About Edathua Church in Alappuzha
The Edathua Church of Kerala has an important pride of place in the hearts of the countless pilgrims that visit it every year. This ancient Catholic Church was founded in 1810, more than two centuries ago, in the honour of St. George. The holy church attracts a lot of tourists to its doors, not only from South India, but also nationally and internationally.
The church architecture mainly borrows from Medieval European influences, which is evident in its tall pillars and gigantic arches. Everything in the church, from its construction to its conception, is majestic in appeal.
The highlight of the Church, however, is its Annual Feast Ritual which begins on April 27 and goes on up to May 7 (the Malayalam Medam month) each year. The feast is attended in large numbers from people of all beliefs and religions, and each one who comes to the Church around this time takes back an experience of matchless revelry and celebration. The afore-mentioned feast starts on the 27th of April, with a grand ceremony to hoist the Christian flag, and it culminates in a lavish spread on the 6th and 7th of May. As part of the feast ritual, the famous idol of St. George, decorated with gold ornaments and adornments, is taken out in a procession, before being brought back to the centre of the church. Pilgrims from neighbouring states form the larger part of the crowd in this feast, popularly known as “Edathua Perunnal”. These devotees are often known to scatter around the church premises, some of them even lodging in the homes of locals. The feast, thus, is a great festival of unification.
In the ten days spanning the feast celebrations at the Church many of these devotees take part even in the feat preparations and indulge in the ritualistic dipping in the holy waters of River Pamba, which is believed to cleanse their spirits.
Like the North Indian festival of Diwali, the church is brightly lit and decorated during feast time and the sky over the edifice of the church is full of sparkling fireworks. This energy is worth witnessing for all devotees and tourists visiting Alappuzha.
Edathua Church Location
Sitting pretty on the bank of the tributary of River Pamba, St. George Forane Church at Edathua is located at a distance of about 26.8 kilometres from Alappuzha district and 12 kilometres south of the Thiruvalla town. It is situated along the Alappuzha-Thiruvalla Road.
Other cities located nearby include Mutheril JN., Kayamkulam, S.L.Puram Jn.
The surrounding area around the Church is also replete with places of religious and devotional importance. Many old temples with a rich historical legacy are spread around the place, like Pandankary and Veeyapuram. Veeyapuram village also has a Muslim mosque. The three millennia-old snake temple at Mannarsala is also only a few miles from Edathua.
How to Reach
By Road: From the Alappuzha Railway station (approx. 26 Kms), hail a cab or a taxi, or hire a vehicle from an agent with or without a driver. Then, proceed South- East towards Edathua following the given directions:
Head east on Cullen Rd towards YMCA Rd. Take the 1st right onto Alappuzha-Madurai Rd/State Highway 40. (Pass by Nagarjuna (on the right in 450 m). Continue straight past General Hospital Jn (Old Medical College Jn) ontoNational Highway 47. (Pass by Petrol Bunk (on the right in 8.9 km))
Turn left onto SH 12. (Pass by Lourdes Matha Hospital (on the left in 11.4 km). Turn left onto Mariyapuram Thayankary Rd. Reach Edathua.
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport in Kochi, and Edathua is a 110 Kms drive from there. One can follow the route from NH-47 in Athani to SH -12 in Amabalapuzha to reach the Mariyapuram Thayankary Road for Edathua.
Houseboat facilities through the backwaters and river channels of this evergreen region are available from Edathua.
Church Timings: 4am to 8pm.
Prayer timings: 6am and 7am - Fridays 4pm as well; Sundays - 6am, 8am, 10 am and 4pm.
Ph: +91 477 2212234, 2215851