Geography and Map
Cherpu Grama Panchayat is situated in Thrissur Taluk of Thrissur District under the Cherpu Block. Spread across the villages of Urakam, Chovvoor, and Cherpu, the Panchayat covers an area of 20.88 square kilometers. This Panchayat consists of 21 wards, and its boundaries are Avinissery, Vallachira, Paralam, Porathissery, and Chazhoor.
Cherpu Panchayat extends around the famous Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple, one of the renowned temples of Kerala. Among the 64 ancient villages of Kerala, Peruvanam held a prominent position. According to legend, the place where Sage Puru performed penance came to be known as Puruvanam or Peruvanam. In ancient times, this vast village was believed to be protected by Oozhath Sastha in the south at Kodungallur, Akamala Sastha in the north, Kuthiranmudi Ayyappan in the east, and Edathiruthi Ayyappan in the west.
The ancient festival once celebrated at Peruvanam later became the origin of the Pooram festivals now conducted in various parts of Thrissur district. Cherpu is also famous for Thiruvullakkavu Temple, renowned for the Vidyarambham ceremony (initiation into learning). The Panchayat is rich in diversity, with places known for handicrafts such as Cherpu and Kunnathumugal, Chovvoor famous for its furniture industry, Parakkovil known as a former Jain religious center, the historically significant regions of Urakam and Peruvanam, and the agricultural region of Jubilee Thevarpadavu.
The Karuvannur River, which forms the southern boundary of Thrissur Taluk, also serves as the boundary of Cherpu Panchayat. Hills, kole fields, valleys, coastal plains, elevated plains, and slopes are notable geographical features of the Panchayat. Scholars believe that the place was named “Cherpu” because it is a region where backwaters and hills come together.
In earlier times, the Panchayat was known as Urakam Panchayat. Due to the influence of the Chittoor Mana family, the name later changed to Cherpu. Formed in 1953, the first President of Cherpu Panchayat was M.K. Menon.
Cherpu Grama Panchayat is located about 8 kilometers south of Thrissur city. The Thrissur–Triprayar and Thrissur–Kodungallur roads pass through this Panchayat. The Poochinnipadam–Ollur road, which connects Cherpu to the National Highway, passes through the eastern side of the Panchayat. The area situated west of Peruvanam Temple is popularly known as Cherpu, and the Panchayat derived its name from this locality.
