Cherpulassery

Cherpulassery (also known by its former name Cherpulacherry) is a town and municipality in the Palakkad district, of Kerala, India. Cherpulassery is often called the Sabarimala of Malabar as the famous Ayyappankavu temple is located here. The Puthanalakkal Bhagavathi temple and the Kalavela and Pooram associated with it is one of the largest festivals in the region. The town is located about 43 km west of the district headquarters at Palakkad on State Highway 53.

History
Cherpulassery (Cher- east side of pulasseri) was the seat of Nedungethirppad, the chief of Nedunganad, one of the principalities mentioned in the Chera inscriptions. The Nedunganad Swaroopam dynasty, held sway over the present-day Pattambi and Ottapalam Taluks till it was first conquered by Valluvanad in the early parts of 15th century, and immediately afterwards by the Zamorin of Calicut. The Zamorin appointed his local chieftain at Tharakkal Variyam to rule the area. The Nedunganad Taluk was merged into Walluvanad Taluk in 1860 as a revenue division of Malabar District during British regime, and later became part of Ottapalam taluk.

Demographics
India census, Cherpulassery had a population of 41,267 with 19,808 males and 21,459 females.

Transport
Cherpulassery is well connected by bus with the nearby towns of Ottapalam, Pattambi, Shornur and Perinthalmanna, all of which are at a distance of 17 kms from here. There are also regular bus services to Mannarkkad and Palakkad.

The nearest major railway station is the Shoranur junction railway station. Other stations include Ottapalam and Pattambi ; all of which are at equal distances from Cherpulassery.

Politics
Cherpulassery comes under the Shornur assembly constituency and the Palakkad Loksabha constituency.

Colleges

 * Cherpulassery College of Science & Technology for Women
 * Ideal Campus of Education
 * Malabar Polytechnic College
 * Kerala Medical College
 * MES College, Cherpulassery

Notable people

 * Appunni Tharakan : Kathakali Aniyara (behind the curtain) artist
 * Kalamandalam Kuttan Asan