Alappuzha district situated in central Travancore region of southern Kerala, had been called 'Venice of the East' due to the many canals, backwaters and the below sea-level hinterlands of this coastal district. The seaport and the inland waterways were very busy in the past.
The statue or idol of Buddha near Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha district usually known as 'Karumadikuttan' proves that Buddhism was prevalent in the area, before Hinduism replaced it.
The small kingdom of Ambalappuzha was a cultural centre once upon a time. The temple there was the venue for performance of several traditional art forms of the time. It was there that the famous satire poet Kunchan Nambiar performed this 'Ottanthullal' for the first time. The ruler of the place was a great patron of art and culture.
However, Ambalapuzha and all the surrounding tiny kingdoms were conquered by the king of Travancore, Marthanda Varma, and Alappuzha district region became part of Travancore. However, the British arrived soon and gained suzerainty over Travancore along with rest of Kerala.
Alappuzha district areas were under the rule of small kingdoms in earlier centuries.
Marthanda Varma of Travancore kingdom conquered the small kingdoms in the area one by on between 1729 and 1758 the year of his death. In 1746, war between his army and the combined army of the northern rulers was fought at Purakad and Kayamkulam was captured by Travancore. In 1749, Thekkumkoor was annexed. By 1754 the boundary of Travancore kingdom was extended up to Kochi border.
Thus the areas now in Alappuzha district became part of Travancore kingdom, which also lost sovereignty under British suzerainty.
It was under British protection that Europeans and Americans started factories in Alappuzha town and elsewhere. The first coir factory in Alappuzha was started by and Irish American James Darah in 1861.
Under the new regime, Alappuzha prospered industrially and commercially. The city became an important export centre. Ships of different nations arrived at the seaport to buy cargoes.
Thus Alappuzha had become a trading hub in central Travancore but its decline began as Kochi grew as a big harbour and road transportation developed.
However during this decline phase Alappuzha gained distinction by being the place where the first trade union in Kerala was formed under the name 'Travancore Labour Association'. After that trade union movement became energetic and dynamic ensuring further decline for the once- glorious commercial and industrial hub of central Travancore.
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