palaiとは 意味・読み方・使い方

Pala (Malayalam: പാലാ, also written as Palai), is a municipal town 32 km east of Kottayam in the Indian state of Kerala. Pala has the largest proportion of Roman Catholics in Kerala. The reason why its so often referred among the Catholic circles as the "Mini Vatican of India". It is situated on the banks of the Meenachil River and is the headquarters of the Meenachil Taluk and the Pala Revenue Division. It is the main gateway to the southern high ranges. Located at 9°42′N 76°42′E / 9.7°N 76.7°E / 9.7; 76.7, Pala is 56.7 meters above MSL. Nearby towns are Kottayam, Ponkunnam, Erattupetta, Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha. Pala is on the Main Eastern Highway (Muvattupuzha - Pathanamthitta- Punalur Road / SH - 08). The state highway 'SH-32' (Ettumannor to Poonjar) also passes through Pala. There are various versions regarding the origin of the place name. According to one, Pala gets its name from Palazhi (Ksheera Sagara), the mythological ocean of milk from which nectar was churned out. Another view is that the name was derived from Palathu Chettiyar families, the prominent early settlers of the region.