Pala is a municipal town 32 km east of Kottayam. Pala has the largest proportion of Roman Catholics in Kerala. The reason why its so often referred among the Catholic circles as the "Mini Vatican of India". It is situated on the banks of the Meenachil River and is the headquarters of the Meenachil Taluk and the Pala Revenue Division. It is the main gateway to the southern high ranges. Pala was part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore, and was ruled by the "Travancore Rajas" for a long time.