Parassala

Parassala is an Indian village at the southern end of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu. The village has an ambience plush with tall black palmyra palm trees. As of 2001, the village had a population of 33,556.

A good population here used to make a living out of collecting palmyra nectar, fermenting it and producing alcoholic drinks. The typical nectar collected on pots from atop palmyra trees are also used for making 'karupatti' (a kind of solid sweet preparation). First the nectar is boiled to form a thick, concentrated liquid. This thick liquid is transferred into empty coconut shells and kept for cooling to form solid Karupattis. Karupatti will take the shape of the coconut shell where it was formed and looks dark brown in colour and has proven medicinal effects.

It is famous for the Mahadevar Temple, one of biggest Shiva temples in Kerala. The place is also renowned for Ilankom Devi Kshethram, a temple for the goddess Durga.

There is a famous Christian church in Parassala -Abbs Memorial Church(it's nearly built in 1880's).It was one of the 4 mission stations of London Missionary Society in Travancore during that time.

Puthenkada (meaning "New Market") is the major market where rural commodities including fish, vegetables and tapioca are sold every morning.

A railway station, telephone exchange, bus depot and a number of multi-speciality hospitals have given a drastic change to the rustic image of this old village. Among the several educational institutions, Government Girls Higher Secondary School and Evans Higher Secondary School are among a few that reap excellent results in public examinations.

The former Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Sundaran Nadar, came from Parassala. Kanya kumari is situated 66 km from parassala. The proposed Poovar Harbour is 10km away from here.