History

Mattathur

Mattathur Grama Panchayat is situated in Kodkara Block of Mukundapuram Taluk in Thrissur District. The Grama Panchayat, which extends entirely across Mattathur and Vellikulangara Villages and partially across Inchakkundu and Kodassery Villages, has an area of 103.11 square kilometres.

The boundaries of Mattathur Panchayat are Varandarappilly Panchayat to the north, Tamil Nadu and Kodassery Panchayat to the east, Kodassery Panchayat to the south, and Kodkara and Parappukkara Panchayats to the west.

Blessed with dense forests in the south and east and vast paddy fields in the north and west, this Panchayat is endowed with natural beauty.

Some of the place names in the Panchayat are quite interesting. Vellikulangara, Kodali, Munnummuri, and Avittappilly are examples. For Kodkara and other western regions, Mattathur was the settlement at the other end. Beyond Mattathur towards the east, there were no further settlements.

Sculptures carved with exceptional artistic skill in granite and remnants of temples can be found in many parts of the Panchayat.

Areshwaram, known as Mini Sabarimala, was once located in the midst of dense forests. Today, the surrounding forests have disappeared. Even during the 1950s, monkeys were found roaming around Areshwaram.

There is a Punarnjani here through which devotees pass for the purpose of atonement for sins. In a sense, it was correct for people from the western regions to refer to this place as the settlement at the far end.

To the east of Mattathur are the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. The terrain of the Panchayat consists of hills and intermittent plains. The present-day agricultural lands, which were formed as plains through soil erosion from forest areas, may have been agriculturally prosperous in the past because of their richness in organic sources of fertility.

Social and Cultural History

In ancient times, officials used to camp under a banyan tree to collect tolls on forest produce transported from the east towards the west. This place came to be known as Chungaal.

It is said that Areshwaram was the abode of six Ishwaras, and that Vasupuram was the place where the Sree Krishna Temple existed. For Kodkara and other western regions, Mattathur was the settlement at the other end.

Sculptures carved with exceptional artistic skill in granite and remnants of temples can be found in many parts of the Panchayat. Areshwaram, known as Mini Sabarimala, was once situated in the midst of dense forests.

From Vellikulangara to Mattathurkunnu, there are numerous temples and mosques, both small and large. Among the churches in the Panchayat, the Munnummuri Church is the oldest.

The Kanakamala Chapel, situated on top of the towering Kodassery Hills, is also notable for its beauty.

The land belonging to the Kovilakam was given by intermediaries to small tenants for cultivation. It was only with land reforms that the Jenmi and intermediaries disappeared.

To the east of Mattathur, there were only mountains. The Jenmis who possessed the land belonging to the Kovilakam used to climb the mountains from the village only for agricultural purposes.

Since they travelled only occasionally, the footpaths would again have become covered with reeds and other vegetation. For a traveller using the path for the second time, a machete was essential to clear the obstacles.

Many of those who went and stayed in the landholding areas in this manner died of malaria. Attacks by small leopards known as Kattupatti were common during that period.

It was customary for Kattupatti to carry away goats tied near houses at night and cattle from sheds surrounded by thorn fencing.

The ancestors of this region protected the land by fighting against wild animals and malaria.

Agriculture and Migration

Many migrants also arrived here during that period. In the 1920s, a white man named Dixon found a simple way to address the food shortage.

The dense forest at Inchakkundu was cleared, large trees were removed from there (to the Sahib's country), and the remaining vegetation was burned. Afterwards, the land was tilled and Peruvakan rice was cultivated there.

Excellent paddy was cultivated across 500 acres. Even after repeated harvesting, the harvest did not seem to end. Finally, it is said that the remaining vegetation was beaten down and levelled. Although the forest later grew again, migrant farmers arrived in large numbers. The forest gave way to human settlement.

Parambikulam - Chalakudy Tramway

During that period, the Parambikulam-Chalakudy Tramway was constructed to transport large trees from Parambikulam to Chalakudy and other regions for industrial purposes.

It is said that construction of the tramway began around 1892. The building constructed for the tramway office is said to be the Vellikulangara U.P. School that can be seen today.

The said tramway was discontinued by authorities lacking historical awareness during the 1960s, and the rails were auctioned and sold.

Formation of the Panchayat and Administrative History

The first election to Mattathur Panchayat was held in 1952. At that time, there were eight wards and a total of nine seats, including the two-member seat at Vellikulangara.

Poliyedath Kesava Menon, who had the distinction of representing the Kodkara Constituency in the Thirukochi Assembly, was elected as the first Panchayat President.

Construction work on the office building of the present Panchayat Cultural Centre also began during that period.

The second Panchayat election was held on 25 December 1964. It was during this period that Monadi, which was part of Kodassery Panchayat, was added to Mattathur Panchayat.

Mattathur is one of the Special Grade Panchayats in the district.

Education, Libraries and Arts and Sports

Informal education had been provided by traditional village teachers from earlier times. Libraries also rendered commendable service in this field.

Rural libraries such as Mattathur Suprabha, Avittappilly, Kodali, and Vellikulangara have been functioning since the early period.

There were also prominent clubs in the field of sports and arts. Many of them were swept away in the course of time due to changes in the cultural sphere.

Many of the public institutions in the Panchayat were built with public participation. The land for the Vellikulangara Village Office and the land for the Panchayat Bus Stand were donated by the Vellikulangara Olympian Club.

The Panchayat has the institutions required in a model Panchayat. A Primary Health Centre, Police Station, two Forest Offices, Krishi Bhavan, Telephone Exchange, Branch Post Offices, Electricity Office, nationalised banks, cooperative banks, and other institutions are all located within Mattathur Grama Panchayat.

The Panchayat is not behind in the field of arts either. There are people here who are proficient in dance, music, painting, Udukku Kottu, Nanduni Pattu, Pulluvan Pattu, Kalamezhuthu Pattu, Kaikottikali, Kolkali, Parichamuttukali, Kaalakali, and Parayan Thullal.

Kunjalippara

Kunjalippara is a beautiful tourist destination located in Mattathur Grama Panchayat in Thrissur District.

Former Presidents

Former Secretaries (Executive Officer / Manager)