Muvattupuzha is a prominent old town in the midlands directly to the east of Kochi in Ernakulam district, Kerala. It is situated at around 36 km (22 mi) from downtown Kochi. The town is a growing urban centre in central Kerala.[1] The town is also popular as the starting point of Muvattupuzhayar (Muvattupuzha river) which happens by the merging of three famous rivers – namely Thodupuzhayar (Thodupuzha river), Kaliyar (Kali river) and Kothayar (Kothamangalam river) – to form Muvattupuzhayaar. Thus, this Thriveni Sangamam or confluence of three rivers is called Muvattupuzha.

Muvattupuzha is a municipality in the eastern side of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on the southern side and Idukki district on the eastern side approximately 20 km (12 mi) from the town. Muvattupuzha lies on the intersection between M C Road and National Highway 49, about 42 km (26 mi) from the district capital Ernakulam. Muvattupuzha is located 20 km (12 mi) from Thodupuzha, 17 km (11 mi) from Koothattukulam and 5 km (3.1 mi) away from Arakuzha. It is the second biggest commercial center of the district and one of the biggest in the central part of the state.There are 2 Major Malls in this Town. Canton Mall & Grand central Mall. There is also many popular supermarket brands like Reliance Fresh, Bismi hypermarket, Sulabha Supermarket etc. Muvattupuzha is one of the major Automotive sales & services Hub in Kerala.

The town is named after the Muvattupuzha river which flows through it. The name is made up of three Malayalam words: Moonnu, which stands for three; aaru, small river; and puzha, which also means river. Aaru is a word that is usually used for rivers in the southern half of Kerala, while the term puzha is used in the northern parts. The three rivers in this case are the Kothamangalam river or Kothayaar, Kaliyar and Thodupuzhayar, which merge to form a single river called Muvattupuzhayar. This place is called Thriveni Sangamam in Malayalam which means the point of confluence of three rivers.

In English both spellings viz. Muvattupuzha and Moovattupuzha are interchangeably used. Etymologically Moovattupuzha, is the correct spelling how ever commoners widely use the spelling Muvattupuzha and is better accepted.
History
Muvattupuzha was part of the Vadakkumkoor Kingdom until it was captured by the Travancore Kingdom. Old documents show that parts of the lands of Muvattupuzha belonged to Edappally Swaroopam, but were later transferred to Manas' (Brahmin Families).

After Indian Independence, from 1949 to 1956, Muvattupuzha was a part of the Kottayam district in Travancore-Cochin state. In 1956, when Kerala state was formed, Muvattupuzha remained as a part of Kottayam district until 1958, when Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958. Muvattupuzha, as a village union, came under the control of a council of three members nominated by the Government. V. P. Govindan Nair was the first president of the village union. By 1953, Muvattupuzha was declared a Panchayat. Kunnappillil Varkey Vaidyan was the first president of the elected Panchayat Committee. Muvattupuzha was raised to the status of a Municipality in the year 1958. N. Parameshwaran Nair became the first Municipal Chairman. Muvattupuzha made history as the first Municipality where the Communist Party came to power in a general election.

N. P. Varghese was the first elected M.L.A. from Muvattupuzha Assembly Constituency. He defeated Manjunatha Prabhu of Communist party.[6] Later, K. M. George, founder of Kerala Congress represented Muvattupuzha. The first M.P. of Muvattupuzha (Lok Sabha constituency) was George Thomas Kottukapally. Of all the Municipal Chairmen of the town, P. P. Esthose deserves special mention. He was simultaneously an MLA and the Municipal Chairman of Muvattupuzha. He got state-level recognition as the Chairman of Chamber of Chairmen. In its entire history, he is the only Communist member elected to the Parliament from the constituency. The first Block Panchayath President of Muvattupuzha was Adv.Shyson P Manguzha (Kerala Congress) in 1995 From Arakuzha block panchayth division.

St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus Christ who introduced Christianity to India, is believed to have visited this region. The Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Arakuzha has a recorded history of over 1000 years, making it one of the oldest Syrian churches in Kerala. It is known for its paintings and sculptures. Muvattupuzha was also known as Arakuzha Pakuthi (meaning half of Arakuzha).

Religion

Kavumpady Road in the heart of the town contains major Agraharam of Kerala Iyers. Konkanis are also in lesser numbers. Hindus are majority in the region with castes like Nair, Ezhava, Namboodiri, and Pulayar present around the Taluka. Syrian Christians include a majority of Syro-Malabar Catholics and Jacobites. There are Orthodox, Syro-Malankara Catholics, Marthomites and Evangelicals also. Muvattupuzha is the seat of Muvattupuzha diocese of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church and Kandanad East diocese of Orthodox. There is a small yet sizeable Latin Catholic community also in Muvattupuzha whose church is established in 1925, situated in Vazhappilly.

Mappila Muslims make up most of the Muslim population. Hanafi sect called Thulukkar are concentrated around Pettah, near Post office Junction. Muslims include Sunni, Ahmediyya.

Geography

The town and western parts of the region are mainly plains and is culturally similar to Ernakulam whereas the eastern parts are mainly highlands and differ from the western parts as most of the region are agricultural areas. Essentially, the regions of Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam were called sub-high range or Keezhmalanad of erstwhile Vadakkumkoor Kingdom indicating these as lands with fertile soils deposited by Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers over a period of time due to floodings of the banks. While, Muvattupuzha and nearby areas are less hilly and fertile. The altitude is much lesser and the hilly region is the Kadalikkad-Meenkunnam-Pampakkuda curved region. Muvattupuzha, thus have vast flat lands and paddy fields spread even up to 30 km (19 mi) to the east till Vannappuram. The town is 20 m (66 ft) above mean sea level. 

The term sub-highranges or "low ranges" is a subtle term used to indicate the towns of Thodupuzha and Palai. In fact, the low ranges towns lying in the foothills of Western ghats all along the SH 8 (Punaloor-Muvattupuzha road) meet the main interjunction at Muvattupuzha, which is the most strategically connected and accessible place in central Kerala. A total of 9 important roads meets here connecting to all directions.

Muvattupuzha river

The Muvattupuzha river which starts in the Idukki highranges and flows through Muvattupuzha town runs for 121 km (75 mi) and enters the Kottayam district. The major source of water is the Thodupuzha river which starts in the Idukki district and provides water throughout the year, enabled by the supply of water from Idukki arch dam. Idukki dam is the largest arch dam in India and it is used for hydro-electric power generation.[17] This is an old heritage route all along the river's path up to Vaikom. Old settlements along the path of the Muvattupuzha river evolved into towns. These include Muvattupuzha, Vaikom, Thodupuzha, Piravom, Thalayolparambu etc. 70 or 80 years back, transportation was essentially through Kettuvallam (House boats) traveling to Vettikkattumukku and Vaikom to reach Alappuzha and through Poothotta to reach Kochi. Before Kothamangalam and Thodupuzha evolved as prominent hill produce market, Muvattupuzha was the old centre owing to the connectivity through the river which was of prime importance in the yesteryears, when road transportation was in the infant stage. Muvattupuzha river is the prime victim of river pollution nowadays.[18] Green People, an environmental organization is now leading a campaign to save the Muvattupuzha river. Companies like Hindusthan Newsprint Limited functions near the banks of this river but this company was having advanced effluent treatment system but these days this system is not functioning as per expectation and the river water turns black where effluent joins river at pipeline junction.

Muvattupuzha Bridge

It was in 1914 when M Krishnan Nair was the Resident Diwan of Travancore, the first concrete bridge in Asia was built in Muvattupuzha under the supervision of the British engineer W.H. Emrald. It is said that on its inauguration, to convince the strength & stability of the bridge, Emrald and his wife sat beneath the bridge in a boat while 15 elephants walked over it. This bridge is across the Muvattupuzha river connecting Nehru Park and Kacherithazham.

There was a wooden bridge across the river through which the steam bus(കൽക്കരി വണ്ടി/കരിഗ്യാസ് വണ്ടി ) goes from Muvattupuzha to Ernakulam in olden days. The border to Cochin state was at Chungam, Mamala, near Thiruvankulam. Until the late 1970s, traffic was through the old concrete bridge. There was a traffic police outpost on either side of the bridge to control one way traffic at a time through the narrow bridge. Later in the 1970s, a new bridge was constructed and in the late 1970s the traffic diverted through this wider two way bridge.

In the olden days, there was a petrol pump in BOC junction. BOC is the short form for [Burmahshell Oil Company]. Later it is said that Jawaharlal Nehru addressed people in this junction(1958) and now called Nehru Park after his name. Muvattupuzha along with Aluva were the populated towns prior to the 1960s and hold huge importance. Petrol bunks, automobile workshops, electricity were available in Muvattupuzha much earlier than the neighbouring regions.

The town consists of two regions separated by the Muvattupuzha bridge. Kacherithazham is the main centre of the town to the east of the Muvattupuzha bridge. Nehru Park, Velloorkunnam and Vazhappilly are to the north of the bridge. TB.Junction and P.O Junction lies East of the bridge. Kavumkara is an old market which lies to the northeast of the town after the bridge on the Muvattupuzha–Kothamangalam road.

Latha bridge or Thodupuzha bridge is over the Thodupuzha river, which flows through the southeast portions of the town before merging with Muvattupuzha river near Kacherithazham. Kizhakkekara and Randaattinkara (Randarkara or Randar) lies on the eastern part of the town on the banks of the Muvattupuzha river. From the olden times, south of Marady (മാറാടി) panchayat towards Kottayam were sparsely occupied and still has old rubber plantations and a hilly terrain until Koothattukulam. Aaroor (ആറൂര്‍) (near Meenkunnam) was a forest before 5–6 decades. While every direction from Muvattupuzha is populated and almost urbanized, the southern direction towards Kottayam via M C Road is not so developed in terms of infrastructure. At a distance approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) southwards, Muvattupuzha town is covered by a curve-like hilly region of 40–60 m (130–200 ft) MSL in the whole southern side which crosses Kottayam and Piravom routes. Most of these hills are rubber plantations. KSTP's second phase project of straightening of the Muvattupuzha – Chengannur MC Road is recently inaugurated.

The old Muvattupuzha bridge built over the Muvattupuzha river was the first concrete bridge in Asia. It was completed in 1914. This serves as the connection between Nehru Park and Kacherithazham. The nearby panchayaths are mostly into agriculture, small- and medium-scale industries. Pineapple and rubber plantations are the common agrarian efforts. Match box industries, plywood factories, saw mills, paper, plastic and wood carton making are the main industries in this area. KINFRA's Small Industries Park at Nellad is 9 km (5.6 mi) from Muvattupuzha on SH41.

Nearby towns
The nearby main towns are Kothamangalam, Thodupuzha, Piravom, Koothattukulam, Perumbavoor. There are many small suburban towns close to Muvattupuzha like Kolenchery, Vazhakulam, Kalloorkkad, Pothanicad, Nellikuzhy, Nellad etc.

Culture & Tourism

Muvattupuzha has a rich cultural tradition. Margamkali and martial arts like Parichamuttukali, are popular among the Syrian Christian community. It is performed by men and women separately during Syrian Christian weddings. Shadkala Govinda Marar was born on the banks of the Muvattupuzha river at Ramamangalam. In the new era, Mela (Muvattupuzha Enlightened Lovers of Arts) – a registered fine arts society which was established in 1968 plays the lead role in the cultural life of this town. Riverside walkway in the banks of Muvattupuzha river one of the Attractive tourist spot in Muvattupuzha. Dream Land Municipal Park is the best Place to spent with family & Kids in holidays & Evening.

Personalities

Madhu Neelakandan, Award Winning Indian Cinematographer
K. M. George was a veteran politician and former Minister. He was the founder of the Kerala Congress Party and former Muvattupuzha M.L.A. His son Francis George is former M. P. of Idukki.
Johnny Nellore is a veteran politician and former M.L.A of Muvattupuzha from 1991 to 2006. 
Francis George is a Kerala Congress leader and former M.P. of Idukki. He is the son of K. M. George.
Jeethu Joseph, Award Winning Indian film director and screenwriter
Bhagath Manuel, Indian film actor.
Vishak Nair, Indian film actor
Anoop Kannan, Indian film Director & Producer
Kalabhavan Abi, Indian film actor
Shane Nigam,Indian Film Actor, son of Actor Kalabhavan Abi

Places of worship

Cental Mahallu Jama ath
Velloorkunnam Shiva Temple
Salafi Masjid Near EEC market
Puzhakkarakavu Bhagavati Temple
Chakkunnathu Sree Mahadeva Temple
Taqwa Juma Masjid,Velloorkunnam
Uravakkuzhy Jumua Masjid
Punnamattam Juma Masjid,Perumattom Bridge
Chirakkal Juma Masjid

Sree Kumara Bhajana Devaswom Temple
Pallikavu Bhagavati Temple
Mattapili Sri. Krishna Temple
Sivankunnu Temple
St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, East Vazhappilly
K.K Masjid Keecherippady
Ramakrishna Math
Muhiyudheen Masjid
Hira Juma Masjid {MIET Masjid}
Kizhakkekara Sri Dharma Sastha Temple
Mangattu Juma Masjid, Randar kara
Nettorkottu Vanadurga Devi Temple

Kadamattom Church
Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church
Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church[24]
Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church
Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, a St. Joseph's Syro-Malankara Catholic Cathedral
Christ the King Roman Latin Church

Educational Institutions

Town UP School
School of Architecture Mookambika Technical Campus, Eattappilly, Mannathur P.O 
Mookambika College of Pharmacy Eattappilly, Mannathur P.O 
Viswajyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Vazhakulam
St. Sebastines Higher Secondary School
Presidency International School
Vimalagiri International School
TTVHSS (Tharbiyath School)
Ilahia College of Engineering and Technology[29]
Ilahia College of Arts & Science, Pezhakkappilly
Ilahia School of Science and Technology, Pezhakkappilly
Govt Higher Secondary School, Pezhakkappilly
Arafa Public School, Pezhakkappilly
Arafa College of Arts & Science, Pezhakkappilly
Ilahia Public School
KMLPS LP School
Annoor Dental College, Perumatom
MES Punnamattom
Nirmala College
Nirmala College of Pharmacy
Nirmala Public School
Nirmala Higher Secondary School
St. Augustines Girls Higher Secondary School
St. Thomas Public School
H.M. Training College
HM Arts & Science College
HM Arabic College
Vimalagiri International School
Presidency Central School
SNDP Higher Secondary School
Sivakunn Higher Secondary School
Govt. Model Vocational Higher Secondary School
MIET High School
TMA Public School
Apj Abdul Kalam School Of Architecture, Kadathy
Canadian Central School
Source - Wikipedia [Mar 2021]