Editing Pala, Kerala

{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{original research|date=August 2017}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Pala
| native_name                     = <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per WP:INDICSCRIPT policy. -->
| native_name_lang                = 
| other_name                      = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Municipality]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Grama Panchayaths | url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417130137/http://lsgkerala.gov.in:80/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | archive-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
| image_skyline                   = File:Pala town.jpg
| image_size                      = 250px
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = Pala town
| nickname                        = 
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = 
| pushpin_map                     = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position          = right
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|9.71278|N|76.68353|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_name1               = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2               = District
| subdivision_name2               = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
| established_title               = <!-- Established -->
| established_date                = 
| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = 
| government_type                 = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Municipality]]
| governing_body                  = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Pala Municipality]]
| leader_title                    = Municipal Chairperson
| leader_name                     = Mr. Shaju V Thuruthen
| leader_title1                   = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala (MLA)
| leader_name1                    = [[Mani C. Kappan]]
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_rank                       = 
| area_total_km2                  = 16.06
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 31
| population_total                = 22,056
| population_as_of                = 2011
| population_rank                 = 
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              = 
| population_footnotes            = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/india/kerala/|title = Kerala (India): Districts, Cities and Towns - Population Statistics, Charts and Map}}</ref>
| demographics_type1              = Languages
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_info1             = [[Malayalam]], English
| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1                     = +5:30
| postal_code_type                = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code                     = 686573, 686574, 686575
| area_code_type                  = Telephone code
| area_code                       = +9148 22
| registration_plate              = KL 35, KL 67
| blank1_name_sec1                = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1                = [[Kottayam]]
| blank2_name_sec1                = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1                = Pala
| blank3_name_sec1                = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1                = Kottayam
| blank1_name_sec2                = Official website
| blank1_info_sec2                = 
| footnotes                       =  
}}
'''Pala''' ({{IPA|ml|paːlaː|IPA}}) is a [[Municipalities of Kerala|municipality]]<ref>{{Cite web| title=Grama Panchayaths | url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417130137/http://lsgkerala.gov.in:80/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | archive-date=2018-04-17}}</ref> in the [[Kottayam district]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is located {{convert|28|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the district headquarters in [[Kottayam]] and about {{convert|167|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the state capital [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. As per the [[2011 Indian census]], Pala has a population of 22,056 people, and a population density of {{convert|1373|/sqkm|abbr=on}}. 

Pala is situated on the banks of the [[Meenachil river]], and is a major hub of [[St. Thomas Christian|Syrian Christian]] culture in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Pala- A Rurban Town in Kerala {{!}} CEPT - Portfolio | url=https://portfolio.cept.ac.in/2020/M/fp/understanding-the-city-studio-up4002-monsoon-2020-8121/pala-a-rurban-town-in-kerala-monsoon-2020-pup20270 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520163847/https://portfolio.cept.ac.in/2020/M/fp/understanding-the-city-studio-up4002-monsoon-2020-8121/pala-a-rurban-town-in-kerala-monsoon-2020-pup20270 | access-date=2025-03-18 | archive-date=2024-05-20}}</ref> 

==Etymology==
{{Empty section|date=August 2023}}

== Demographics ==
{{As of|2001}} Indian [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Pala had a population of 22,640. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pala has an average literacy rate of 98%, higher than the national average of 73%: male literacy is 98.5%, and female literacy is 97.8%, still much higher than the state average. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Christians make up 65.09% of the population, Hindus 34.19%, Muslims 0.1%, Jain 0.00%, other religions 0.05% and 0.15% not stated.
{{bar box
|title = Religions in Pala Town (2011)
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|65.09}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]]|darkorange|34.19}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Kerala|Islam]]|green|0.1}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.20}}
}}

==Cuisine of Pala==
[[Appam]]s, kallappams, or vellayappams are rice flour pancakes that have soft, thick white spongy centres and crisp, lace-like edges.<ref name="gilmarks">Marks, Gil (2010), Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons</ref>

[[Beef]] ularthiyathu is a beef dish cooked with a variety of Indian spices. Other dishes include ''Peralan'' (chicken stir-fries), ''Meat Thoran'' (dry curry with shredded coconut), [[Sardines as food|sardine]] and [[Duck as food|duck]] curries, and [[meen molee]] (spicy stewed fish).<ref name="gilmarks"/>

==Sports==
The Municipal Stadium is the centre of sports in Pala.<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipal Stadium |url=http://www.palamunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in/municipal-stadium-0 |website=Pala Municipality}}</ref> The multipurpose stadium can be used for conducting [[Sport of athletics|athletic events]] and [[Association football|football]]. The stadium also has a synthetic track and a football [[Artificial turf|turf]]. There is also an indoor swimming pool in the sports complex.

The 61st Kerala State Schools Athletics Championships was held at the stadium in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=State School sports meet to begin tomorrow; Rally carrying torch reaches Pala |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/sports/sports-news/state-school-sports-meet-to-begin-tomorrow-rally-carrying-torch-reaches-pala-athletics-1.2322245}}</ref> At least 2500 students from 100 schools attended the sports meet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stage set for Kerala schools athletics meet but field wide open |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/athletics/stage-set-for-kerala-schools-athletics-meet-but-field-wide-open/articleshow/61148689.cms |publisher=Times Of India |date=October 20, 2017}}</ref> The 63rd Kerala State Athletics Championship was also held at the stadium in the month of October, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala state junior athletics: Young stars get chance to make big. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/athletics/kerala-state-junior-athletics-young-stars-get-chance-to-make-big/articleshow/71435075.cms}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bharananganam]]
* [[Kattappana]]
* [[Thodupuzha]]
* [[Erattupetta]]
* [[Cherpunkal]]
* [[List of people from Pala]]
* [[Places of worship in Pala]]
* [[Meenachil]]
* [[Meenachil River]]
*[[Pala (State Assembly constituency)]]
*[[Ullanadu]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Pala}}

{{Kerala}}
{{Municipalities of Kerala}}
{{Kottayam district}}
{{Central Travancore}}
{{Northern Travancore}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pala, Kerala| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]