Ettumanoor
Ettumanoor is a major town and Municipality in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India, located 9.5 kilometers north-east of Kottayam city, 65 km from Cochin and 73 km from Cochin International Airport. The state Highway No.1 popularly known as the Main Central (MC) Road, passes through Ettumanoor, and is a major connecting link between Palai and beyond to the Western Ghats and to the commercial capital of Kerala - Kochi. Ettumanoor is en route to the tourist destinations at Wagamon and Poonjar.
Education
Mahatma Gandhi University is situated 6.7 km southwest of the town. An industrial training institute called ITI, a Government Boys' H.S., SFS Public Schooland Junior College, Girls' model High School and a Teachers Training School and lower primary school are the schools. Colleges in Ettumanoor affiliated to M G University are Mangalam College of Engineering, Mangalam BEd College, and Ettumanoorappan College.
Culture and people
The population is diverse.Owing to the limited availability of land, new generation is mainly employed in professional fields like Technology/ medical or trading. People of Ettumanoor are generally calm and quiet and the place is known for its communal harmony. Ettumanoor is one of the few places where pure Malayalam(Written Malayam)is spoken without slang of different regions. In 1981 when there was a theft in the temple, the catholic youth conducted a dharna demanding for quick inquiry. People are well educated as evident from the qualification of their representatives. As long as the resident politicians remain or become more honest, there is tremendous scope for development both in terms of tourism and industrial development for this bustling town.
Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple
The ancient Siva Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple here has brought glory and fame to the place. Myths have it that the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa had worshipped at this temple. The name of the place had its origin from the word 'manoor', which means the home of deer.
The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). There are Dravidian mural paintings on the walls inside and outside of the main entrance. The fresco of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the finest Wall painting in India. There is a golden flag staff inside the temple. On the top of it is the idol of a bull surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree. The temple roofs are covered with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops. Bhagavati, Sastha, Ganapathy and Yakshi are installed here as subordinate deities. It is believed that the great philosopher, Sankaracharya wrote the 'Soundaraya Lahari' staying in the temple.
Other religious places
Christuraj church (Christ the King Church) is one of the famous churches in Kottayam district. This church is tall and beautiful; the church being renovated recently stands in the heart of the town. Then St. George Orthodox church, Koduvathanam Church etc. Another famous pilgrim center,Athirampuzha St. Mary's church, is just 2 km from this place. The fireworks on occasion of Athirampuzha Thirunal Festival on the night of 24 January used attract thousands of people every year, even from neighbouring districts. There are few mosques also. Main among them are Ettumanoor Town Juma Masjid, run by Nooraniya family, Parakandam al Madeena Juma Masjid and Parolickal Muhiyudheen Juma Masjid, run by Ettumanoor, and Athirampuzha Muslim Jamaath.
