Kallooppara

The land of Kallooppara was previously known by the name of "Perum Para Nadu" because of its large storage of rocks. Later, the region was renamed Perumbranadu.

Kallooppara was once part of Thiruvalla taluka but with the formation of the Pathanamthitta district in 1983, a new taluka was created, and Kallooppara became a part of it. It was governed by the Thekkumkoor Dynasty and Edappally Thampurans (rulers).

According to a local tradition of the Saint Thomas Christians, the four prominent Namboothiri families who were converted to Christianity by St. Thomas between AD 52 and AD 72 were Kali, Kalikavu, Pakalomattom, and Sankarapuri.^[3][4] Due to religious discrimination, these families moved to southern Kerala by the end of the 2nd century. Though the Christian devotees of Kallooppara trace their roots to the first century, history dates their arrival and settlement at Kallooppara only from the 9th century onwards. Most of them migrated from Christian centers like Kuravilangad, Vaikom, and Kadambanad, and have apical ancestors based on the lineage and known under family names such as Valiyaveedu, Melepeedika, Kallarakkal, Aalummud, Adangapurathu, Kurunthayil, Thazhepeedika, Mangalathu, Pallikkal, Chamathil, Pandakasalayil, Kanamoottil, Peralummootil, Vattasseril, Kochumannil, Karimbil, Moothedathu, Mundupalathingal and Pallimalayil.

In AD 1100, the historical region of Vemolinad underwent a division, resulting in the formation of "Vadakumkoor" and "Thekkumkoor." The Thekkumkoor kingdom encompassed areas such as Kottayam, Chenganacherry, Thiruvalla, Kanjirapally, and certain regions in the high range. Kallooppara, under the governance of the Thekkumkoor dynasty, housed a renowned Kalari (martial arts training center) known as Thekkumkoor fort, which remained prominent until recent times. This fort served as a strategic base for the Thekkumkoor army, deterring potential attacks from adversaries.^[5] Legend has it that the King had strong ties with the residents of Kallooppara and its vicinity, particularly with the influential Old Nair lord Family in Koipuram, Eraviperoor. The Nair Lord family played a significant role in advising the King and eventually facilitated the transfer of the Kallooppara sub-division to the Edappally dynasty upon the decline of the Thekkumkoor rulers. Subsequently, Kallooppara came under the rule of the Edappally dynasty, also known as Elangalloor Swaroopam, which had a unique historical background of a temple priest ascending to the royal position of a King. Historical records and traditional accounts suggest that the founder of the Edappally dynasty was a priest associated with the Thrikkakara temple. ^[6]

As per the 2011 Indian census, Kallooppara has a population of 16,837. It has a sex ratio of 1127 females per 1000 males. Children below 6 years of age constitute 7.58% of the total population. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute 11.34% and 0.30% of the population respectively. The total literacy rate was 97.81% (98.05% for males and 97.60% for females), which is higher than the state average of 94% and the national average of 74.04%.^[7]