Karimannoor
Grama Panchayat

Karimannoor Grama Panchayat is situated within the Ilamdesam Block Panchayat in Thodupuzha Taluk, Idukki district, covering the areas of Karimannoor and Neyyassery villages.

Spanning an area of ​​33.33 square kilometers, the panchayat's landscape consists of hills of varying sizes interspersed with valley plains.

സഹ്യപർവ്വതസാനുക്കളുടെ പടിഞ്ഞാറേ അറ്റത്തുള്ള മലനിരകളുടെ സാമീപ്യമുള്ള പഞ്ചായത്താണ് കരിമണ്ണൂർ. ചെറുതും വലുതുമായ കുന്നിൻപ്രദേശങ്ങളും അവയ്ക്കിടയിലെ താഴ്വരയിലെ സമതലങ്ങളുമാണ് പഞ്ചായത്തിന്റെ ഭൂNatureയുടെ പൊതുസ്വഭാവം.

Between the Ummadakkintandu-Karappilly hills at the southern end of the Panchayat and Narumkanam Hill at the northern end, mountain ranges such as Nellimalathandu, Manakkathandu, Mission Kunnu, Maruthumparapara and Kannadippara divide the plains.

നിമ്നോന്നതമായ ഭൂNatureയും ഹരിതാഭമായ നെൽവയലുകളും കിഴക്കു പടിഞ്ഞാറായി ഒഴുകുന്ന പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട തോടുകളും തൊമ്മൻകുത്ത് ഉൾപ്പെടുന്ന കണ്ണാടിയാറും സമീപമുള്ള വനപ്രദേശങ്ങളും ചേർന്ന് Natureമനോഹരമായ ഒരു ഭൂപ്രദേശമാണ് കരിമണ്ണൂർ.

ഈ Natureസമ്പത്തുകൾ മൂലം കരിമണ്ണൂർ ഇന്ന് ടൂറിസം ഭൂപടത്തിലും ശ്രദ്ധേയമായ സ്ഥാനം നേടിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്.

Situated on both sides of Kottappuram-Kambamkotta, where history lies embedded, Karimannoor Panchayat is a rural area with centuries-old culture and traditions.

There are two views regarding the fort that once extended east-west through Wards 5 and 7 of the Panchayat with a width of 100 links: one view holds that it separated Keezhmalainadu and Melmalainadu, while the other suggests that it marked the boundaries of the Vadakkumkoor and Thekkumkoor kingdoms.

Elders say that the water body at Kottakkidang once contained animals such as crocodiles, with bamboo groves on both sides. This fort is one of the important historical monuments of Karimannoor Panchayat.

Pannoor Sree Varahaswamy Temple, one of the rare Varaha temples in Kerala, is believed to have been established during the Treta Yuga.

The ancient Karthyayani Devi Temple, Shanthikatt Bhagavathi Temple situated in the forest at Nalpathaekkar, Malayathamburam Sastha Temple at Mulappuram, Puthiyara Siva Temple, Chandrappillikkavu, Pannoor Ayyappa Temple, Elambikkatt Temple, Edathil Dharmasastha Temple and Ambakkudi Sree Dharmasastha Temple are testimonies to the Panchayat's old history.

Most of the central areas of Karimannoor Panchayat were owned by Inchappilly Illam and Pannakkal Mana (Kunchirakkat Illam).

As the present Karimannoor town area, which is now the Panchayat headquarters, belonged to Pannakkal Mana, Karimannoor town was formerly known as “Pannakkamattam”.

Most of the other areas of the Panchayat consisted of forest areas, while some portions were government land held under the Pandarappattam system. Most of the paddy lands were under the control of the Thodupuzha Devaswom and the Pottys.

During the period when the Janmi-Kudiyan and slave-owner systems and feudal rule existed, independent land ownership based on the Pandarappattam system also existed here.

Large-scale migration to Karimannoor began from the first half of the eighteenth century. The migrants mainly came from areas such as Meenachil Taluk, Elanji, Koothattukulam, Mutholapuram and Arakkuzha.

In addition to their own labour, they also employed people from disadvantaged sections for agricultural work. There was no fixed wage system at that time.

During the early decades of the last century, paddy cultivation was the main agricultural activity here. Paddy was cultivated extensively not only in paddy fields but also in dry-land areas. Dry-land paddy cultivation was known as “Virippu Krishi”.

Today, the main crops in the Panchayat are rubber and coconut.

The main institution relied upon by people in the surrounding areas for English education was the Thodupuzha Government English School.

In the early days, people mainly relied on treatment by local Ayurvedic practitioners for most illnesses.

Mathalikunnel Vaidyan, Vattakkavil Manivaydyan, Pottasheril Velayudhan Vaidyan, Gopalapilla Vaidyan, Kunnel Vakkan Vaidyan, who was renowned for child treatment, and Govindan Vaidyan were among the well-known practitioners.

When allopathic treatment was required, the Karikkode Government Hospital was the main source of treatment. Before 1940, the Kaliyarthottam doctor was another source of allopathic treatment.

The first church in the Panchayat was the Neyyassery Catholic Church.

The first place of worship of the Muslim community was the Neyyassery Mosque.

Karimannoor was an area that faced many difficulties due to inadequate transportation facilities.

The early route connecting Karimannoor with Thodupuzha, the taluk headquarters and a commercial centre, was the Thodupuzha – Annayikkanam – Thekkinkootam – Pannoor – Cheppukulam village road.

Through this route, farmers from the village carried commercial crops on their heads to Thodupuzha for sale and returned with essential household goods.