At a glance

Vadakkencherry Grama Panchayat: An Overview

1. History and Formation

  • Location: Located in Alathur Taluk within the Alathur Block of Palakkad district. It comprises the villages of Vadakkencherry-1 and Vadakkencherry-2.

  • History: In the early days, this region was under the rule of the King of Palakkad (Palakkad Raja).

  • Formation: The panchayat officially came into existence on April 21, 1960. It was formed by merging the then-existing Vadakkencherry, Ayakkad, and Mangalam panchayats. In the elections held in 1964, Veeraraghava Iyer was elected as its first President.

2. Topography and Boundaries

  • Area: 37.88 square kilometers.

  • Topography: Based on its physical features, the land is classified into hills, slopes, and plains.

  • Bounders: * North: Kannambra, Kavasseri, and Alathur panchayats.

    • East: Vandazhi, Kizhakkencherry, Alathur, and Melarcode panchayats.

    • South: Kizhakkencherry and Kannambra panchayats.

    • West: Kannambra panchayat.

3. Agriculture and Industry

  • Main Crop: Paddy (Rice). The Mangalam Canal and 233 local ponds serve as the primary sources of surface water irrigation.

  • Traditional Industries: Pottery making, palm-leaf & basket weaving, mat weaving, fireworks manufacturing, bell-metal casting, coir production, and lime-shell processing.

  • Commercial Hubs: The Vadakkencherry hill produce market and the Mandam vegetable market are highly active commercial centers in the panchayat.

4. Social, Education, and Transportation

  • Culture & Society: The first public library in the panchayat was established at Ayakkad in 1955. People of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian faiths live here in perfect religious harmony.

  • Places of Worship: Major religious sites include the Shri Kodikkattukavu Bhagavathy Temple, Palayam Mariamman Kovil, Shri Anjumoorthy Temple, Ganapathy Temple, Hanafi Jama-Ath Mosque, Shafi Jama-Ath Mosque, Lourdes Matha Forane Church, St. Joseph Yakobite Church, and Sacred Heart Church. Festivals and feasts here are celebrated collectively by people of all communities.

  • Education: The panchayat shows significant educational advancement, housing 16 schools, 3 arts & science colleges, and 3 technical colleges across government and private sectors.

  • Transportation: * National Highway 544 (NH-544) passes directly through the panchayat.

    • The Indira Priyadarshini Bus Stand serves as the central hub for road transport.

    • The nearest railway station is Palakkad Town.