Ankathattu is a Malayalam word identifying a platform constructed temporarily for the purpose of fighting duels. It is a four to six feet high platform constructed in Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

. Ankam

Ankam

Ankam means "combat" in the Malayalam language.* Organised single combat between two Ankachekavars. Centuries ago in Kerala, south India, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam, or duel, between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar...

 means war in Malayalam language. This platform will be constructed as per the tradition and will be in the center of the ground from where all peoples can watch the fight. This place altogether is called AnkaKalari.
Few centuries back in Kerala if there was a quarrel between the local rulers, its finally solved by fixing an Ankam (war), usually a duel

Duel

A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...

 fighting. Each ruler will be represented by an Ankachekavar. The ruler of the Ankachekavar who wins the fight is considered as a winner.