Geography and Environmental Features
The history of peoples begins in river valleys. Piravom is no different. Piravom village was formed on the banks of the Muvattupuzha River. If the Nagakavus and Sasthamatharas, as assessed by Sri Ilamkulam, can be considered as remnants of Buddhist and Jain influence before the beginning of the Christian era, then this place was rich in culture even before the beginning of the Christian era. The prominence given to Shaivism indicates Dravidian culture. Those who are looking for the ancient form of the place name will have to look back to the Sangha period. When the 2nd Chera Empire disintegrated, the nobles who were the rulers of the Vadakkumkur, the Kalari Gurus and Sthanis, and the Karyavijaripkars, are among the stories told by the ancients.
Pazhur Perumthrikkovil, the church of the Piravom kings, the legendary Pazhur Padipura, Kalambukkavu etc. are more than a thousand years old. Pazhur Mana, where Sri. Shankaracharya is believed to have performed Upanayana, is also a symbol of our cultural heritage. The miraculous phenomenon of the Muvvattupuzha river rushing towards the Arabian Sea, changing its course in front of Pazhur Perumthrikkovil, flowing eastwards till Piravom Valiyapalli and again flowing towards the Arabian Sea is also here. Piravom is a land of religious harmony with a Christian church and a Devi temple located in the same compound.
Piravom was an important marketing center for cash crops that earned foreign exchange for Kerala. The bullock carts that stretched from the quay to New Bazaar, where the Kevu boats were waiting, brought many cash crops such as cardamom, cloves, pepper, turmeric, etc., procured from the hills for foreign trade. Goods were transported to the ports of Alappuzha, the Venice of the East, and Kochi, the queen of the Arabian Sea, through Piravom. When land transportation improved, the bullock carts and Kevu boats disappeared, and Piravom gained commercial prominence.
When Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma established the vast Travancore, Piravom became a border town. The chowk for collecting tolls and the excise commissioner's office that controlled it were located in Piravom. There was also a gate to the mandapa, which is equivalent to today's taluk. The fact that there was a Musavari bungalow at the place where today's I.B. is located, shows the importance of Piravom at that time.
Following the formation of the state of Kerala, when Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958, Piravom was also included in it, and Mulakulam Vadakkekkara and Kalampur were merged and Piravom was formed as a grama panchayat in 1964. Piravom, which is developing as a suburb of Kochi, became a municipality on 01-11-2015.
There is a famous Shiva temple near Piravom in Perumthrikovil, Pazhur. It is located in Ernakulam district. This temple, located on the banks of the Muvattupuzha river, is built on the model of the Vaikom temple. It is one of the 108 Shiva temples believed to have been consecrated by Parasurama.
Rajadhiraja St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, also known as Piravom Valiyapalli. This church is also known as the 'Church of Kings'.[1] It is also known by other names such as Marthamariam Church and Piravom Puthankur Church. It is considered to be one of the ancient Christian churches in Kerala. Built in the name of the three kings who returned from seeing the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, this church was later renamed after the Virgin Mary, but the title of ‘Church of Kings’ continued to persist.
Piravom is an important place in Ernakulam district. One of the main attractions here is the Piravom boat race. This boat race is held during the Onam season, especially on the day of Uthradam. Piravom is located on the banks of the Muvattupuzha River. Therefore, it is also a good place for boat races.