an important attraction for people in the district. Besides the religious significance, the temple holds a special place in Travancore history. Legend has it that the then Crown Prince Marthanda Marthanda Varma was redirected by Anandapadmanabhan Thambi dressed up as mad chaannaan (everyone believed that he was dead; as spread by enemies) to a Jackfruit tree near the temple while he was being chased by his enemies. The prince hid within the tree cavity and escaped almost certain death. He was convinced the chaannan was none other than Lord Sri Krishna himself. Gratefully, he named the tree as Ammachi Plavu (Mother Tree) and placed it under royal protection. Aruvippuram (7 km from Neyyattinkara town), the holy land of Sree Narayana Guru is an important pilgrim centre. Parassala Assemblies of God Church is one of the Largest Pentecostal churches in Kerala. The church is known as Jehovah Nissi AG church. Amaravila CSI church founded in 1810 and known in those days as Emily Chapel, an oldest Church of Anglican Communion, is one of the main attractions of Neyyatiinkara Town. On 14 June 1996 Pope John Paul II by the Bull "Ad Aptius Provehendum" erected the Kamukincode Valiyapalli St. Mary's Church (founded in 1847), Neyyattinkara Town Latin Catholic Diocese of Neyyattinkara bifurcated from the Diocese of Trivandrum and by the announcement of Archbishop Soosa Pakiam and ordination by Cardinal Joseph Tomko on 1 November 1996, appointed Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Samuel as its first Bishop. Bishop Samuel took Ecclesiastical possession of the diocese on 5 November 1996. Diocese of Neyyattinkara consists of three Taluks viz. Neyyattinkara, Kattakada and Nedumangadu. The Bishop's House is located in Aralummoodu, Neyyattinkara. St. Therese's Convent G.H.S.S. Neyyattinkara is one of the individual management educational institutions that comes under the purview of this diocese. The two Kurisumala (Holy Cross Hills) Pilgrim Centres near Neyyattinkara, viz., Bonacaud Kurishumala (Bonacaud Holy Cross Hills) and Vellarada Kurishumala (Vellarada Holy Cross Hills) also come under the purview of Latin Catholic Diocese of Neyyattinkara. Our Lady of Assumption Church Vlathankara (swargaropithamatha), St Sebastian's Forane Pilgrim Church Balaramapuram, St. Antony's Church (Kochupalli), Vellarada Kurishumala and Bonacadu Kurishumala are the five major pilgrim centres of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara. Demographics Population of Neyyattinkara Town (Municipal Area) as on 1991-03-01 was 30,419. However, the population rose to 69,467 on 2001-03-01 and rose again to 70,850 on 2011-03-01., which grades it under Class-II town. Most of the