Thiruvalla

Thiruvalla, (Malayalam: [t̪iɾuʋɐlːɐ]) also spelled Tiruvalla, is a municipality in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is also the headquarters of the Thiruvalla taluk. The town is spread over an area of 27.15 km2 (10.48 sq mi) and has a population of 52,883, down from 56,837 in 2001. It lies on the northern banks of the Manimala River, in a land-locked region surrounded by irrigating canals and rivers. It is the largest town in the district, and is one of the financial, educational,healthcare, cultural, and commercial centres of central Travancore. Thiruvalla is also known as the "Town of Non-Resident Indians", as a large portion of its inhabitants form a part of the Malayali diaspora. Thiruvalla is also branded as "Aarogya Nagari", primarily due to its well-developed healthcare infrastructure and the presence of several prominent hospitals and medical institutions. Though Thiruvalla struggles with an aging and declining population and experiences a high emigration rate, in recent years the town has experienced growth in its economy and urban revitalisation.