| Coordinates | 9°42′47″N 76°41′00″E |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam |
| Governing body | Pala Municipality |
| Municipal Chairperson | Diya Binu Pulikkakandam |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala (MLA) | Mani C. Kappan |
| Unit pref | Metric |
| Area total | 16.06 km² |
| Elevation | 31 m |
| Population total | 22,056 |
| Population as of | 2011 |
| Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 686573, 686574, 686575 |
| Telephone code | +9148 22 |
| Registration plate | KL 35, KL 67 |
| Nearest city | Kottayam |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Pala |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kottayam |
Pala (paːlaː) is a municipality[2] in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located 28 km (17.4 mi) north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about 167 km (103.8 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Pala also serves as the headquarters of Meenachil Taluk.[3] As per the 2011 Indian census, Pala has a population of 22,056, and a population density of 1,373 /sqkm.
Pala is on the banks of the Meenachil River and is a major hub of Syrian Christian culture in Kerala.[4]
Demographics
As of 2001 Indian census,[5] Pala had a population of 22,640. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pala has an average literacy rate of 98%, higher than the national average of 73%: male literacy is 98.5%, and female literacy is 97.8%, still much higher than the state average. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Christians make up 65.09% of the population, Hindus 34.19%, Muslims 0.1%, other religions 0.05% and 0.15% not stated.
Politics
Pala is a municipality since its formal inauguration on December 1, 1949.[6] the current municipal chairperson of Pala municipality is UDF-backed Independent Diya Binu Pulikkakandam, who is also the youngest municipal chairperson in the country.[7] The vice-chairperson of the municipality is Maya Rahul, another UDF-backed independent.[8][9]
Pala falls under the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency and Pala Assembly constituency. It is represented by Mani C Kappan in the Legislative Assembly and by K. Francis George in the Lok Sabha.
| Ward | Ward Name | Councilor Name | Party | Alliance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Paramalakunnu | Adv. Betty Shaju Thuruthel | LDF | ||
| 002 | Mundupalam | Shaju Thuruthen | |||
| 003 | Market | Josin Bino | |||
| 004 | Kizhathadiyoor | Sonia Chitted | UDF | ||
| 005 | Plathanam | Georgekutty Cheruvallil | LDF | ||
| 006 | Kanattupara | Sebastian J. Panaikkal | UDF | ||
| 007 | Pulimalakunnu | Jiji Baiju Kollamparambil | LDF | ||
| 008 | Kaveekunnu | Riya Chiramkuzhy | UDF | ||
| 009 | Kochidappadi | Siji Tony Thottathil | |||
| 010 | Moonnani | Biju Varikkani | |||
| 011 | Monastri | Ruby Anto Padinjarekere | LDF | ||
| 012 | Chethimattom | Tony Thaiparambil | UDF | ||
| 013 | Murikkumpuzha | Biju Pulikkakandam | Others (later joined UDF) | ||
| 014 | Parippil Kunnu | Adv. Binu Pulikkakandam | |||
| 015 | Palapurayidom | Diya Binu Pulikkakandam | |||
| 016 | Kannadiyurumbu | Tomin Vattamala | LDF | ||
| 017 | 12th Mile | Sanil Raghavan | |||
| 018 | Mukkalikunnu | Lisikutty Mathew Kandathiparambil | UDF | ||
| 019 | Pala | Maya Rahul | Others (later joined UDF) | ||
| 020 | Lalam | Biji Jojo Kudakachira | LDF | ||
| 021 | Vellappadu | Leena Sunny Purayidom | |||
| 022 | Arunapuram | Rajitha Prakash | UDF | ||
| 023 | College Ward | Princy Sunny | |||
| 024 | Kottaramattom | Biju Mathews | |||
| 025 | Nelliyani | Biju Palupadavil | LDF | ||
| 026 | Puthenpallikunnu | Roy Francis |
Sports
The Municipal Stadium is the centre of sports in Pala.[10]
The 61st Kerala State Schools Athletics Championships was held at the stadium in 2017.[11] At least 2500 students from 100 schools attended the sports meet.[12] The 63rd Kerala State Athletics Championship was also held at the stadium in the month of October, 2019.[13]
See also
- Bharananganam
- Kattappana
- Thodupuzha
- Erattupetta
- Cherpunkal
- List of people from Pala
- Places of worship in Pala
- Meenachil
- Meenachil River
- Pala (State Assembly constituency)
- Ullanadu
References
- ^ "Grama Panchayaths". Archived 2018-04-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Grama Panchayaths". Archived 2018-04-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Revenue Portal". landrevenue.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "Pala- A Rurban Town in Kerala | CEPT - Portfolio". Archived 2024-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived 2004-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "പാലാ നഗരസഭയ്ക്ക് 76 വയസ്; മട്ടന്നൂർ പോലെ പാലായിലും വേറിട്ട തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ്" (in ml). പാലാ നഗരസഭയ്ക്ക് 76 വയസ്; മട്ടന്നൂർ പോലെ പാലായിലും വേറിട്ട തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ്. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "Meet Diya Binu, Kerala's 1st Gen Z and India's youngest municipal chairperson". indiatoday.in
- ^ "UDF secures power in all six municipalities in Kottayam". The Hindu
- ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "Late twist in Pala: Maya Rahul demands chairperson post, Pulikkakandam family not yielding either". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "Municipal Stadium". Pala Municipality
- ^ "State School sports meet to begin tomorrow; Rally carrying torch reaches Pala"
- ^ "Stage set for Kerala schools athletics meet but field wide open". Times Of India. October 20, 2017.
- ^ "Kerala state junior athletics: Young stars get chance to make big."