Kumbalam
Village is a cluster of tiny islands with sylvan surroundings, comprising
Kumbalam, Panangad (including Matavana and Udayathumvathal,) Cheppanam and
Chathamma. Kumbalam is situated at 9.916667 degree North
latitude and at 76.3 degree East longitude. These Islands are popping in and out of the Vembanad ‘Kayal,’ Lake, and the shores of which
are washed by the gentle waves of the Vembanad Backwaters. In olden times,
Kumbalam desom was a seat of higher learning in the Vedas, a significant
military base and a military training centre, and a hub for trade. It is
situated on the Muzuris-Kollam (Kodungallur-Quilon) inland-navigation route
through which Megasthenese (B.C. 98), Pliny (A.D.23-79,) Ptolomy-2
(A.D.126-161,) Marco Polo (A.D.1290-93) and other foreign travelers cruised
this region, and making this location geographically significant. It is a
potential destination for tourists. Kumbalam was the prominent among the
ancient Vendanat asylums and was one of the most significant among the
sixty-four ‘Gramams’, Brahmin
settlements in Chera Empire. At present, it
is one of the major developing sub-urban islands situated six kilometers
South-west of Ernakulam in the City of Cochin. There are a lot of similar
Islands on that stretch, further to the east as well as to the west, south and
north. It is also a significant landmark in the National Highway and Southern
Railway maps. The four lined National Highway - 66/544, (old NH-47
Salem-Kanyakumari 640 KM,) and service roads on either side pass through the
north-western side of Panangad Island and south-eastern portion of Kumbalam
Island. The Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram railway line via, Alleppy also passes
through the Kumbalam Island. Kumbalam
has a major railway station too. The Islanders occupying the southern areas,
who previously enjoyed the stillness of night, have now started to adjust to
the demented shrieking of sirens from trains moved fast tearing the
countryside and the hum of heavy traffic
on National Highway-66/544 that lulls them to sleep. Kochi Water Metro Project,
a subsidiary Kochi Metro Rail Project,hais envisaged water metro services to
facilitate transport facilities to tourists and commuters from Vytttila Hub
hetty to nearby Islands like Kumbalam and from there to Paravur via Fort-cochin
and another one to the High Court Jetty. One major metro boat jetty is being
built at Kumbalam north, which would, definitely, ease the road traffic
congestions and avert accidents at major junctions in the city of Cochin.
Kumbalam, a sub-urban island, and part and
parcel of the agglomeration of Greater
Cochin Development Authority (G.C.D.A.,) situates on the south-western side not far from the border of the Corporation of
Cochin. Panangad Island situates on the south-eastern side of Kumbalam and the
other two Islands, Cheppanam and Chathamma are sheltered islands placed at a
stretch further east.
Kumbalam Village was a part of the erstwhile
Chera Empire. In the beginning of 12th century Kumbalam became a
part of the erstwhile princely State of Cochin. In 1947 it becam a part of
Union of India. Later, on July 1, 1949, Kochi merged with the princely State of
Travancore and was renamed as Travancore-Cochin (or “Thiru-Kochi” in Malayalam.) Subsequently, both Travancore-Cochin
and the former district of Madras Presidency, namely Malabar joined together to
form what is the present Kerala State on November 1, 1956, which is the domain
of the ‘Malayalis’ in the Union of
India.
Kumbalam, the main Island, is a narrow
strip of land. It is about four kilo-meters in length and an average of about
one kilo-meter in width. It is one of the major developing Islands of Kumbalam
Village. “Ramada Resorts”, a five star Resort, has erected their edifice on the
waterfront at the southern-tip of the Kumbalam Island. Its landscape and the
view across are breathtaking. “The Choice Foundation” too has opened their head
office in the adjoining waterfront with sprawling lawns and an infinity pool.
Our virgin island is now a prime area for big time investors. The islands
comprising Kumbalam Village are Kumbalam (literally meaning an island with a
pot-belly); Panangad (a land afforested with ‘Choonda’ palms); Cheppanam (originally a sheltered island
afforested with red mangrove, Red ‘Kandal’,
Rhizophora applicata or mucronata;) and Chathamma (a land of
demons or a land where you can see a variety of water birds). Panangad situates
on the South-east of Kumbalam. Cheppanam and Chathamma are smaller sheltered
Islands placed at a stretch further east. Kerala University of Fisheries and
Ocean Studies (KUFOS) situates in the
north-western area of Panangad Island abutting National Highway-66/544. A few
housing projects have come up in Panangad Island.
BOUNDARIES:
Kumbalam, a cluster of Islands, is bound by the Vembanad ‘Kayal’, Lake. Nettoor Island under Maradu Municipality is placed on
the north. Thevara and Konthuruthy Islands within the limits of Corporation of
Kochi are positioned on the north-west and north. Willington Island situates
further on the north-west. Vembanad Backwaters lies in between Kumbalam Islands
(Cheppanam & Chathamma) and Udayamperoor Panchayath which is located on the
east. Aroor in Alleppy District, and Edacochi and Palluruthy Islands under
Corporation of Kochi are sited on south-west and west respectively and this
stretch is separated by sprawling Vembanad Backwaters. Perumbalam and Arookutty
Islands comprised in Alleppy District situates further south and beyond the
vastness of Vembanad Backwaters. It
is the southern gateway to the commercial City of Cochin for people coming from
Alleppy and other southern districts of Kerala State.
Excerpts from
josephjthatamkeril@gmail.com
