Pandanad
Pandanadu is a village in Chengannur taluk in Alappuzha district, in Kerala, India. According to the 2001 Indian census, Pandanad has a population of 12,466 people.
Geography
A major portion of the village is located on the banks of the Pampa River. The river divides the village into two; Pandanad North and Pandanad West. Pandanad West is from Chengannur, the nearest town, and from Mannar. Pandanad North is from Thiruvalla.Constituent villages
- Muthavazhy
- Vanmazhy
- Keezhuvanmazhy
- Pandanad West
- Pandanad North
- Prayar
- Premattakara
Flora
Boat racing
Pandanadu has 4 Palliyodams owned by different "Karas" viz Keezhuvanmazhy, Vanmazhy, Muthavazhy and Prayar. Among which Keezhuvanmazhy has the biggest one. Keezhuvanmazhy palliyodam was awarded the mannam trophy in 1996, 2015 and second prize in 2008 aranmula utharattati boat race.Schools
A number of schools are located at both parts of the Pandanad Panchayat. They are Swami Vivekanda Higher Secondary School, R.K.V. L.P. School, M.A.M. School, Govt. JBS, Keezhuvanmazhy and Prayar.Demographics
In 2001, the Pandanad Panchayat had a total population of 12,466, of which males constituted 47.03% of the population and females 52.97%. Pandanad has an average literacy rate of 85.27%, which is higher than the national average of 74.02%; with a male literacy of 85% and female literacy of 77%. There are no scheduled tribes in the Pandanad Village, but there are 1921 people belonging to scheduled caste in the village.Pandanad's two most common religions are Hinduism and Christianity. Pandanad, being a part of Middle Travancore, has been influenced by the Travancore family and the Pandalam royal family, which led to the development of a number of temples in the area, which attracts many devotees from within and outside the state.
Temples
Legends tell of how Pandanad was formed by the Pandavas, hence the name Pandava Nadu. Pandanad had many temples that claim origins from the Pandava. Many of these temples attract residents from surrounding states and are believed to be powerful temples.List of Temples in and around Pandanad
- Thrikkaippurathu Mahavishnu Temple, Prayar, Pandanad North
Kumaramanglam Subramanyaswami Temple
Cheruvally Bhgavathy Temple also called Pulipra temple located at the easternmost part of pandanad in Muthavazhy,
Churches
The Churches in the region hold parentage in the arrival of St.Thomas the Apostle in AD 52. There are a various Christian denominations in the area that maintain more than one church in the region. Maramon Convention was started in Kallissery, a town near the Kadavil Malika. With the rise of the Pentecostal Movement in India, many Pentecostal denominations and churches were also started in the region.| Denomination | Name of the Church | Location |
| Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church | Immanuel Marthoma Church Pandanad Marthoma Valiya Palli Jerusalem Marthoma Church St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church Umayattukara Mar Thoma Church | Pandanad, Pandanad West Pandanad North Prayar, Pandanad North Pandanad, Pandanad West Kallissery, Pandanad North |
| Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church | Yordhanpuram St. Gregorious Orthodox Church St. Mary's Orthodox Church Umayattukara St Thomas orthodox Valiyapally | Vanmazhy Pandanad West Kallissery |
| Knanaya-Syrian Orthodox church | Kallissery Knanaya Valiyapally | Kallissery |
| Syro-Malabar Catholic Church | St. Theresas Catholic Church | Pandanad West |
| Syro-Malankara Catholic Church | St. Thomas Church | Prayar, Pandanad North |
| Pentecost Church | The Pentecost Mission Assemblies of God Church of God Brothern Church IPC Church | Pandanad Parampathur Padi Pandanad Palli Padi Pandanad Mithramadam Junction Pandanad Parampathur Padi Illimala Palam |