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Uthimoodu is a small village in Pathanamthitta district of the Indian state of Kerala.

Uthimoodu
Village
Uthimoodu Junction
Uthimoodu Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Uthimoodu Uthimoodu (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 9°20′15″N 76°49′40″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Pathanamthitta
Government
• Type	Democratic
• Body	Grama panchayath
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	689672
Telephone code	04735
Vehicle registration	KL-03, KL-62
Lok Sabha constituency	Pathanamthitta

"Uthimoodu" means "at the base of Uthi tree (Indian Ash Tree, Lannea coromandelica)". There was an Uthi tree. The area around the present Uthimoodu was dense forest before the establishment of human settlements.The pioneering families were Mannil,Thekkepurayil(Olickel),Kalayil, and Thoppil, followed by Puliyodil, Pampakottu, Maruthickal and Korattikkara. Uthimoodu Town celebrated their centenary on 1 November 2004.

Landmarks

Uthimoodu is the second largest business centre in Ranny Grama Panchayat. The main establishments in Uthimoodu are Uthimoodu Co-operative Society, Indian Overseas Bank, Krishibhavan, Milma, Cornerstone International School, Chamathackal MTUP School, Uthimoodu MTLP School and NMLP School Valiplackal, Federal Bank ATM, Akahaya Centre, Vetinery Sub Centre...

Economy

The primary occupation is agriculture. Rubber is the major contributor to the agricultural sector. Other major crops are cocoa, coconut, tapioca and pepper. Remittances from non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Uthimoodu make important contributions to the economy.

Demographics

Uthimoodu is a place of communal harmony. The majority of the people are Christians(majority being Marthomites) & Hindus (mostly belonging to the Ezhava community). However there are other Hindu Denominations such as Acharis, Saivavellalimars, Velakkathara Nairs, Pulayars, Kuravas, Tribals in good numbers besides to Malankara Catholics , Orthodox , Pentacosts, CSI denominations...

Geography

The major places in Uthimoodu are Valiplackal, Valiakalunku, Dippo Padi, Nursery Padi, Velivayalpadi, Moozhiyar Junction, Kottamala, Karimkuttickal, Ottakallu, Erattakallu, Muruppel, Poykamon, Pandhalathu Mukku and Chamathackal.

Transport

Uthimoodu is on the route from Ranni to Pathanamthitta about 7 km from Ranni, 8 km from Pathanamthitta and 10 km to Kozhenchery. The place is centroid of Pathanamthitta, Ranni and Kozhenchery. The nearest railway stations are Chengannur (27 km) and Thiruvalla (32 km). The nearest airports are Trivandrum (106 km) and Cochin (130 km).The newly prosposed Sabari International Airport is just 23 km travel from Uthimoodu.

The world-famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Swami temple is only about 60 km from Uthimoodu Junction.

Religion

Uthimoodu Mar Thoma church is renowned for its annual Olivu Mala convention (Olive mount convention) also called the "Maramon Convention of the East" established by Christian evangelist, Sadhu Kochoonju Upadesi. The Marthoma church has Completed its 100 years of existence.

The Kottamala Shiva Temple, commonly known as Vambhukkara Shiva Temple is within 3 km built in the early 1990s. People used to do coconut breaking (nalikeryam udakkal) and lighting the lamp (vilakkukathikal), customs and rituals followed in Hindu beliefs. The temple was built in the late 1990s at a place where devotees saw a resemblance of Lord Shiva in banayan tree(ആൽമരം).

Other religious centers include the St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, the Pentecostal Mission Prayer Hall and a couple of SNDP Mandirams.

References

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