Wadakkancherry

Not to be confused with Vadakkencherry.

Wadakkancherry Vadakancheri-Cochin
—  Town  —
Wadakkancherry Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 10°39′34″N 76°14′58″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Thrissur
Government
• Body	Wadakkanchery Panchayat
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	680590
Telephone code	04884
Vehicle registration	KL-48
Nearest city	Trichur(Thrissur)
Lok Sabha constituency	Alathur
Civic agency	Wadakkanchery Panchayat
Climate	cool&hot (Köppen)

Wadakkanchery (വടക്കാഞ്ചേരി), is a small town in Thrissur district, Kerala. It is the Head Quarters of Thalappilly Taluk.

Geography

This town is situated on the Thrissur - Shoranur State Highway 22 and is directly connected to Kunnamkulam (another major town on National Highway 17). There is a railway station here - Managed by the Southern Railways, Wadakancheri Railway Station (also spelt Wadakanchery Railway Station).. Station Code: WKI. All major trains stops here.

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There are two places with similarly pronounced names - Wadakanchery and Vadakkenchery. Both spellings are used interchangeably. In Malayalam, this town is വടക്കാഞ്ചേരി- Wadakanchery; situated in Thrissur or Thrichur district, another place is Vadakkenchery is pronounced വടക്കഞ്ചേരി and isoin the National Highway 47 (Palakkad Dist), . There is a huge demand for last many years for making Thrissur - Perinthalmanna - Nilambur - Ooty or Bangalore as National Highway.

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Nearest Airports: Cochin International Airport (Nedumabassery airport)& Code is COK

Calicut International Airport (Code CCJ)

Culture and education

Wadakanchery is an important cultural centre. The Kerala Kalamandalam is located at Cheruthuruthy, not far from Wadakanchery. This place is home to many artistes, literary and cinema figures. Film director Bharathan, Kathakali singer, Kalamandalam Hyder Ali, film actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan, author of the Malayalam version of the "Panchatantram", Sumangala are all from Wadakkanchery. The ancient illam Aavanapparambu is near Wadakancheri.

Government Boys' High School, Government Girls' High School, St.Pius, and Clelia Barberi are the premier schools located at Wadakanchery.

Sri Vyasa NSS College, managed by the Nair Service Society, at Parlikkad is a noted educational institution near Wadakanchery. Parlikkad also hosts a major Religious congregation of Hindu bhagawatkars during December of every year.

Festivals and attractions

The Vazhaani Dam, approximately 8km from here, made entirely of mud is the major tourist attraction near Wadakanchery.

Wadakkanchery is situated in the heart of "pooram belt" - "pooram"s are the annual festivals in temples of central Kerala, mostly in and around Wadakkanchery, especially the "Uthralikkaavu" are well known for the fireworks extravaganzas during the festivals.

The "Pathinettara (eighteen and half) Kavu Vela" is famous which takes place on the first day of Kumbha masam at different temples in and around Wadakanchery.

The most famous fireworks are during the festival at Sree Rudra Mahakali (shortened to Uthrali) Kavu. This takes place in the month of February. The pomp and gaiety of this occasion is matched only by the fireworks of the Thrissur pooram or Nemmara Vallangi Vela.

Religion

Many important places of worship are also here.St. Francis Xaviers Forane Church, St. George Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Ottupara Town masjid,Jaram masjid, Sivan temple and Maari amman temple...etc. "Machad Thiruvanikavu kuthira Vela" festival also famous for its man-made horses which takes place at Thiruvanikavu Devi temple on the second Tuesday of Kumbha masam.

Uthralikkavu Temple, Wadakkancheri

The Dhanwantari temple near Erumapetty (on Kunnamkulam - Wadakkanchery road, approx 8km from Wadakkanchery) is another place of religious interest. Uthralikaavu pooram(annual festival of the temple) conducted in the month of February-March every year attracts a huge number of people around the world. The siva temple at this place is considered an archaeological monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Government and Politics

The town has some important State government offices - like the Taluk and Village offices, a Munsiff and Magistrate court each, a Joint Regional Transport Office, Two post offices, Assistant Labour Officer, Sales Tax office, State Excise office, a Police station and a Circle Inspector's office a Telephone Exchange (BSNL). The town is covered under all cellular / mobile operators (GSM and CDMA) in Kerala circle. Ottupaara bus stand is a main stop between Thrissur - Ottapalam and Thrissur-Chelakkara bus route.

Wadakkanchery assembly constituency is part of Alathur Lok Sabha constituency.

References

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