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Kothamangalam is a Municipality in the eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is around 14 km northeast of the town of Muvattupuzha and 55 km north east of Kochi city. The town is in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. The highway NH-49 Ernakulam – Madurai – Rameswaram passes through Kothamangalam. The town serves as the headquarters of a taluk and a municipality of the same name. Kothamangalam is known as a trading center for spices and forest products. It is also famous for its ancient Syrian Christian churches. ==History== According to the historical evidence, Kothamangalam was a place of prominence during the rule of the First Chera Dynasty, the dynasty that ruled Kothamangalam from around 300 BC to the first millennium. Cheras were also known as Kothai. The capital of Chera Kingdom was Karur. This has led some historians like Professor Joseph Mundasseri etc. to claim that Thrikkariyoor, a village 3 km north of Kothamangalam could have been the ancient Karur, the capital of Cheras. This claim has not found wide support. Several historians believe Karur (or 'Vanchi' or 'Muziris') was near the present-day Pattanam (North Paravur). It is evident from the Sangam literature of the period and the archeological finds from the area prove that the place had, indeed, been an important town during the rule of Chera kingdom. The description of some places mentioned in Silappatikaram fits the description of places adjoining Kothamangalam. The Siva temple at Thrikkariyoor dates back to the early centuries of first millennium. Thrikkariyoor also has one of the earliest Brahmin settlements in Kerala. Chelamalai, near Bhoothathankettu in Kothamangalam, is regarded by some as the Summer Palace of Cheras. Stone ruins were found there and Nanangadis (Burial urns) have been excavated from the place. Egyptian coins of the 7th and 8th centuries were recovered from places near Kothamangalam in 1962. The ancient trade route to Madhurai was also through Kothamangalam. The popularity of Kothamangalam during the past is evident from the old Malayalam saying, 'Ethappaa Kothamangalam?' which means 'Where is Kothamangalam?' — used in dialogues to indicate that the person to whom this is asked is so ignorant that he does not know where Kothamangalam is. Marth Mariam Church (popularly called 'Valiyapally') belonging to the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church was established during fourth century AD by a few Syrian families. A division happened among the members of the church and this divided group established one cross near the church. Later, these eighteen families constructed a church like the parent church in the name of St. Thomas. The Marthoman CheriyaPally was built during AD 1455 by some members of Marth Mariam Church. This church is the resting place of Catholicos Baselios Yeldo, a saint of the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church. The church is a very popular Christian pilgrimage centre in Kerala. Later, the importance of Kothamangalam dwindled. Kothamangalam was first under the rule of "Karthakkanmar" related to Vemopolinadu royalty and laterTravancore Kingdom until India became independent. After Indian Independence, from 1949 to 1956, Kothamangalam was under Muvattupuzha taluk which was a part of the Kottayam district in Travancore-Cochin state. In 1956, when Kerala state was formed, Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha remained as a part of Kottayam district till 1958. Kothamangalam taluk was created from Muvattupuzha taluk on 26 January 1972. It was composed of Kothamangalam, Keerampara, Malippara, Kottapady, Pindimana, Nellikuzhi, Pothanicad, Varappetty, Kadavoor and Pallarimanagalam villages. Later Neriamangalam and Thrikkariyoor were added to the taluk in 1981 and Kuttampuzha in 1997 also. Kothamangalam became a municipality in 1978. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kothamangalam」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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