History of Grama Panchayat
The Historical Origins of Kondazhy and Thalappilly
During the Sangam period, there existed a principality named Nedumpurayoor, which comprised the regions of Thalappilly, Palakkad, and Chittur. In later years, the Tharoor Swaroopam separated Palakkad from Nedumpurayoor and established it as an independent kingdom. Following this, Thalappilly is also said to have gained independence, with its sovereignty held by the Manakkulam Swaroopam. Eventually, Thalappilly became a part of the Kingdom of Cochin.
The culture of Thalappilly was deeply influenced by the heritage of Valluvanad. Consequently, the hallmarks of this region’s culture include a pure dialect of Malayalam, combined with the nobility, hospitality, and gentle demeanor of its people.
The Legend Behind the Name "Kondazhy"
It was a customary tradition for the Maharaja of Cochin to visit the historic Vilwadrinatha Temple in Thiruvilwamala for worship. The traditional route required the royal procession to pass through the gates of the Pazhayannur Bhagavathy Temple, the ancestral deity of the royal family.
According to custom, passing through the deity's presence demanded grand rituals: offering an elephant to the Goddess, performing the Kalabham (sandal paste) ritual, and organizing a grand feast (Chorittu Pattu) for all the people gathered to witness the procession.
To avoid these massive expenses, successive Maharajas altered their route. They would travel up to Chelakkode and take a specially constructed path from Kayampuvath, passing through Kondazhy to reach Thiruvilwamala. In those days, before motorized transport, the kings were carried in palanquins by bearers (Amalans), accompanied by a large royal entourage and ceremonial insignia.
The Place Name History: The shortcut through which the King was carried in a palanquin from Kayampuvath, crossing the Cheerakkuzhi River to Thiruvilwamala, came to be known as Kondazhy (derived from the journey where the King was "brought/carried").
To this day, this specific road in Kondazhy is known as the Ezhunnallathu Road (Royal Procession Road), and the ferry point on the Cheerakkuzhi River is called the Ezhunnallathu Kadavu (Royal Procession Jetty). King Rama Varma was the last Maharaja of Cochin to visit Thiruvilwamala via this route.
Religious and Cultural Significance
Pazhayannur Bhagavathy: The guardian deity (Dharmadaivam) of the Cochin Maharaja is Pazhayannur Bhagavathy. This breathtakingly beautiful temple is located in Pazhayannur. A consecrated idol of Pazhayannur Bhagavathy has also been installed in Mattancherry, Cochin.
The 24 Manai Telugu Chettiyars: This village features a street belonging to the Telugu Chettiyar community, known as Irupathunalu Manai (Twenty-Four Houses). Traditionally a trading community, around 200 families of this group have been living across Kondazhy and Mayannur villages for over 150 years.
Mayannurkavu Thalappoli: The most prominent festival of the region is the Mayannurkavu Thalappoli, celebrated in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March–April). It is celebrated as a collective festival of the entire panchayat, featuring grand Paraeduppu and Aaraattu ceremonies. Even those living in other states or abroad return home to wholeheartedly participate in this festival.
Thrithamthali Shiva Temple: Located in South Kondazhy, this is a highly ancient and famous Shiva temple. Historically, Kerala was divided into "eighteen and a half Thalis" (administrative councils), with each Thali governed by a Thaliyadiri. Each Thali had a central temple at its headquarters. It is believed that the "half Thali" was headquartered in Kondazhy, making the Thrithamthali Shiva Temple its central shrine. Sadly, this grand temple was destroyed over 200 years ago, reportedly during the invasions of Tipu Sultan, leaving behind beautiful granite ruins and bastions for centuries.
Geography and Agriculture
Kondazhy village is highly fertile and blessed with natural beauty, bounded by the Nila River (Bharatapuzha) to the north and the Gayathri River (Cheerakkuzhi River) to the east.
Agriculture: Rice cultivation is the primary livelihood here, owing to the vast Azhi paddy fields. The panchayat spans nearly 1,000 hectares of paddy fields distributed across 21 agricultural clusters (Padasekharams).
Land Ownership History: In the olden days, two-thirds of the land belonged to the government (Pandara Vaka). The remaining land was held as Kanam-Verumpattam (types of land tenure) owned by landlord families such as Punnarkottu Mana, Oottur Mana, Mundanattu Mana, Pidikkaparambu Mana, or the Mayannurkavu Devaswom.
Traditional Cottage Industries
The region was once thriving with traditional small-scale and cottage industries, including:
Basket weaving, mat weaving, and palm-leaf umbrella making.
Blacksmithing, leatherwork, and shoemaking.
Metal casting and bell-metal utensil manufacturing.
While many of these professions became obsolete over time, leatherwork and shoemaking continue to survive today without significant decline.
The History of Chelakkode and Local Administration
Evolution of the Panchayat
Before 1953, Kondazhy Panchayat consisted of only two villages: Mayannur and Kondazhy. Records suggest that a government-appointed President ruled the panchayat from 1920 or even earlier, with Oottur Kunjanna Namboothiripad believed to be the first President. Later, elected boards were formed where voting rights were restricted to property title (Pattayam) holders.
In 1953, the first adult-suffrage-based elections were held in the old Kingdom of Cochin. Prior to this election (in 1952), Chelakkode village, which was previously part of the Pazhayannur Panchayat, was merged into Kondazhy Panchayat because its individual population was insufficient to qualify for the adult-suffrage elections.
The Story of Chelakkode and Chelakkara
Though considered a backward region, Chelakkode is exceptionally scenic with its hills, plains, paddy fields, and mountains.
The Name: In ancient times, the region was surrounded by dense forests. Numerous natural springs (Cholas) flowed down from these forests into the valley. Due to this, the region was originally called Cholakkode (meaning 'the abode of springs'), which later evolved into Chelakkode.
Socio-Economic Shifts: The neighboring area is Chelakkara. Historically, this region was inhabited by laborers and economically marginalized communities. The entire land belonged to landlords (Janmis), specifically Muttathattu Mana, Korattikkara Mana, and Mathur Mana of the Panjal region, as well as the Chirakkara Sree Ramaswamy Devaswom. The locals lived as tenant farmers (Pattam Kudiyans) and agricultural laborers. Later, many Christian families migrated and settled here.
Post-Independence Development
After independence, to provide employment to educated youth, sections of the existing forest land were cleared and distributed in plots of $3.5\text{ acres}$ each to people from various parts of Kerala. The area developed under this government initiative is what is known today as the Plantation Area in Kondazhy Panchayat.
Education
The educational journey of the region began in the 1920s with a primary school started by Kanjingattu Paaramal Kesavan Nair in Kondazhy, which was upgraded to an Upper Primary (UP) school years later.