Radhika Suresh

UP4002

Situated on the banks of Meenachil river, Pala is a major hub for Syrian Christian culture in Kerala. Plantation sector dominates the economy and the city acts as a regional service centre for the nearby towns and villages. The major part of the city has a rural functional character and has a large number of residential plots and vacant spaces. The zone that is having significant urban characteristics is concentrated on a smaller region in the city centre, which is often referred to as “Pala Town” by the locals. To learn about the city and its urban character, a 1 sq. km area is chosen in Pala Town and analyzed. The study focuses on the key characteristics of the city, from the preliminary observations of the area using satellite imagery to an in-depth analysis of the major determinants of a city via personal interviews, field observations and secondary research.