Thumpoly
Town in Kerala, India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thumpoly is coastal town in the Alappuzha district, India, and is a well-known Christian Marian pilgrimage shrine of Kerala. Thumpoly church - (St.Thomas church,Thumpoly) is a heritage church built by the Portuguese and was established in the year 1600 with stone and wood. Although this church is known in the name of Saint Thomas, it is the Mother of God, Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception (Amalolbhava Mata) and her feast/Festival that made Thumpoly famous. For the first time (Between 1580 and 1600) in India, the statue of the Mother of God Holy Virgin Mary was enshrined in Thumpoly Church. Even today, Thumpoly Church still following has the traditional/heritage rituals. In 1585 AD, The Confraternity-Visionary Community was established in Thumpoly Church. This church Includes under the Diocese of Alleppey - Roman Catholic Diocese of Alleppey. In the 06th century AD, a few Christians migrated to Thumpoly and established a small thatched church there called "Thomapally". Thus began the Christian tradition of Thumpoly. In AD-820 the bishops of Syria, Mar Sapor and Mar Proth, on their way from Manakodam to Kollam, visited Thumpoly, where the cross established and later the said cross came to be known as "Muthappan Kurish". Thumpoly Church, the second most important church in the Diocese of Alleppey, is expected to receive the status of the second ""Minor Basilica"" in the Diocese. Thumpoly Church is one of the largest churches built in Indo-Portuguese architecture style in Kerala. Thumpoly is located at a distance of 80 km from Kochi International Airport, 60 km from Cochin city, 6 km from Alappuzha city, 20 km from Cherthala, 25 km from kuttanadu, 34 km from Changanassery and 52 km from kayamkulam. It is connected to Alappuzha, Arthunkal, Kochi, Ernakulam by road and railway. It is located on the edge of NH 66 (formerly NH 47)& State Highway 66(SH 66). The National Highway 66 cuts through the middle of the town. The Arabian Sea is on one side, and a small lake on the other, with the beach of Chakara in Kerala. It is a natural habitat of many rare birds. Thumpoly is known for its canals, which end their course in the Arabian Sea. There are fishing villages on the beaches. The local population are also involved in coir making. Thumpoly is located on the border of Alappuzha Municipality. Thumpoly shares border with Alappuzha Municipality and Aryad Grama Panchayat. Thumpoly church is the largest landmark of Thumpoli.
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Thumpoly | |
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town | |
Coordinates: 9.5188°N 76.3158°E / 9.5188; 76.3158 | |
Country | India |
State | Kerala |
District | Alappuzha |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 688 008 |
Vehicle registration | KL-04 |
Lok Sabha constituency | Alappuzha |
Vidhan Sabha constituency | Alappuzha |