At a glance
Bharananganam Grama Panchayat – An Introduction
Bharananganam Grama Panchayat is situated in Meenachil Taluk and Lalam Block of Kottayam District, Kerala. The Panchayat was formed in 1953 and has an area of 27.04 square kilometres.
The Panchayat is bounded by Melukavu and Thalappalam Grama Panchayats on the east, Kadanad Grama Panchayat on the north, Meenachil and Teekoy Grama Panchayats on the south, and Pala Municipality and Karoor Grama Panchayat on the west. Geographically, Bharananganam falls under the midland region.
The tomb of St. Alphonsa is an important pilgrimage centre visited by devotees from all over the world. The tomb and memorials associated with St. Alphonsa, the first Indian woman to be canonized as a saint, along with Bharananganam Church, are widely revered by people across the world. This sacred pilgrimage centre has given Bharananganam a prominent place on the world map.
The Meenachil River, flowing along the southern boundary of the Panchayat, is an important water resource of the region. Kayyoor Mala and Kanjiramala are two prominent and scenic hills that add to the natural beauty of the Panchayat.
The Ettumanoor–Poonjar Road and Muvattupuzha–Punalur Road are the major roads passing through the Panchayat. Vilanguppara Bridge is an important bridge that has significantly improved transportation facilities in the Panchayat.
Bharananganam is a socially harmonious Panchayat where people live together in unity irrespective of caste or religion. The Panchayat is home to several important places of worship.
The prominent Christian places of worship include St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam; Christ the King Church, Kayyoor; Sacred Heart Church, Ullanad; St. Joseph's Church, Edappady; St. Joseph's Church, Choondacherry; and St. Michael's Church, Pravithanam.
The prominent Hindu places of worship include Kayyoor Pallammakkal Bhagavathy Temple, Thevarmala Temple, Ullanad Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Pulikkad Kavu Bhagavathy Temple, and Kodiyanichira Bhagavathy Temple.
Bharananganam thus stands as a region blessed with natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, religious harmony, important pilgrimage centres, and significant transportation and water resources.