Md. Toslim Bhuiyan Prantik at 13:10, 17 March 2026

2026-03-17T13:10:25Z

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{{Short description|Town in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Changanassery
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Changanacherry
| settlement_type = [[List of urban local bodies in Kerala|Municipality]]<ref name="auto1">https://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style =
| perrow = 2/2/1
| image1 = SB College, Changanassery, Kerala, India.JPG
| image2 = ChanganasseryAnchuVilakku.jpg
| image3 = Ilamkavu Devi temple.jpg
| image4 = Changanssery Boat Jetty with Market Church.jpg
| image5 = NSS Hindu College, Changanassery.jpg
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Clockwise, top to bottom: [[St. Berchmans College]]; The Anchuviḷakku; Iḷamkavu Devi Temple; The boat jetty; [[NSS Hindu College, Changanassery|NSS Hindu College]]
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|9.466667|N|76.55|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts in India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kottayam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = Municipality
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 = Vice Chairman
| leader_name1 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 13.5
| area_metro_km2 = 43.8
| population_total = 47,485
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro = 127,987
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam]], English<ref>{{cite web |title=The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969 |url=http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/kerala/1969/1969KERALA7.pdf |access-date=10 August 2022 |archive-date=20 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420030352/http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/kerala/1969/1969KERALA7.pdf |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 11
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 686101
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0481
| registration_plate = KL 33
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Changanassery''', ({{IPA|ml|t͡ʃɐŋːɐnaːʃeːɾi|IPA}}) [[Renaming of cities in India|formerly]] '''Changanacherry''', is a [[List of urban local bodies in Kerala|municipality]]<ref name="auto1"/> in the [[Kottayam district]] of [[Kerala]], India. It is located {{convert|17|km|1|abbr=on}} south of the district headquarters in [[Kottayam]] and about {{convert|115|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the state capital [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. As per the [[2011 census of India|2011 Indian census]], Changanassery has a population of 47,485 people, and a population density of {{convert|3517|/sqkm|abbr=on}}.

Changanassery is an important market town, was historically one of the centres of administration and culture in the [[Central Division (Travancore)|Central Travancore]] region. The Changanassery market, established in AD 1805, served as the main trading point in the transport of rice, pepper, dry ginger, and piece goods between the coastal areas in the west and the mountains of the east. The "Anchu Vilakku" lamps were installed by the locals in 1905 near the boat jetty, and continues to serve as a symbol of the religious and ethnic harmony of the region.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://livelifeveryday.blogspot.com/2017/10/changanacherry-market.html | title=Changanacherry Market }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/kerala/2021/11/30/tourism-in-changanasherry-kerala-tourism.html | title=From Anchuvilakku to Vandipetta, Changanassery beckons tourists with heritage sites }}</ref> Changanassery is also famous for [[St. Berchmans College|SB College]], one of the oldest and prestigious institutions established by the [[Catholic Church]] in 1922 and for providing higher education to Travancore Region in Kerala in beginning of 20 th Century. [[St. Berchmans College|The College Tower]] of SB College, with [[Christ the King|Christ The King]] on top of it, continues to stand as symbol for wisdom and education in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Staff Reporter |date=2021-06-17 |title=Historic SB college to celebrate 100 years |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/historic-sb-college-to-celebrate-100-years/article34841306.ece/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathews |first=Stephen |date=2020-12-11 |title=ST BERCHMANS COLLEGE : CHRIST KING CAMPUS |url=https://smusings.in/2020/12/11/st-berchmans-college-christ-king-campus/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Stephen Musings |language=en}}</ref>

==Administration==
The city is governed by the Changanacherry Municipal Council.Ms Beena Joby is the chairperson of the municipality and the vice chairperson Mr Mathews George.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.changanasserymunicipality.in/council|title=Changanacherry Municipality|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092848/http://www.changanasserymunicipality.in/council|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It heads the taluk Kachery (office). It also heads the Munsiff's court and the judicial first class magistrate's court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ecourts.gov.in/Ecourt4|title=Courts in Changanacherry|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301011430/http://ecourts.gov.in/Ecourt4|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Changanacherry assembly constituency was a part of [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|title=Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
|access-date=2008-10-19
|work=Kerala
|publisher=Election Commission of India
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030085443/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|archive-date=2008-10-30
}}</ref> However, after the Delimitation Commission's Report in 2005, in order to retain [[Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mavelikkara]] Lok Sabha Constituency, Changanacherry segment in Kottayam and the neighbouring constituencies in Alappuzha and Kollam districts were put together under [[Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mavelikkara constituency]]. Sri. Kodikunnil Suresh represents Mavelikkara constituency in Parliament and Sri. Job Michael represents Changanacherry Constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly now.

==Geography and climate==
Changanassery has a [[tropical monsoon climate]]. There is significant rainfall in most months of the year. The short dry season has little effect on the overall climate. The [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]] is ''Am''. The temperature here averages {{convert|26.3|°C|disp=or}}. In a year, the average rainfall is about {{convert|2979|mm|in|0|disp=or}}.
{{Weather box|location=Changanassery|metric first=yes|single line=yes|Jan high C=31|Feb high C=32.7|Mar high C=33.4|Apr high C=32.1|May high C=30.3|Jun high C=28.4|Jul high C=28.1|Aug high C=28.1|Sep high C=28.6|Oct high C=28.9|Nov high C=29|Dec high C=29.6|Jan low C=26.3|Feb low C=27.5|Mar low C=28.4|Apr low C=27.9|May low C=27|Jun low C=25.7|Jul low C=25.3|Aug low C=25.3|Sep low C=25.6|Oct low C=25.7|Nov low C=25.7|Dec low C=25.8|rain colour = green|Jan rain mm=22|Feb rain mm=26|Mar rain mm=67|Apr rain mm=167|May rain mm=346|Jun rain mm=530|Jul rain mm=497|Aug rain mm=401|Sep rain mm=305|Oct rain mm=324|Nov rain mm=222|Dec rain mm=72|source={{cite web|website=Climate Data|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/44308|title=Changanassery Climate}}}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|align = left
|1901| 14264
|1911| 17242
|1921| 18955
|1931| 24201
|1941| 28381
|1951| 36289
|1961| 42376
|1971| 48545
|1981| 51955
|1991| 52455
|2001| 51967
|2011| 47685

}}
The Indian census collects statistics for both the Changanassery municipality and the Changanassery Urban Agglomeration (including its surrounding panchayat areas). The Changanassery UA includes Changanassery municipality as well as neighbouring panchayats like [[Paippad]], [[Thrikodithanam]] and [[Chethipuzha]] in Vazhapilly panchayat.

As of the [[2011 Indian census]] Changanassery municipality has a population of 47,485, an 8.2% decline from the 51,967 registered in 2001. Of this, 48.13% are male and 51.86% are female. The total population of the Changanassery UA is 127,987, of which 48.29% are male and 51.71% are female.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/india/kerala/|title=Kerala (India): Districts, Cities and Towns - Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2011: Data from the 2011 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> The percentage of children below the age of 6 was 8.9% in Changanassery and 9.02% in the Changanassery UA. The literacy rate of Changanassery in 2011 was 97.19% (98.01% for males and 96.45% for females), which was higher than the state average of 94% and the national average of 74.04%. The literacy rate of the Changanassery UA in 2011 was 97.56% (98.19% for males and 96.98% for females).

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = '''Religion in Changanassery''' (2011)<ref name="census_2011_religion">[https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11379/download/14492/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS Census data] censusindia.gov.in</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]]
|value1 = 48.05
|color1 = darkorange
|label2 = [[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]]
|value2 = 34.67
|color2 = Blue
|label3 = [[Islam in Kerala|Islam]]
|value3 = 17
|color3 = Green
|label4 = None
|value4 = 0.23
|color4 = black
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 0.04
|color5 = grey
}}
According to the 2011 census, [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hindus]] are the plurality, with 48% of the population adhering to the religion. [[Christianity in Kerala|Christians]] form a significant minority, constituting 35% of the population. [[Islam in Kerala|Muslims]] constitute 17% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/803303-thiruvalla-kerala.html|title=Thiruvalla Municipality City Population Census 2011-2024 | Kerala|website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref>

The headquarters of the [[Nair Service Society]], an organization created for the social advancement and welfare of the Nair community of Hindus, is located in Perunna. Changanassery is also the center of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry|Archdiocese of Changanassery]], one of the largest dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Catholic church in India.

== Education ==
There was a Vedic school at Vazhappally Salagramam (Vazhappally Shala) in ancient times during the rule of the [[Thekkumkur]]. It was run exclusively for Brahmins. It is the oldest educational institution in Changanassery on record. The Vazhappally Sala was destroyed by the army of Ramayyan Dalawa during the [[Battle of Changanassery]] between Thekkumkur and Travancore in 1790.<ref>Shungoonny Menon - A HISTORY OF TRAVANCORE - First edition: 1878, New edition: 1983, Page 130, 131 - {{ISBN|8170200407|8120601696}}</ref>

# [[St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School|St Berchmans Higher Secondary School]], Changanassery (1891); One of the oldest residential high schools in Kerala, (then known as) St Berchmans English High School was established by [[Charles Lavigne|Fr Charles Lavigne]] and clergy of Catholic Church in 1891. Even though made for [[Seminary|Seminarians]], the school, soon, was made for public. In 1998 the High School was promoted to Higher Secondary School providing both [[Primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education]]. Cardinals such as [[Antony Padiyara]] and [[George Alencherry]] and archbishops such as [[Joseph Powathil]] and [[Joseph Perumthottam]] are alumni of the school.
# [[St. Berchmans College]], Changanassery (19 June 1922); One of the top ten oldest colleges in Kerala, St Berchmans College was initially started in a building (now a museum) near to St. Mary's Parel Church in 1922 by [[Thomas Kurialacherry]] on the [[cornerstone]] laid by [[Charles Lavigne]] with the help of the [[Catholic Church]] and the [[Travancore royal family]]. It was a junior college affiliated to Madras University. In 1927, graduate courses were started. Travancore University was founded on 1 November 1937 to which the college was then affiliated. Postgraduate courses were started in 1957. Now it is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. St. Berchmans College situated in Changanacherry, Kottayam District, Kerala, is an independent instructive (Autonomous) organization associated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. This establishment was established in 1922 and is perceived under the UGC Act, 1956. In the fifth pattern of accreditation in 2022, the school was evaluated at A+ by the NAAC. It was positioned 54 in All India Ranking by [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) in 2022 in the class of College. The college is known for its Victorian architecture, especially the College Tower, and for its alumni such as [[Prem Nazir]], [[Oommen Chandy]], [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]] and so on.
# [[NSS Hindu College, Changanassery]] (June 1949); The college was started in the rooms provided at the N.S.S. High School and was shifted to a new building in 1955. Set up in 1947, it is licensed from UGC, NAAC, and is associated with Mahatma Gandhi University. NSS, Changanassery offers 30 courses across 5 streams specifically Vocational, Arts, Hotel Management, Science, Commerce and Banking and across 8 degrees like BA, BSc, B.Com, MA, MSc.
# Assumption College, Changanasserry (1950); women's college. Assumption College, affiliated to University of Kerala in 1949, is at present affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Included under section 2(f) and 12 B of the UGC Act, the College was accredited by the NAAC in the year 2000.

== Notable people ==


{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Raja Raja Varma Koil Thampuran]]
* [[Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai]]
* [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]]
* [[Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran]]
* [[A. R. Raja Raja Varma]]
* [[Changanassery Parameswaran Pillai]]
* [[Kainikkara Kumara Pillai]]
* [[Accamma Cherian]]
* [[P. K. Narayana Panicker]]
* [[L. P. R. Varma]]
* [[Thomas Kurialacherry|Mar Thomas Kurialacherry]]
* [[James Kalacherry|Mar James Kalassery]]
* [[Aditya Varma Manikandan]]
* [[Mathew Kavukattu]]
* [[Muttathu Varkey]]
* [[Joseph Powathil|Mar. Joseph Powathil]]
* [[George Alencherry|Mar George Alencherry]]
* [[Joseph Perumthottam|Mar Joseph Perumthottam]]
* [[Alummoodan]]
* [[L. A. Ravi Varma|Dr. L.A. Ravi Varma]]
* [[Mar Thomas Tharayil]]
* [[Anju Bobby George]]
* [[Raju Narayana Swamy]]
* [[Bheeman Raghu]]
* [[Boban Alummoodan]]
* [[Geethu Anna Jose]]
* [[Parvathy Omanakuttan]]
* [[Matthew Pothen Thekaekara]]
* [[T. V. Varkey|Prof. T.V. Varkey]]
* [[C.F Thomas]]
* [[Roshan Mathew]]
}}



==See also==
*[[Thottackad]]
*[[Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram|Palayam]]
*[[Karukachal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{citation|last=Singh|first=Upinder|author-link=Upinder Singh|title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century|date=2008|publisher=[[Longman|Pearson Longman]]|location=[[New Delhi]]|isbn=978-81-317-1120-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.changanachery.com/ About Changanacherry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709061155/http://www.changanachery.com/ |date=9 July 2011 }}
* [http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/ Archdiocese of Changanacherry]
* [http://www.nsshinducollege.org/ NSS HINDU COLLEGE CHANGANACHERRY]
* [http://www.sjcc.co.in St Joseph College of Communication]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504174513/http://www.sbcollege.org/index.php St. Berchmans College]
* [http://www.changanasserymunicipality.in/ Changanassery Municipality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214183512/https://www.changanasserymunicipality.in/ |date=14 December 2021 }}

{| style="centre; margin:150 0 0 0;"
|+
|
{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Nearest Towns and cities connected to Changanacherry'''
|Northwest = [[Kavalam]]
|North = [[Kottayam]]
|Northeast = [[Pampady]]
|West = [[Alapuzha]]
|Centre = Changanassery
|East = [[Kanjirappally]]
|Southwest = [[Mavelikara]]
|South = [[Thiruvalla]]
|Southeast = [[Mallappally]]
}}
|}

{{Kerala}}
{{Municipalities of Kerala}}
{{Kottayam district}}

[[Category:Changanassery| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:History of Changanassery]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Thekkumkur]]
[[Category:Culture of Kerala]]
[[Category:Former capitals in India]]

Changanassery - Revision history

Md. Toslim Bhuiyan Prantik at 13:10, 17 March 2026