Cherthala (Malayalam: , formerly Shertallai or Shertallay) is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30km south of the city of Kochi and 22km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route. In local administration, the Cherthala town is a municipality while in the state administrative structure Cherthala is a Taluk in the district of Alappuzha. The Corporation of Cochin has drafted a Master Plan that aims to develop Cherthala as the satellite town around the Kochi city. According to the local legend, once Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, the well known Kerala Hindu Saint, while travelling through Cherthala, found an idol of the Devi with its head immersed in a muddy pond. The swami understood the divinity of the idol, took it out from the mud, cleaned it and consecrated it in a temple near the pond. Thus the place is believed to have got its name as Cher...
