Town in Kerala, India
| Vazhakulam Pineapple City | |
|---|---|
| town | |
 Pineapple and Rubber cultivations in Vazhakulam | |
  VazhakulamLocation in KeralaShow map of Kerala VazhakulamLocation in IndiaShow map of India | |
| Coordinates: 9°56′50″N 76°38′08″E / 9.94736°N 76.63545°E / 9.94736; 76.63545 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Ernakulam |
| Government | |
| • Body | Manjalloor Panchayath |
| Elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 686670 |
| Telephone code | 0485 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-17 |
| Nearest city | Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Kothamangalam |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Idukki |
| Civic agency | Manjalloor Panchayath |
Vazhakulam is a village in Muvattupuzha Taluk is in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. This town is known as Pineapple City due to its large-scale pineapple farms.
Another village named Vazhakulam, is located in Aluva.
Economy
The town is the largest Asian pineapple market. Kerala Agricultural University established a Pineapple Research Station at Vazhakulam in 1995. The pineapples cultivated there have achieved a geographic indication. Vazhakulam pineapples are marketed as GI tagged products. Rice used to be the main crop of this area in the 1960s and 1970s, but the advent of rubber cultivation turned many rice fields and estates into rubber plantations.
Demographics
The population of this area largely consists of Syrian Catholic Christians.
Many Hindu families have made this place their home.(?)
Educational institutions
- Viswajyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Vazhakulam
- St. George College, Vazhakulam
- Chavara International Academy, Vazhakulam
- Carmel CMI Public School, Vazhakulam
- Infant Jesus High School, Vazhakulam
- St. Little Theresas High School, Vazhakulam
- St. George's TTI, Vazhakulam
- St. Reetha's L.P. School, Theakkumala
- St. Thomas School, Vengachuvadu
- The Bethlehem International Vazhakulam
- Vimalamatha High School Kadalikkad
- St. Sebastian's HS, Memadangu
- Govt. L P School, Neerampuzha
- Govt. L P School, Maniyantharam
Hospitals
- St. George's Hospital Vazhakulam
- Govt. Hospital Vazhakulam
Churches
- St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church
- Carmel Monastery
- Holy Family Church Bethleham
- Assemblies of God Church
- India Pentecostal Church of God
- Zion Gospel Church & Ministries
- St Sebastians church,Arikuzha
Temple
Among the famous Hindu temples in this area are the Lord Subramanya temple, Vallikkada Bhagavathi temple and Pudussery Kalari Bhagavathi temple. Other nearby temples include Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Mangalloor and Bhagavathi Temple in Kalloorkad.
Banks
- Canara Bank
- Federal Bank
- State Bank Of India
- South Indian Bank
- Kerala Gramin Bank
- Service Co-operative bank No:751
Sports
- Volleyball - Vazhakulam has a great volleyball culture. This town contributed many good players to the Indian volleyball. All the volleyball interests in this town is related to St. George's Volley Ball Club.
- Basketball - Carmel cmi public school indoor stadium provides basketball facilities and nourishing the young talents.
Geography
Vazhakulam lies east of the town of Muvattupuzha on the Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha road. Nearby towns include:
- Kavana
- Memadangu
- Kadalikkad
- Madakkathanam
- Manjalloor
- Kalloorkad
- Nadukkara
- Avoly
- Anikkad -Anicadu
- Vadakode
- Thekkummala
- Bethlehem
- Mullappuzhachal
Notables
- K. M. George, the founder of the Kerala Congress
See also
References
- "Kerala pineapple farmers look to Sri Lanka - The Hindu". thehindu.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- "Chavara International Academy". chavarainternational.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- "Carmel Public School, Vazhakulam". carmelpublicschool.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- *Pallikkapparambu siva temple