Chalakudy is a municipal town situated on the banks of Chalakudy River in
Thrissur District of the
Kerala State in
India. It is the base camp for travellers to
Athirappilly and
Vazhachal Falls. It lies on National Highway 47 and located about 36 km (23 mi) north of the city of
Kochi, the commercial capital city of Kerala and 30 km (19 mi) south of Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. The name "Chalakudy" is derived from the word Shalakudy, meaning a place where sacrifices are made. Chalakudy is a place of historical importance as it was the base of operations for Mysore invader Tipu Sultan during his attack on the Travancore lines.
Business
Madura Coats, Apollo Tyres, Paulson Distillery, Choice Foods, Amoeba Associates, Carborundum Limited, Eddie Current and the Sthree Shakti Paper Mills are the major industrial establishments. The Government Press has a division functioning in Chalakudy. The Peringalkuthu Hydro-electric project is about 42 KM east of Chalakudy. In the business map, Chalakudy has a notorious place being one of the largest selling outlets of Beverages Corporation.
Education
The Panampally Memorial Government College, Sacred Hearts Women’s College, Nirmala College, St. James Medical Academy Pharmacy College, Nirmala College of Information Technology, Lakshmi College of Science Technology & Management and Southern college of Engineering & Technology are the major higher educational institutions in Chalakudy. The ITI here is one of the oldest in the Kerala state.
Visitors Attraction
Chalakudy is a prime destination of tourists, especially those who love nature. The best season to visit Chalakudy is December to March and also in monsoon season. Chalakudy is blessed with scenic beauty and refreshing weather, has all the amenities of a suburb and is well connected by National Highway and Railways. It is being developed as a high demand residential area and the cost of land is shooting up. New IT park, Kinfra park @ Koratti, easiness to reach Kochi and Thrissur etc. make Chalakudy a real estate attraction. Kannambuzha Devi temple is situated some 3 km away from the Chalakkudy Railway station.
- Chalakudy River: It has one of the highest fish diversities in Kerala
- Divine Retreat Centre, Potta
- Athirappilly Water Falls
- Vazhachal Falls
- Sholayar Dam
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kodassery
- Kannanpuzha Temple
- Moonjeli Church, West Chalakudy
- Pisharikkal Bhagavathtei Temple - It is one of the 108 durgalayas
- Pranavashram (Swami Sudeep Chaithanya's Ashram)
