Changanassery Municipality

Changanassery Municipality is the municipal government of Changanassery, a town in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a local self-government institution that administers an area of about 13.50 square kilometres in central Kerala. The town was constituted as a municipality on 14 August 1920, during the period when the region was part of the princely state of Travancore. It was formed by combining the then-urban localities of Vazhappally, Perunna, Puzhavathu and Fathimapuram. Changanassery is known by the nickname 'the land of the five lamps' (Anchuvilakkinte Nadu). It lies between Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, and the high ranges, which has made it a leading trading centre for rice, pepper and ginger. The municipality is divided into 37 administrative wards. Following the local body elections held in Kerala in December 2025, a new council was formed with a United Democratic Front (UDF) majority. The municipality maintains a website at changanasserymunicipality.in. The town is home to a mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities that have coexisted for centuries. A distinctive local festival, the Chandanakkudam Mahotsavam, is celebrated jointly by these communities. The municipality's jurisdiction includes several places of worship, such as Vazhappally Sree Mahadevar Temple, Perunna Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Changanassery Kavil Bhagavathy Temple, Chithrakkadavu Shiva Temple, St. Mary's Cathedral Church, St. Mary's Parel Church, Pazhayapalli Juma Masjid and Puthoorpalli Juma Masjid. Notable locations within the town include Vazhappally, Perunna, Puzhavathu, Chethippuzha and Fathimapuram. As a municipal body, Changanassery Municipality provides civic administration and services to its residents. Its boundaries are defined by Vazhappally and Thrikkodithanam grama panchayats to the north, Thrikkodithanam grama panchayat to the east, Payippad grama panchayat to the south, and Vazhappally and Payippad grama panchayats to the west. The town sits at an elevation of about 7.1 metres above sea level and has a temperate climate. The soil in the eastern parts is lateritic, while the western parts have sandy clay loam. The southern, western and northern parts are low plains, and the central part is an elevated plain.

Changanassery Municipality was established on 14 August 1920, during the time when the region was part of the princely state of Travancore. It was created by merging the then-urban areas of Vazhappally, Perunna, Puzhavathu and Fathimapuram. Changanassery was one of the prominent towns in Travancore. Over the decades, the municipality has grown into a key trading centre in central Kerala, benefiting from its location between Kuttanad, the rice-producing region, and the high ranges. The town is also known as 'the land of the five lamps' (Anchuvilakkinte Nadu). The municipality administers 37 wards. In the local body elections held in Kerala in December 2025, the United Democratic Front (UDF) won a majority, leading to the formation of the current council. The municipality continues to provide civic services to the town's residents.

• Changanassery Municipality established on 14 August 1920, during the Travancore period, by merging Vazhappally, Perunna, Puzhavathu and Fathimapuram.

• Local body elections held in Kerala in December 2025; UDF won majority and formed the current council.

1. 1Changanassery Municipality - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി നഗരസഭ - Malayalam Wikipediaml.wikipedia.org