History of Grama Panchayat

Chungaal: In the olden days, authorities used to camp under a banyan tree (Aal) to collect tax (Chungam) on forest resources being transported from east to west. Hence, the place came to be known as 'Chungaal'.
Areshwaram: It is believed to be the abode of six deities (Aaru Ishwaranmar).
Vasupuram: This is said to be the place where a Sri Krishna temple once existed.
Mattathur: For the people of Kodakara and other western regions, this was "Matté Attathe Ooru" (the village at the very other end). Beyond Mattathur to the east, there were no further human settlements.

Finely crafted granite sculptures and temple ruins can be found in various parts of the Panchayat.
Numerous small and large temples and mosques are located from Vellikulangara to Mattathurkunnue.
The oldest church in the Panchayat is the Moonnumuri Church.
The Kanakamala Chapel, situated atop the towering Kodassery hill, is notable for its scenic beauty.
Areshwaram (Mini Sabarimala): Once nestled in a dense forest where monkeys roamed freely even in the 1950s (though the forests have now vanished), this temple features a 'Punarjani' (a narrow cave passage) that devotees crawl through for the expiation of sins.

All properties in Mattathur originally belonged to the Tripunithura Kovilakam (royal family). For the convenience of rent collection (Pattappirivu), there was a local palace (Kovilakam) at Kodungayil. Middlemen leased this land to small tenants for cultivation. The landlord (Janmi) and intermediary systems disappeared only after Land Reforms.
Early settlers protected this land by battling severe malaria and wildlife. Attacks by a small species of leopards known locally as 'Kattupatti' (wild dogs) were common; they frequently carried away goats tied near houses and cattle from thorn-fenced sheds at night. Pathways would quickly get overgrown with Incha (creepers) and wild vines, requiring travelers to carry a machete (Vettukathi) to clear the way.

Dixon's Paddy Cultivation (1920s): To solve a food shortage, a British man named Dixon cleared the dense forest of Inchakundu, moved the large timber logs (exported to his homeland), burned the debris, tilled the soil, and cultivated Peruvala paddy across 500 acres. The harvest was so overwhelmingly abundant that they finally had to thrash it down to level it out. This cleared the path for a wave of migrant farmers.
Challakudy-Parambikulam Tramway: Work began around 1892 on a tramway to transport massive timber logs from Parambikulam to Chalakudy for industrial use. The building constructed to serve as the Tramway Office is the present-day Vellikulangara U.P. School. Sadly, in the 1960s, short-sighted authorities dismantled this historic tramway and auctioned off the rails.

1952: The first Panchayat elections were held with 8 wards and 9 seats (including a double-member seat for Vellikulangara).
First President: Poliyedath Kesava Menon, who also had the fortune of representing the Kodakara constituency in the Travancore-Cochin Assembly. The construction of the current Cultural Center office began during his tenure.
December 25, 1964: The second Panchayat election took place. Around this time, 'Monadi', which was part of the Kodassery Panchayat, was merged into Mattathur. Today, Mattathur is one of the Special Grade Panchayats in the district.

In early times, informal education was driven by traditional village teachers (Nilathezuthassans). Rural libraries like Mattathur Suprabha, Avittappilly, Kodali, and Vellikulangara played a commendable role from the beginning.
Community Participation: The land for the Vellikulangara Village Office and the Panchayat Bus Stand was generously donated by the Vellikulangara Olympian Club.

Infrastructure: The Panchayat functions as a model locality, equipped with a Primary Health Centre, a Police Station, two Forest Offices, a Krishi Bhavan (Agricultural Office), a Telephone Exchange, branch Post Offices, an Electricity Office, Nationalized Banks, and Co-operative Banks.
Cultural Heritage: The region boasts talented artists proficient in traditional and ritual art forms such as Dance, Music, Painting, Udukkukottu, Nanthunipaattu, Pulluvanpaattu, Kalamezhuthupaattu, Kaikottikali, Kolkali, Parichamuttukali, Kaalakali, and Parayan Thullal.

Mattathur Grama Panchayat