Changanassery

Changanassery, (IPA: [t͡ʃɐŋːɐnaːʃeːɾi]) is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located 17 km (10.6 mi) south of the district headquarters in Kottayam and around 115 km (71.5 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Changanassery has a population of 47,485 people, and a population density of 3,517/km2 (9,110/sq mi). Changanassery is an important market town, was historically one of the centres of administration and culture in the 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. Changanassery is also famous for 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 the beginning of the 20th century. The College Tower of SB College, with Christ The King on top of it, continues to stand as symbol for wisdom and education in Kerala.