-time spectacle. It was the natural method for transporting timber to other regions. Before the development of the Alappuzha port, Erattupetta was effectively an inland port.

The Cultural Sandbanks

With the arrival of summer, the clear flowing river would shrink into a small stream, exposing beautiful, pristine white sandbanks on both sides. These sandbanks would then turn into the cultural center of Erattupetta. Numerous temporary trade stalls would be set up, turning the area into a vibrant venue for festivals, fairs, and massive conventions. It was on these very sandbanks that Jawaharlal Nehru, accompanied by his daughter Indira Gandhi, was hosted when he visited to invigorate the national freedom movement. Tragically, due to human intervention, these sandbanks have completely disappeared today.

Early Inhabitants and History

There are no exact records indicating when human settlement began in Erattupetta. However, it is believed to have been inhabited even before the Christian era. It is unlikely that these native sons of the soil belonged to any single specific caste; rather, there were various castes and sub-castes. Certain traditionally surviving family (house) names point to this fact. Examples include Kollanparambu, Ashariparambu, Thattanparambu, Manaykkaparambu, and Kaniyankunnu. It is assumed that even after these permanently settled areas came into the possession of the Muslim community, the original names were retained as geographical identifiers.

The prominent families of that era were Kollamparambu, Thattamparambu, Mundakkayaparambu, Mattakombanal, Nakunnathu, Ashariparambu, Manaykkaparambu, and Kaniyankunnu. Today, those lineages have expanded and are known by various other names.

Erattupetta is notably mentioned in Kottarathil Sankunni's famous literary work, Aithihyamala. Additionally, it is believed that Islamic religious preachers reached the area as early as the 600s AD, and St. Thomas, the apostle who propagated Christianity, is also said to have visited the region.