Thumpamon Valiya Pally

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (Thumpamon Valiya Pally or തുമ്പമണ്‍ വലിയ പള്ളി) is an ancient church located in Thumpamon near Pandalam, Kerala state of India. It is the headquarters of the Thumpamon Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The first church was built in AD 717. The Architectural style of the church is Gothic Revival style.HistoryThe first church in Thumpamon was built in AD 717, and the structure of that church was not like present one. The first church was a small prayer hall. As the years passed by, the Nazarene population in Thumpamon increased and in AD 900 the old church building was demolished and a much larger building was constructed in its place. Histories of Thumpamon states that in AD 900 (kollavarsham-350) Thumpamon Pally was built and it was the second structure of the church.Between the two centuries, after the construction of the second church the population of Nazarene Christians in Thumpamon had increased considerably. So also, the influx of people from other places continued particularly from Nilakkal. Nilakkal was ravaged by attacks from dacoits led by Fakhuruddin Polygar. As the frequency and intensity by the robber gangs increased, agriculture and trade became disrupted and peaceful life made impossible at Nilakkal. Raja of Pandalam whose capital at that time was Konniyoor near Nilakkal. The Raja also found it impossible to continue his domain at Nilakkal. Hence in AD 1170 (ME 345) the Raja and retinue abandoned Nilakkal and chose Pandalam has headquarters for governing his territory. Consequently the Nazarene in Nilakkal also had to emigrate to other places such as Kanjirappally, Thumpamon and other places.