At a glance
Upputhara Grama Panchayat at a Glance
📍 Panchayat: Upputhara Grama Panchayat
🏞️ District: Idukki District
🏛️ Block Panchayat: Kattappana Block Panchayat
🏘️ Villages: Upputhara, Vagamon, Elappara
📌 Taluk: Peerumade
📮 PIN Code: 685505
🌐 Area: Approximately 135 square kilometres
👥 Population (2011 Census): 28,953
- Female: 14,753
- Male: 14,380
🏠 Households: Approximately 4,965
📚 Literacy Rate: Approximately 83.3%
🗣️ Main Language: Malayalam
🌄 Geographical Region: A highland area situated in the Western Ghats
🌿 Physical Features and Economy
🌄 Natural Beauty
Upputhara is characterized by hills, mountain ranges, and plantations. Periyar Thodu, a tributary of the Periyar River, flows through the panchayat.
🌱 Agriculture
Upputhara is predominantly a highland agricultural village. The major crops cultivated here are:
- Tea
- Cardamom
- Pepper
- Coffee
- Rubber
Several prominent tea estates are also located in the area.
📍 Major Attractions / Pilgrimage Centres
Although Upputhara has not been extensively commercialized, its peaceful atmosphere, mist-covered tea plantations, and off-road trails are among its major attractions.
Upputhara provides easy access to prominent destinations such as Vagamon, Kuttikkanam, and Kattappana.
Various Hindu, Christian, and Muslim places of worship coexist harmoniously in the area. These include several historically significant religious centres.
🌱 Major Crops
Tea, Pepper, Cardamom, Coffee, and Rubber
🏫 Educational Facilities
Several schools operate in Upputhara under both the aided and unaided sectors. However, the absence of higher-education institutions within the panchayat has been a challenge, limiting students' opportunities to pursue higher education locally.
The elected local administrations are committed to bringing higher-education institutions to the panchayat and improving educational opportunities for local students.
🏥 Health Facilities
The panchayat has the following healthcare facilities:
- Community Health Centre (CHC)
- Homoeopathic Hospital
- Ayurvedic Hospital
- Veterinary Dispensary
🗳️ Wards
Upputhara Grama Panchayat has 18 wards:
- Pulinkatta
- Valakode
- Kothappara
- Kizhukkanam
- Kannampady
- Mathaippara
- Kakkathodu
- Upputhara
- Mattuthavalam
- Anappallam
- Puthukkada
- Porikanni
- Laundry
- Karintharuvi
- Kaithappathal
- Kattadikkavala
- Kappippathal
- Pashuppara
📜 Historical Significance
The modern history of Upputhara began with the migration of Christian families from the Meenachil region in 1910.
During the period from 1930 to 1950, large-scale migration of farming communities took place. As a result, extensive forest areas were gradually transformed into agricultural land.
Today, Upputhara is recognized as one of the important agricultural and educational areas of Idukki district.
