# Kozhimala
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kozhimala
| other_name = Kovilmala
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Tribal settlement/village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9|43|15|N|77|02|54|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [State](/source/States_and_territories_of_India)
| subdivision_name1 = [Kerala](/source/Kerala)
| subdivision_type2 = [District](/source/List_of_districts_of_India)
| subdivision_name2 = [Idukki](/source/Idukki_district)
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for = Mannan tribal community
| government_type = [Panchayath](/source/Panchayath)
| governing_body = Kanchiyar panchayath
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 830
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [Malayalam](/source/Malayalam_language), [English](/source/English_language)
| timezone1 = [IST](/source/Indian_Standard_Time)
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [PIN](/source/Postal_Index_Number)
| postal_code = 685511
| area_code = 04868
| registration_plate = KL-37, KL-69
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Kovilmala,''' locally known as '''Kozhimala''' (the hill of hen), is a [tribal settlement](/source/Human_settlement) and a small village near [Kattappana](/source/Kattappana) in the district of [Idukki](/source/Idukki_district) in [Kerala](/source/Kerala) state, [India](/source/India). It is the only existing tribal kingdom in South India which falls under the [Kanchiyar](/source/Kanchiyar) grama panchayath of Idukki [tehsil](/source/tehsil) (previously [Udumbanchola](/source/Udumbanchola) tehsil).[{{Cite web|url=http://netindian.in/news/2011/12/28/00017913/tribal-king-aryan-raja-manna-passes-away-kerala|title="Tribal king" Aryan Raja Manna passes away in Kerala {{!}} NetIndian|date=2011-12-28|website=netindian.in|access-date=2016-11-30}}][{{Cite web|url=http://www.dakshinroutes.com/Tour-Packages/NewsLetterDetails.aspx?ID=1471|title=Dakshin Routes|website=www.dakshinroutes.com|access-date=2016-11-30}}] The Kingdom consists of namely four divisions such as 'Thekkottu Kattu Rajyam', 'Nadukkuda Kattu Rajyam', 'Athal Orupuram' and 'Chenkanattu Mala'. Goddess Madhura [Minakshi](/source/Minakshi) of famed [Madura Temple](/source/Meenakshi_Amman_Temple) in [Tamil Nadu](/source/Tamil_Nadu) is their ''Kuladevatha'' (tutelary deity).[{{Cite web|url=http://idukki.nic.in/culture.htm|title=Idukki District of Kerala - An official website|website=idukki.nic.in|access-date=2016-11-30}}]
== Mannan community of Kovilmala ==
Kovilmala is the headquarters of Mannan community who preserves certain customs, traditions and form of governance, making them a unique tribal unit.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/young-tribal-king-dies-of-heart-attack/article2756552.ece|title=Young tribal king dies of heart attack|last=Correspondent|first=A|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-02}}] The system of governance here is a [democratic](/source/Democracy) - [monarchy](/source/monarchy) in which a king is elected by the people to rule.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.alienadv.com/activityDetails/3561/A-Day-with-Mannans-of-Kovilamala-Kingdom-Kerala/|title=A Day with Mannans of Kovilamala Kingdom Kerala|newspaper=www.alienadv.com|access-date=2016-11-30}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}] The dynastic succession is through the [matrilineal](/source/Matrilineality) system of inheritance by which the properties are inherited by the nephew. The administration of [Mannan](/source/Mannan_people) community inhabited here is held by ''Raja Mannan'' (King of Mannans), the title given to the elected king. He holds the responsibility to take care of the other 42 ''Kudis'' (settlements) spread over the various parts of Idukki district.[{{Cite web|url=http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/217472/no-kingdom-kingship-continues-60.html|title=No kingdom, but kingship continues after 60 years of democracy - Deccan Herald|website=m.deccanherald.com|access-date=2016-11-30}}] Today, these Kudis are located in places like [Kumily](/source/Kumily), [Adimaly](/source/Adimali), [Vathikudy](/source/Vathikudy), Maniyarankudy, Machiplavu, Korangatti, Kattappana, [Murickassery](/source/Murickassery), [Thopramkudy](/source/Thopramkudy), [Nedumkandam](/source/Nedumkandam), [Mankulam](/source/Mankulam_(Kerala)), Irumpupalam etc.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiantribalheritage.org/?p=5174|title=Burial of Ariyan Rajamannan: A traditional king of the Mannan tribe – Kerala {{!}} Tribal Cultural Heritage in India Foundation|website=www.indiantribalheritage.org|access-date=2016-12-01}}][{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/25922/11/11_chapter%204.pdf#page=62|title=11_chapter 4.pdf - Shodhganga shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in › bitstream|access-date=2016-12-01}}] The king has a council of 9 ministers named ''Kanis'' (community leaders) who assist him to settle the disputes regarding marriage, divorce, internal and external affairs.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/the-king-who-was-not|title=The King Who Was Not {{!}} OPEN Magazine|website=OPEN Magazine|access-date=2016-12-01}}] Annual meetings are held every year for the leaders who represents various kudis.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.focusonpeople.org/major_tribals_in_kerala.htm|title=Focus on People|website=www.focusonpeople.org|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232218/http://www.focusonpeople.org/major_tribals_in_kerala.htm|url-status=dead}}][{{Cite news|url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17636/IN|title=Mannan, caste in India|last=Project|first=Joshua|access-date=2016-12-02}}] These Kanis are also responsible to elect a new king after the death of any king. The current king of this community is 'Raman Raja Mannan', an economics graduate from [Maharaja's college](/source/Maharaja's_College%2C_Ernakulam) in [Eranakulam](/source/Eranakulam), who ascended the throne following the demise of his uncle 'Ariyan Raja Mannan', the 16th king of this tribal dynasty.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/the-king-takes-up-the-cause-of-the-commoner/article4684159.ece|title=The King takes up the cause of the commoner|last=Surendranath|first=Nidhi|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-01}}] It is believed that the Mannan community were the warrior tribe of [Pandyan](/source/Pandya_dynasty) lines, fled to the forest interiors of Idukki at time of the prolonged war between [Cheras](/source/Chera_dynasty) and [Cholas](/source/Chola_dynasty) in ancient [Tamilakam](/source/Tamilakam). Today, they hosts an annual festival named 'Kalavoottu' as a tribute to the nature for providing sufficient harvest. An '''Aadivasi Koothu''' is also conducted with the Kalavoottu festival which is primarily associated with the [Kovalan](/source/Kovalan)-[Kannagi](/source/Kannagi_(Tamil_mythology)) story, mentioned in the famous Tamil literary work '[Silappatikaram](/source/Silappatikaram)'. It is also organized during the death ceremonies of kings and at times of official annual meetings.[{{Cite web|url=http://indianfolklore.org/TataFellowships/?p=759|title=Oral Epics of Mannan Tribe, Kerala {{!}} Tata Fellowships in Folklore|website=indianfolklore.org|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517000724/http://indianfolklore.org/TataFellowships/?p=759|url-status=dead}}]
== Noted kings of Kovilmala ==
* '''Thevan Raja Mannan''': He was born in 1948 and became the raja in 1996 according to the matrilineal system of inheritance. He died of a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 54.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Mannan-tribe-gets-new-king/article14901292.ece|title=Mannan tribe gets new king|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-01}}][{{Cite web|url=http://www.groundreport.com/adivasi-raja-passes-away/|title=Adivasi Raja passes away - GroundReport|website=www.groundreport.com|access-date=2016-12-01}}]
* '''Ariyan Raja Mannan''': His real name is 'Rameshan'. He succeeded the former king 'Thevan Raja Mannan' and ascended the throne in 2007. But he died in 2011 at the age of 29 due to illness. The Kerala state government gave all honors to him at the time of his funeral. Ariyan Raja Mannan is widely acknowledged as the youngest king in the Mannan community.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/tribal-king-dies-of-heart-attack/article2754668.ece|title=Tribal king dies of heart attack|author=Staff Reporter|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-01}}]
* '''Raman Raja Mannan''': His original name is N. Binu, a native of Kumily Mannankudy. He succeeded Ariyan Raja Mannan on 4 March 2012. He is the only literate king among the Mannan community who received the graduation in economics from Eranakulam Maharaja's College.[{{Cite news|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2012/mammootty-kovilmala-king-raman-rajamannan-visit-097073.html|title=Kovilmala King visits Mamootty|date=2012-07-03|newspaper=www.filmibeat.com|access-date=2016-12-02}}]
== Access to Kovilmala ==
In the past, Accessing Kozhimala was quite difficult due to the absence of quality roads. But the transportation facilities were improved in the recent times as Kozhimala achieved great fame. The easiest route to Kozhimala is by Kattappana - Kanchiyar - Swaraj - Murikkattukudi route (14 km). Private buses operates to Kozhimala from Kattappana at regular intervals. Taxis are also available from the main junction at Swaraj.
=== Airports ===
The nearest airport to Kozhimala is [Cochin international airport](/source/Cochin_International_Airport) (118 km). [Thiruvananthapuram international airport](/source/Trivandrum_International_Airport) is at a distance of 205 km.
=== Railways ===
[Kaduthuruthy](/source/Kaduthuruthy) is the nearest railhead which is at a distance of 92 km. [Kottayam](/source/Kottayam_railway_station) (103 km), [Changanassery](/source/Changanassery) (104 km) and [Thiruvalla](/source/Tiruvalla) (110 km) are the other nearby railheads.
== See also ==
* [Mannan language](/source/Mannan_language)
* [Mannan people](/source/Mannan_people)
* [Kannambadi](/source/Kannambadi%2C_Idukki)
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Idukki district}}
Category:Villages in Idukki district
Category:Mannan
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kozhimala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhimala) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhimala?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.