Erattupetta

The "Eraaru" part in all the variation of the names arose from the geographical location, where the two rivers (aru) merge as a single one. Erattupetta is situated in the foothills of High Ranges. 'Peta' means town in Dravidian languages. Earlier it was known as 'Erapoli' or 'Erapuzha'. It was the commercial capital of the Poonjar principality until 1949.

In the past, hill produce from the Cardamom hills were brought down by the Muthuvans for trade. Erattupetta is a famous trading center for spices, rubber, arecanut and other agricultural products. Wagamon, a Hill Station, lies some 22 km east of Erattupetta . Erattupetta has a good number of expatriate population living in Gulf countries, especially in United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

As of 2001 India census, Erattupetta had a population of 29,675. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Erattupetta has an average literacy rate of 90%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 76%. In Erattupetta, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

• St.George College Aruvithura
• MES College Erattupetta
• Government Muslim LP School, Nadackal post
• PMSAPTM LP School, Kaduvamoozhy
• MMMUM UP School,Nadackal post
• Thanmiya Islamic School, Nadackal post
• St. Mary’s LP School, Aruvithura
• Al-Fitra Islamic School
• Guidance Public School, Poonjar,
• Al-manar Senior Secondary School, Vattakkayam,
• Government Higher Secondary School, Thekkekkara,
• St. George Higher Secondary School, Aruvithura
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• Muslim Girls Higher Secondary School, Nadackal,
• University College of Teacher Education, Thekkekkara,
• Georgian College, Aruvithura
• St. Alphonsa Public School & Junior College, Aruvithura

St. George Forane Church, popularly known as Aruvithura palli, is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in the region. This church is believed to be the oldest Christian centre in eastern Kerala, and is considered to be the mother church of the ancient Syrian Christian community of both the Meenachil and the Kanjirapally Taluks. The church is believed to be founded in by Saint Thomas and later it was named martha mariyam church. It is commonly believed that in the 13th century, a group of Christians, who had to flee from Nilackal to save themselves from the hands of enemies, brought the statue of St. George from Nilackal and placed it in Aruvithura Church for veneration. From that time onwards, Aruvithura Church came to be known on behalf of St George. There is also a popular belief that the St. George's Church was established by Saint Thomas the apostle himself. The annual festival of St George church is celebrated during April 15 – May 1 every year.

St george Church is one of the two oldest churches in Pala Diocese. Traditionally it is believed that the Catholic Church at Aruvithura was established in AD 151. It is assumed that a group of Christians who were baptised by St. Thomas lived here. All the major churches in Pala and Kanjirapally Dioceses have their cultural and spiritual inheritance from St George Church. Pala, Kanjirapally, Bharananganam, Plassanal, Poonjar, Thidanad etc came under St George forane Aruvithura Church.

Going through history it is clear that the oldest churches were in the name of Martha Mariam. st george Church also was in the name of Martha Mariam until the 13th century. The statue of St Mary placed at the centre of the main altar is a clear proof of this fact. During the 13th century, a group of Christians , who had to elope from Nilackal to save themselves from the hands of enemies, brought the statue of St George from Nilackal and placed it in st george Church for veneration. From that time onwards st george Church came to be known on behalf of St George.

• Angalamman Temple
• Angalamman Koil is located in the heart of Erattupetta.
• Nadackal Bhagavathi Temple
• Nadackal Sree Bhagwathi Temple has the deity of Bhadrakali. The idol is a Kannady Bimbam.
• Nadackal Kavu

Over 60 mosques are situated in Erattupetta.

• Ninar Palli Juma Masjid
• Muhyidheen Juma Masjid
• Puthenpalli Juma Masjid

Ayyampara Rock

Erattupetta can be accessed easily from north Kerala via the Angamaly-Muvattupuzha-Thodupuzha-Muttom route. It is well connected to Tamil Nadu via Kottayam-Kumali (K K) Road to Madurai through the nearest town Mundakkayam via Parathanam, which is 27 kilometres from Erattupetta.

It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 feet).

• The K.S.R.T.C Bus Stand is situated in Erattupetta, which was one of the most good dipos among Kerala

• Tiruvananthapuram - Kilimanoor - Kottarakkara - Pathanamthitta - Ranni - Erumeli - Kanjirappally - Erattupetta164 km
• Kottayam - Ettumanoor - Pala - Erattupetta - Erattupetta 39 km
• Kochi/Cochin - Thrippunithura - Piravom - Elanji - Uzhavoor - Pala - Erattupetta 78 km
• Thrissur/Trichur-Chalakudy - Angamaly - Perumbavoor - Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha - Erattupetta 130 km
• Kozhikode - Kuttippuram - Thrissur - Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha - Erattupetta 255 km
• Cochin International Airport - Kalady - Perumbavoor - Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha - Erattupetta 84 km
• Mundakkayam- Parathanam - Poonjar - Panachikappara - Erattupetta 27 km

Erattupetta is a municipality. The current municipal chairperson is Smt. Suhara Abdul Khader.

Erattupetta comes under the Pathanamthitta loksabha constituency and the Poonjar assembly constituency. Erattupetta is represented in the Loksabha by Sri Anto Antony and in the state assembly by Sri Sebastian Kulathunkal.

• https://erattupettamunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in/en/
• http://lsgkerala.in/erattupettapanchayat/