Chunkappara

Chunkappara is a small town in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, South India. Chunkappara is situated  east of the town of Thiruvalla, where the nearest railway station is located.  Other neighbouring towns include Kanjirappally, Ranny, and Erumely.

Chunkappara is in the middle of a hilly region, with springs flowing throughout.  The place is believed to have been located in the midst of Ponthanpuzha forest centuries ago.

Etymology
It is believed Chunkappara had a forest path and there was a check post erected here to collect taxes. The tax collectors used to sit beneath a huge rock, which is how the name Chunkappara developed ("Chunkam" means "tax" and "Para" means "rock"). This tax collecting spot is near to St. George High School. Chunkapara town is centered in previous ozhapukuzhi kavala, the place 3 roads joins.

Economy
Chunkappara is a developing town of the Kottangal Panchayat in Mallapally Thaluk. This is a business centre for people who live in  nearby Perumpetty, Chalappally, Kulathoor, Alapara and Kottangal.

Schools
One of the oldest schools is St. George High School, Kottangal. It keeps academic standards up to 10. C.M.S. L.P. School is another old educational institution in Kottangal Panchayat. There is also an English middle school called Christu Raja English Medium School, and public school (CBSE High School) which are run by the Malankara Catholic Church. Kottangal L>P school is another old educational institution in Kottangal Panchayathu, close by Kottangal Kurishu Kavala.

Nearby villages
Nearby villages include Kottangal, Perumpetty, Alapra, Manimala, Ponthanpuzha, Ranni, Erumeli, Vaipur, Ezhumatoor, and Chalapally.

Demographics
It is an independent place where people have access without discrimination regarding caste, creed, colour, religion, age or sex.

Transport
The main roads passing through

Distance between Chunkappara and nearby towns:

Manimala - 8 km
Mallapally - 14 km
Ranni - 14 km
Erumely - 15 km
Kozhenchery - 18 km
Kanjirappally - 21 km
Ponkunnam - 22 km
Chengannur - 24 km
Thiruvalla - 26 km
Pathanamthitta - 29 km
Changanassery - 30 km
Kottayam - 35 km
Palai - 45 km
Kochi - 110 km.

Chunkappara is well connected by private and KSRTC buses. Thiruvalla, Mallapally, Ponkunnam, Pathanamthitta, and Chengannur KSRTC  depots operates services from Chunkappara. Chunkappara bus stand is in the centre of Chunkappara town. It is the largest bus stand in Mallappally Taluk. KSRTC operates Chunkappara-Mallapally-Thiruvalla chain service from Chunkappara.

Hospitals

1. Shareena Medical Centre,
Ponthanpuzha road, Chunkappara

2. V care hospital highschool  Road, Chunkkapara

3. Government Hospital, 
Thundiapara Junction, Kadikavu Road, Chunkappara

3. Government Homeo Hospital,
Thiruvalla Road, Chunkappara

Places for worship
The famous Kottangal Devi Temple is 2.5 km from Chunkappara town. The temple is famous for Padayani Maholsavam, where people from many parts of the state gather. It is a festival which involves many art forms and traditional beliefs. There are lot of churches in Chunkappara. Little Flower church, St. George Malankara church, Marthoma church, India Pentecostal Church of God, The Pentecostal Mission,  Alaprakadu church and Kottangal church. Chunkappara Juma Masjid lies opposite to Chunkappara bus stand. Kottangal Jumah Masjid, also known as Vettukallummuri Jumah Masjid is  2 km from Chunkappara town,  Perumpetty Mahadeva temple is 2 km from Chunkappara. Alapra Jumah Masjid, also known as Urumbath Palli is also 2 km from Chunkappara.

Education institutions
 St. George HS
 CMS LPS
 Alaprakkad govt Lps
 Kottangal govt Lps
 Al Hind public school
 St. Joseph Hs, Kulathoor
 Assisi Center, For mentally retarded Children.
 Christu Raja English Medium School
 Christhuraja public school

Communication
BSNL set up a telephone exchange at Chunkappara in 1995. All major mobile operators including BSNL, Idea, Vodafone, Airtel, Tata docomo, Virgin, and Reliance have sufficient coverage in Chunkapara. BSNL started their internet service at Chunkapara in 2000. Now broadband is available in town.

Business Enterprises
Amity Rocks Pvt Ltd is a quarry company 1.5 km from Chunkappara which deals with quarry products in Kerala and it is one of South India's largest Quarry Company (established in 2006).

Places to visit
Orakkanpara is a beautiful waterfall in Chunkappara. Nagappara is historical place in Chunkappara inside a dense forest. There is a beautiful waterfall in nearby Nagappara. Oottupara is another important tourist spot in Chunkappara.

References 

Villages in Pathanamthitta district