Mannarkkad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mannarkkad | |
| State - District(s) |
Kerala - Palakkad District |
| Area | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population - Density |
unknown - unknown/km² |
| Temperature Range: 22.5°C -35 °C | |
Mannarkkad (also known as Mannarghat) is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. Silent Valley (a tropical evergreen rain forest with an unbroken evolutionary history of 50 million years) is only 66 km from Mannarkkad.
Mannarkkad still keeps the terrific memmories of Tippu Sulthan and Mophla riot. In 1921, hundreads of Hindus lost life and thousands of Hindus converted to Islam forcefully. The town has lost its cultural diversity as sandal smugglers and terror outfits emerge.the former ruler/desavazhi of mannarkkad is known as"mannarkkadu muppil nair".he was a "samantha" under "valluvakonathiri' of valluvanadu.the famous novel of malayatoor ramakrishnan "ponni'is based on the adivasis of mannarkkadu.sandalwood smuggler veerappan used 'shiruvanni forests" of mannarkkadu muppil nairs as his shelter.
A rough population estimate is 150,000+. Mannarkkad has an agri-based economy. Main agriculture produce consists of natural rubber, coconut, areca nut, banana, plantain, nutmeg, pepper and rice. Due to inordinate use of chemicals, the natural ecosystem was adversely affected. But over a decade of control, 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 a destination 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 high range add grandeur to the scenery. It is a common destination for trekkers.
Present Mannarkkad M.L.A is Mr.Jose Baby who is also the deputy speaker of Kerala Legislative assembly.
It is also called as manarkkad or manarghat
Mannarkkad is famous for Mannarkkad Pooram. It is the festival celebrated Kumbha masam of every year. The Adivasis from Attappadi will reach the UdayarKunnu temple where the pooram happens to see Devi.
Nearby places to visit: Kanjirappuzha gardens:15 kms from mannarkkad, Silent Valley National park:66kms, Malampuzha gardens:45 kms, Tippu Sultan's Fort(palakkad):40kms
