Haripad

Haripad (Malayalam:ഹരിപ്പാട് ) is a town in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India located between Alappuzha and Kollam on National Highway 47. Its coordinates are Latitude : 9°18′0″N and Longitude : 76°28′0″E. It is bordered on the east by Pallippad, Veeyapuram and Karuvatta to the north, Kumarapuram and Mahadevikadu to the West, and on the south by Nangiarkulangara. Haripad is close to the Arabian Sea and connects Mavelikkara and Thrikkunnappuzha. It is the land of "Mayura Sandesa", the land of snake boats and the land of music, dance and drama. A main feature of Haripad which attracts even the foreigners is the "Payippad Jalolsavam". It is believed the idol of Lord Subrahmanya was brought from Kandalloor with escort of snake boats. Payippad Jalolsavam is conducted to renew this memory.

Haripad derived its name from either Aripad (Ari meaning Rice), or "Harigeethapuram". The population of Haripad is 16,445, as of the 2010 census.

History

In ancient time Buddha religion was flourished in this area. It is said that ancient Buddha university SREEMOOLAVASAM was located at Thrikkunnappuzha ,the coastal area of Haripad. Evidence for Buddha religion can be seen as Buddha statue of Mavelikara., Banyan trees of temples paramparya vaidyas. There is a statue of awoman and child with sasthav of Thrikkunnapuzha temple. It is considered that they are Yasodharaand Rahulan respectively .The name Haripad is only in the 20 th century Before that it was Arippatt. Some scholars say that it means place near water(ari- arike pat place0 During the period of European colonization, In the opinion of the Dutch Governor Gollanez the sea coast between Quilon and Purakkad which the Dutch called 'Martha" and which region was known as Karthikappally consisted of two regions or nation states, Karnoppally (present-day Karunagapally) and Karimpali. More specifically, Haripad was located in Karimpali which was the area between Kayamkulam and Purakkad and was also known as Vettimana.