Mannarkkad
Encyclopedia
Mannarkkad formerly known as Mannarghat is a town in Palakkad district
Palakkad district
Palakkad District is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District, on the southwest by the Thrissur District and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The...

 of 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....

 State, 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...

. It is the headquarters of Mannarkkad Taluk, and is one of the largest revenue Taluks in Kerala. It is situated 40 km north-east of the district headquarters Palakkad, on the way to Kozhikkode (NH 213) and in the foothills of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...

. Silent Valley
Silent Valley
Silent Valley may refer to:* Silent Valley National Park, in Palakkad district, Kerala, India*Silent Valley Reservoir, a reservoir located in the Mourne Mountains near Kilkeel, County Down in Northern Ireland...

 (a tropical evergreen rain forest with an unbroken evolutionary history of 50 million years) is only 35 km from Mannarkkad.

Mannarkkad Taluk, consisting 25 villages, is the first fully computerized Revenue Taluk office, designed as India's first Paperless Government office. All land revenue administrative works are being carried out through on line software called Taluk Suite and Village Suite. Sri A Unnikrishnan is the present Tahsildar of Mannarkkad Taluk.

Mannarkkad has memories of the invasion of Tippu Sultan and Mopila riot. In 1921, hundreds of people lost their lives. The former Ruler/Desavazhi of Mannarkkad is known as 'Mannarkkadu Muppil Nair'. He was a 'Samantha' under 'Valluvakonathiri' of Valluvanadu. The famous novel 'PONNI' written by Malayatoor Ramakrishnan, is based on the 'Adivasis' of Mannarkkadu. The Sandalwood smuggler 'Veerappan
Veerappan
Koose Muniswamy Veerappan commonly known as Veerappan, was a notorious dacoit, or robber bandit, of India. He was active for a period of years in a broad swath of land covering 6,000 km² in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu...

' used 'Shiruvani Forests' of Mannarkkadu Muppil Nairs as his shelter.

The population of Mannarkkad is estimated at 150,000+. Mannarkkad has an agri-based economy; main agriculture produce consists of natural rubber, coconut, areca nut, banana, plantain, nutmeg, pepper and rice. But due to inordinate use of chemicals, the natural ecosystem has been adversely affected. But over a decade of control, the town has revived many almost extinct natural species of reptile, butter flies, fresh water fish and other organisms.

70%-80% of the agri-income is earned by 20%-25% of the population. Of the rest, 10% are into trading and the remaining 65% of the total population are below slightly above or below the poverty line.

The town has for ages attracted immigrants from all over and is an amazing community of people who speak multiple languages including Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Tamil etc. For this reason, you will find shades of a metropolitan city in terms of harmony among multiple cultures in this rather small town. Within Kerala, it had been also one of the first destination (starting from 1914 A.D) for immigrants from southern Kerala seeking their fortune in rubber plantation sector.

Nestled between two rivers Kunthippuzha and Nellippuzha, Mannarkkad (Mannarghat) valley is famous for its natural beauty. Silent Valley Rain forests and the Attappadi
Attappadi
Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area comprising 249 km² of land covering the westernmost part of the 745 km² Attappadi block of Mannarghat Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala, south India....

 high range add grandeur to the scenery. It is a common destination for trekkers. The hills with a large population of oldest Indian tribes like Mudugar and Irular, recently was in the news relating to unauthorised encroachment and unlawful possession of tribal lands.

Mannarkkad is famous for Mannarkkad Pooram. It is the festival celebrated Kumbha masam of every year. The Adivasis from Attappadi will reach the Udayar Kunnu Temple where the pooram happens to see Devi. Present Mannarkkad M.L.A is Mr N Shamsudhin. The present Tahsildar in charge is Mr A Unnikrishnan.

Geography

Mannarkkad is located at 10.98°N 76.47°E. It has an average elevation of 76 m (249.3 ft).

Notable nearby locations

  • Kanjirappuzha Dam & Gardens: 15 km
  • Silent Valley National Park
    Silent Valley National Park
    Silent Valley National Park , is located in the Nilgiri Hills, Palakkad District in Kerala, South India...

    : 43 km
  • Malampuzha Dam & Gardens
    Malampuzha Dam
    Malampuzha Dam is the largest reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad in south India with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 6,066 feet high and...

    : 40 km
  • Tippu Sultan's Fort (Palakkad
    Palakkad
    Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...

    ): 43 km
  • Meenvallam and Attila Waterfalls: 15 km
  • Paathrakkadavu (Mylamapadam): 10 km
  • Ahmed kurikkal children's Park,court road, Mannarkkad (0 km)
  • Sholayur 40 km
  • Siruvani Dam 25 km
  • Attappadi Hills and Tribal villages (10 km)
  • Vakodan forests To journey and city view of Mannarkkad (4 km)
  • vegetable Market, kuthumadom, 500 years old temple,and town views (0 km)
  • Mandan Potty water Falls (7 km)
  • Changaleeri 5 km
  • Mailadikunnu. This is a beautiful place in Mannarkkad (Nattukal,Annanthodi),(15 km from Mannarkkad)
  • Nottamala This is a wonderful place in Mannarkkad(town views ) 1km

Transport

Mannarkkad is well connected by road to all other parts of Kerala. NH 213 connecting Kozhikkode and Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...

 passes through the town. The nearest railway stations to the town are Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...

 Jn (32 km), Ottapalam
Ottapalam
Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here...

 (40 km), Shoranur Jn (44 km), 25 km in Perinthalmanna and 40 km in Manjeri
Manjeri
Manjeri is a town and municipality in Malappuram District in the state of Kerala, India. It is the commercial capital of Malappuram District and is 28 km from an international airport and 50 km from Kozhikode railway station....

 and Nilambur
Nilambur
Nilambur is a municipality and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River...

. The nearest airports to the town are Calicut International Airport
Calicut International Airport
Calicut International Airport , also known as Karipur Airport, is an International Airport serving the city of Kozhikode , Kerala, India. The airport is located in Karipur, Malappuram district about from the Kozhikode Railway Station and from the city of Malappuram, with the closest railway...

 (60 km), and Coimbatore Airport
Coimbatore Airport
Coimbatore Airport is a customs airport located at Peelamedu, Coimbatore. It was previously known as Coimbatore Civil Aerodrome. It is about from the city center. It is located along Peelamedu and Neelambur, with passenger entry at Neelambur and cargo entry at Peelamedu...

 (62 km).
mettupalayam city 55 km, and Ooty 80 KM.
Changaleeri is the smallest village & Karakurussi is the biggest village in Mannarkkad Thaluk.
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