Pothanikkad or Pothanicad is a village in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala.[1] It's also the first village to achieve 100% literacy in India.[2] The name derives from

the Malayalam words poth, meaning buffalo, anaa, meaning elephant, andkaddu,

meaning forest, as it was originally a forest with wild buffalos and elephants. Now, this small

village has developed into one of the most educated and culturally advanced villages in

Kerala. St. Mary's High School is the oldest high school in Pothanicad, where very prominent

people in the society and many local politicians have been educated. St. John's Higher

Secondary school Pulinthanam is pioneering education institution in the village. A

Government lower primary school and two other private senior secondary high schools

with CBSEcurriculum also gives better education for the young community.Pothanikkad is

16 km away from Thommankuthu water falls [1], the nearest tourist location and

approximately 22 km from well known bird’s sanctuary Thattekkad near Kothamangalam.

It also have the famous Pothanicad St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Pothanicad

Ummanikkunnu St. Mary's Orthodox Church and St Xavier's Catholic Church.

Demographics[edit]

As of 2001 India census, Pothanikkad had a population of 17563 with 8764 males and 8799

females.[1]

Notable people[edit]

Eldhose Puthenpura  is a social worker and working as politician in the Communist Party

of India and its youth wing, the All India Youth Federation. He is working for the

Kakkadasserry-Chelachuvad state highway project and in the Pothanikkad rural water

supply scheme renovation, formerly worked for government commercial institute,

konnanpara water supply scheme and mini volley ball stadium projects, etc.

K. C. Paily . He is the founder of the new Pothanikkad. He led Pothanikkad to be a 100%

literacy village. He brought a bus stand, water supply scheme, aqueduct cum bridge, and

more developments to Pothanikkad.