Historical Buildings in Pallippuram

Ancient churches, temples, mosques, fort and other important buildings are found in and around the Pallippuram area. This circuit includes St. Marys Jacobite Syrian Church, St. George Church, Old Building, St. Rose Church, Thirumanamkunnu Temple,Varaha Temple, Pallippuram Church, Pallippuram Fort and Mosque.

Varaha Temple: This temple established in the year 1565 AD is located at Cherai Junction. There are two tanks in the temple compound, one for elephants to bathe and the other for Poojaris. There is another tank in the front of the Temple with a Shrikovil at the center. This temple is now maintained by the Azheekal Varaha Devasom Board. It is believed to be the only temple with Rathas which are taken around the temple on rails. The famous festivals celebrated here are Car Festival during November to December and March to April and Varaha Jayanthi during April. Devotees pull the chariot around the temple accompanied by the beating of huge drums.

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church: St. Marys Jacobite Syrian Church was established in April 1802, with the permission of Sakthan Thampuran. The founder parishioners of this church were members of the ancient St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian church at North Paravur. Cherai St. Mary's church is one of the prominent parishes in the Kochi diocese. This church is popularly known as Cherai Valiyapally. The main festival of the St. Mary's Valiyapally is celebrated on January 15th. Sunday School and Office buildings are adjacent to the Church.

St. George Church: St. George Church at Cherai, popularly known as Cherai Cheriapally, was founded by a few parishioners of the nearby St. Mary's Church 'Valiyapally' on 12th October 1871. This 'Cheriapally' at Cherai comes under the diocese of Kochi.

St. Rose Church: This old church is located on the river bank of the river Pallippuram River. The school and the priests' office is close to it.

Thirumanamkunnu Temple: It is said to be one of the old temples with Devi as its presiding deity.

Sahodaran Ayyappan: Sahodaran Ayyappan was one of the outspoken followers of Narayana Guru. Sahodaran was elected to Cochin Legislative Council. He continued this role for the next 21 years. In 1946 he became minister in Panampilly's cabinet. Ayyappan was also minister in the Ikkanda Warrior ministry of 1948. Then Travancore-Cochin fusion happened. Ayyappan was minister for a brief time in the Paravoor TK ministry, but soon resigned from active politics and concentrated his energy into social and cultural activities.This place was where he spent a lot of time, devoting his activities towards social reforms.

Pallippuram Fort: The Pallippuram Fort was constructed by the Portuguese in 1507. This Fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1662. As it is situated in such an important area, the Mysore rulers tried to purchase it from the Dutch, but the English East India Company interfered and terminated that proposal.  In 1789, the ruler of Travancore made a strategic move and purchased the Pallippuram Fort along with the Kottappuram Fort.

Pallippuram Hospital and Police quarters: The hospital is a very old building functioning as a general hospital now. The police quarters along with the hospital are old buildings reminiscent of the colonial past.