User:NA BALAKRISHNAN NAIR/sandbox

Keezhmalainadu or "Karikode Swaroopam" was the only ancient princely state that existed within the present Idukki Revenue District during the last thousand years till its end in the Sixteenth Century A.D. Keezhmalainadu was amalgamated  in Vadakkumkoor with the  adoption of the Raja (Prince) of Keezhmalainadu by the then Rani(Regent) of Vadakkumkoor in 1600. Names of some of the Chieftains of Keezhmalainadu are refered  in Thrikkodithanam dictum, Thiruvalla Cheppedu and Thrikkakkara script, considered to be of the 10th and 11th centuries. The capital of the erstwhile princely state was"Karikkode", now the headquarters of Karikkode Revenue Village, in Thodupuzha Taluk, Idukki District. On the amalgamation of Keezhmalainadu Swaroopam with the princely state of Vadakkumkoor, Kings of  the combined State  lived in Karikkode being their capital. The capital Karikode was well fortified by compound wall having thickness upto 5 feet and its inside was adorned with Kacheri building, Council hall, harems, sprawling pool, well, baniyan tree and the Kottave Bhadrakali Temple, Naga temple along with other deities forming a temple complex. The chieftains of Keezhmalainadu were referred as "Maluvakkon"  in the scripts and dictums mentioned above. Thrikkodithanam dictum mention the name of "Kandan Kumaran" the then King of Keezhmalainadu presented an eternal flamed light to Thrikkodithanam Temple during the reign of Chera King "Bhaskaran Ravi Varman of Kulasekhara Dynasti . The land mass of Keezhmalainadu  consist of hillocks and valleys mostly cultivated by local people with paddy or seasonal crops. Long term agriculture like coconut or rubber plantations are also found in this area. It is proved by archeological  excavations done and discovery of artefacts and megalithic burial monuments like [Nannangadis] and other household utensils  by the Archeological Department that the area was inhabited by humans even  during the stone age and neolithic age during prehistoric period. The present day Thodupuzha Taluk, some  areas of  Devicolam, Meenachil and Muvattupuzha   Taluks formed the major portion of Keezhmalainadu principality.Historians of all schools are unanimous on this point. The High Ranges mainly Munnar and Aanakkulam areas once belonged to "Chengamananadu Devaswam" was purchased by the chieftain of Keezhmalainadu on Njayatt(Sunday), in the month of Kanni 375M.E. Subsequently after an elapse of 52 years, Munnar area was conveyed to the Poonjar Chieftain in the month of AprilA.D.1252,by the then Keezhmalainadu King. Originally Keezhmalainadu was a portion of "Malaimandalam" of the Visala Tamilakom. People of this area spoke "Tamil" during the Tamil Sangha Period. From the begining of Fifth Centuary A.D for three hundred years, history of Keezhmalainadu is in shrouds. There is difference of opinion regarding the origin of Keezhmalainadu. Some historians reiterate that it was a creation of Perumals of erstwhile mahodayapuram. But some attribute its origin to the first Chera Empire(200 B.C-1100 A.D.) that existed till the Eleventh Centuary. It is believed that  Kothamangalam or the nearby Thrikkariyoor was the capital of Keezhmalainadu.But shifted to Karikkode for political and other reasons like invasion by enemy states or forces send by rulers of adjacent principalities. The present day Thodupuzha Town and Village having the same name came to prominance as an aftermath of the destroyed Karikkode on the formation of "Travancore"(Thiruvithamcoor) by H.H.Sri. Anizham Thirunal Veera Marthanda Varma of Venattu Dynasti. Prior to the establishment of Travancore, Thodupuzha was an undeveloped hilly area divided by the "Pulickal River" now termed as "Thodupuzha River". How that name was attributed to the river is a subject of debate.