Early settlements
Early settlements in the region date back to 1000 AD.Christian settlers came to the area very early, probably at the invitation of the local rulers. The first four Christian families are considered to be Tharayil (Tharayil Mappila) Koottumkal (brother of Tharayil Mappila) Erakonni (Kottarathil, Kuthivalachel) & Vayalakombil. They were engaged mainly in agriculture and trade. It is believed that Pala market was established around 1736 on the banks of Meenachil River by Christian settlers on the land allotted by Meenachil Karthas, who were the local rulers.
The first four Christian families are considered to be OTTALANAKAL
Religious places
Pala Diocese
The Syrian Christians of Pala owe their faith to St Thomas the Apostle, one of the disciples ofJesus Christ, who came down to Kerala in 52 AD. Though Pala Diocese is only half a century old (July 25, 1950), some of the Churches trace their origin to earlier centuries.
Pope Pius XII by the Bull "Quo Ecclesiarim" issued on July 25, 1950, bifurcated the Diocese ofChanganacherry, and out of the territory covered by the Foranes of Palai, Muttuchira (including the present Kothanalloor Forone), Kuravilangad, Anakkallu (Bharananganam-including the present Forane of Aruvithura) and Ramapuram erected the Diocese of Palai as suffragan of theArchdiocese of Ernakulam.
On August 22, 1956 when the Holy See by the Apostolic Constitution "Regnum Coelorum" raised the Diocese of Changanacherry to the status of an Archdiocese and constituted the new Ecclesiastical Province of Changanacherry, the Diocese of Palai became one of its suffragans. Pala Diocese comprises Meenachil Taluk, and a few villages of Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulamdistricts.
Pala had contacts with other continents from time immemorial. In 1663, an Armenian is said to have influenced the construction of the Lalam Old Church (St Mary's Church). Before Pala Church (now a cathedral) was built in 1002, Aruvithura used to be the Parish. It is believed that St. Thomastraveled through the then navigable Meenachil river and reached Aruvithura and Cherpunkal. Pala has many other ancient churches that are considered as pilgrim centers.
Temples
There are 11 temples in Pala Municipality. Among them Lalam Mahadeva Temple is among the most famous and is called Dakshina Kasi (Kasi of South). Lalam Mahadeva Temple is situated at the heart of Pala town on the bank of Lalam River. It is believed that this is the oldest temple in Meenachil Taluk and was once the only temple in the 58 Karas or Villages of Meenachil Taluk.Thiruvathira festival in Dhanu (December - January) is the main festival of this temple. Ambalppurathukavu Bhagavthy Temple is situated near to Lalam temple.
Kadappattor Mahadeva Temple which is situated on the bank of Meenachil River is the most famous Hindu temple in this region. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Kadappattoor temple every year, on their way to Sabarimala.
Kizhathadiyoor Puthiyakavu Devi Temple, Chembittambalam Kizhathadiyoor Thrukkayil Mahadeva Temple, Murikkumpuzha Devi Temple, Idayattu Bala Ganapathy Temple, Narasimha Swami Temple, Vellappattu Sree Vana Durga Bhagavathy Temple (the only temple in Kottayam district where Jeevatha ezhunnallathu is performed), Thattarakathu Bhagavathy Temple, Ooraasala Subrahmanya Swami Temple and Anakkulangara Bhagavathy Temple,Kochidappady Sree Shanmugha swami Temple are the other temples situated within the boundaries of Pala Municipality.
Cheruthil Valuthu (big among small) Puliyannoor Mahadeva temple is also a famous temple near to Pala. Both these temples are located in Mutholi Panchayath. Meenachil vadakke kavu is a famous Bhadrakaaly temple near Pala. "Mandalakala pooja (41days)" is very famous with Kalamezhuthu & Kalam karikkal. Meenachil Dharmasastha Temple, Idayattu Bala Ganapathy Temple, Poovarany Mahadeva Temple, Valavoor Mahadeva Temple, Idanadu Bhagavathy Temple, Anthinadu Mahadeva Temple, Vezhanganam Mahadeva Temple, Bharanaganam Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Alanadu Sree Krishna Swami Temple, Ponad Bhagavathy Temple and Sree Kurumbakkavu Devi Temple are the other important temples of this region.
Churches
Kurishupalli, a shrine located at the centre of the Pala town, acts as the landmark of the town. St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala and St. Mary's Church, Lalam are two of the main Christian churches in Pala. An Armenian might have played an important role in the establishment of the Lalam Church in 1663.
A famous pilgrim centre nearby is the Alphonsa Church at Bharananganam, where the mortal remains of St. Alphonsa of India are kept. Adjacent to it is St. Mary's Church of Bharananganam which was founded in 1004. St. George's Church, Aruvithura, near Erattupetta, is also a famous pilgrim centre. Another Christian pilgrim centre near Pala is the St. Augustine's Church atRamapuram, where the mortal remains of the Blessed Augustine Kunjachan are kept. Monastery of Mutholy was founded by Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Elias.
Trade links
Pala had trade links Tamil Nadu, and even countries in the Middle East. A jungle route to Gudalloor in Tamil Nadu, through the dense forests in the High Ranges, is believed to have brought a significant number of Vellalasand Chettiars during the Middle Ages. During early 1900s Pala became famous for its spice market. A particular brand of pepper called "Pala Pepper" was quoted in the London market in the early 1900s. Once rubber took a firm root in Central Kerala, Pala became a rubber market.
A road linking Athirampuzha to Erattupetta through Pala was established in 1868. Pala was linked toThodupuzha by road in 1893. Motor vehicles appeared in Pala in the early 1900s. The first bus service was started in 1908 by a public company by name Meenachil Motor Association which was the 3rd registered company in Travancore.
Pala became a Municipality in 1949.
Meenachil River
The Meenachil River flows through the taluks of Meenachil, Vaikom and Kottayam. It is formed by several streams originating from the Western Ghats in Idukki district. At Erattupeetta, Poonjar River also joins it, takes a sharp turn and flows towards the west. At Kondur, it is joined by the Chittar and at Lalam it receives the Payuapparathodu and flows in a south- west direction till it reaches Kottayam. Here, it branches into several streams before emptying into the Vembanad Lake. The important towns in the basin are Pala, Poonjar, Ettumanoor and Kottayam.
Palai Central Bank
Pala dominated the banking and financial scene of Kerala for over three decades (1927–60) through Palai Central Bank. Started in 1927, it grew up to become the largest business enterprise of Kerala, and the 17th largest among the 94 scheduled commercial banks in India. The daring initiatives of this small-town-bank included the opening of a branch in India's new capital New Delhi in 1932, the first Bank to open a branch in the newly built city. During the 3-decade period of its dominant presence, the Bank played a major role in the growth of Pala town too, including using its influence to bring the Municipality, Catholic Diocese, St Thomas College and other institutions to Pala, beating the claims of some of the other bigger and older towns nearby.
The Bank was liquidated in 1960 on the orders of Kerala High Court in response to a petition made by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In the published history of RBI a 27-page appendix (Appendix C: The Palai Central Bank) extensively covers the history of the Bank. In it Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is quoted as saying that RBI made a "mistake" in closing down the Palai Central Bank
Source : Wikipedia
