Paika

Paika is a small town 8 km away from Palai on Pala-Ponkunnam road of Muvattupuzha - Punalur state highway, in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is part of Meenachil Taluka, known as the best fertile agricultural land of Travancore. Majority of people are Syrian Malabar Nasrani Catholic Christians continuing their rich traditions from the times of St. Thomas, an apostle of [Jesus Christ] . This region is part of the midlands (adjacent to the highranges) of south-eastern kerala. Main income is from Agriculture mostly rubber plantations.

Many famous Syrian Catholic families of Kerala have origins around Meenachil that includes places like Pala, Paika, Edamattom, Bharananganam, Poovarany, Vilakkumadom, Pinnakkanadu etc.

The Syrian Catholic families,most of them here are rubber estate owners. Many big planters comes from this area."Kallivayalil","Kuruvinakkunnel" are few of the land holding families here.

The Sabarimala Pilgrimage route passes through Paika.

The jubilee feast (of immaculate conception) of the shrine of Our Lady(St.Mary's shrine Paika) of St. Joseph's Church,Paika conducted during the second week of decemberattracts thousands of believers every year to this small, panoramic hamlet. Miles of colourful decorations along the pathways and processions led by traditional orchestra during the feast provide cynosure to the eyes. The elders are of the opinion that the former name of Paika was Kottachery, and it was a thriving market in the past. Famous short-story writer Mr. Paul Zacharia hails from Urulikunnam, a village near Paika.

Njandupara,Kochukottaram,Valiakottaram,Urulikunnam, Vilakkumadom, Edamattom Vattamthanam etc..are a few beautiful villages around Paika. Some of the first or second order rivers in the area are Valiya thodu, Cheria thodu, Ponnozhukum thodu etc.

Gov.Hospital Jn is near to Paika,where the Public Community Health Centre of Paika is Situated.International Eye Hospital by Lions Club is situated on the Paika - Bharananganam Route.