Elavumthitta (also spelled Elavinthitta or Elavanthitta) is a town in the Pathanamthitta district of the Indian state of Kerala. It lies near the border with Alappuzha district and functions as the commercial centre for the Mezhuveli and Chenneerkara panchayats.
Geography
The town is situated at coordinates 9°16′N 76°42′E, at an elevation of approximately 46 m (151 ft) above mean sea level. The surrounding terrain is hilly, interspersed with paddy fields, rubber plantations, coconut groves, and black‑pepper crops. The area is part of the catchment of the Pamba and Achankovil rivers. The nearest major railway station is Chengannur (≈ 15 km), and the closest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (≈ 107 km).
Administration
Elavumthitta falls under the jurisdiction of Mezhuveli Panchayat and is part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency and the Aranmula Assembly constituency. The town’s PIN code is 689625 and the telephone area code is 0468.
Demographics
According to the 2001 Census, the population of Elavumthitta was 32,399. The official languages are Malayalam and English. The literacy rate reported for the area is 94.7 %. The majority of residents belong to Hindu and Christian communities.
Economy
Agriculture is the primary economic activity. Major crops include rubber, coconut, black pepper, and plantains. Dairy farming also contributes to the local economy. The town hosts an industrial unit of Akay Flavours and Aromatics Pvt. Ltd., which processes essential oils and oleoresins for export.
Transportation
Two main roads traverse Elavumthitta: the Pathanamthitta–Elavumthitta–Chengannur route (served by KSRTC bus services) and the Adoor–Elavumthitta–Kozhencherry road. These connections link the town to nearby urban centres such as Pathanamthitta (≈ 12 km), Chengannur (≈ 14.5 km), Pandalam (≈ 8 km), and Adoor (≈ 14 km).
Culture and Festivals
Elavumthitta is noted for the Aswathy festival, celebrated in the Malayalam month of Meenam, which is distinct to the locality. The town’s market, known locally as Elavumthitta Chantha, celebrated its centenary in 2009; it was founded in 1909 by the poet and social reformer Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker and originally named “Sreemoolam Rajagopalavilasam.” A regular cattle market operates on the 9th and 22nd of each Malayalam month.
Historical Significance
The first Sivagiri pilgrimage, an important religious journey associated with Sree Narayana Guru, commenced from Elavumthitta on 28 December 1932, marking the start of an annual tradition.
Climate
Elavumthitta receives abundant monsoonal rainfall, with an average annual total of approximately 2,700 mm, based on data from the nearby Pathanamthitta rain gauge.
References
- “Elavumthitta.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elavumthitta.
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