# Ancient History
Wayanad had a culturally advanced population from as early as the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period. The prehistory revealed through the myths and legends of various tribal communities found here bears testimony to this. According to the inscriptions discovered in the Edakkal Caves, the region was ruled in ancient times by hill tribes. The last chieftains of this community were Arippan and Vedan, belonging to two families of the same lineage. Areas north of Panamaram were under the rule of King Arippan. King Vedan became extinct through the treachery of the king of Kumbala Maippadi.
The tribal communities such as the Paniyas, Mullukurumas, Oorali Kurumas, Kattunaikkans, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas have lived in various parts of Wayanad for centuries. The Paniyas, who were permanent residents of Ippimala; the Kurumas, known for their prestige and association with the Vedan lineage; the Oorali Kurumas, believed to be descendants of the Nagas; and the Adiyans, descendants of Kiyoruthi and Melorachavan, possess rich cultural traditions.
Among these, the Adiyan community is found in significant numbers in Mananthavady, second only to Thirunelli. Certain areas near Mananthavady are linked to the myths of the Adiyans associated with Thirunelli and Pakkam. Their rich tradition of narrative songs is well known.
Many settlements of the Paniya community, who are spread across regions from Palakkad to Malappuram, are located in Mananthavady. They are accorded a special place in the Valliyoorkavu Temple. The Oorali Kurumas, known for their craftsmanship, live in places such as Chaligadda and Mullanthara in Mananthavady. They traditionally manufacture all essential tools and household items needed by their communities.
The Kurichiyas were loyal allies of Pazhassi Raja. Evidence of the early use of the wheel by the ancient inhabitants of the region comes from a wooden wheel discovered on the banks of a river in Wayanad. Wayanad was one of the few centers in ancient India where people fashioned wooden logs into wheels, attached them to axles, and used them as vehicles. A complete inscription of Vishnusharma dating to the 5th century CE has also been found in the Edakkal Caves.
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# History of the Place Name
An inscription in Kannada script found on the underside of a copper water-channel plate preserved at the Ananthanatha Swami Temple in Varadoor refers to Mananthavady as "Hosengadi." A widely accepted theory suggests that the name Mananthavady evolved from "Mane Eytha Vadi" (the place where a deer was shot). The place name Ambukuthi ("arrow strike") is often cited in support of this theory.
Place names such as Ondayangadi, Payyampally, and Oorpally reflect the influence of Jainism in the region. Among tribal communities, the area is referred to as "Manthodi." During the period of Pazhassi Raja, Mananthavady, then known as Vemom, formed part of Elamkoor Nadu. Under British rule, it was called "Manantody" and also "Wayanad Bazaar."
It is believed that Hosengadi, meaning "new market," emerged between Thirachulari, which became a town after the fall of the Mahodayapuram kings, and Puthanangadi, known for pearl trading. In more recent times, Mananthavady has also been known as Chettitheruvu, Erumattheruvu, and Anchampeedika.
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# Administrative History
According to the Edakkal Cave inscriptions, Wayanad was originally ruled by hill tribes. Arippan and Vedan were the last rulers of this lineage. Areas north of Panamaram were under Arippan's rule. Vedan Raja disappeared following the betrayal of the king of Kumbala Maippadi.
The history of Wayanad was collected and documented from oral traditions following an order of the Malabar District Court in 1810. These accounts also appear in Mackenzie's manuscripts.
After eliminating the Vedan rulers and usurping the rights of a local chieftain known as Parakkumittal, the Kottayam Raja began ruling Wayanad. During Hyder Ali's invasion, Ravi Varma, the Kottayam Raja, sought refuge in Travancore with his family. During Mysore's second invasion, he returned with military forces and regained control of Wayanad. After the war, Wayanad was divided into several regions, one of which was Elamkoor Nadu, which included present-day Mananthavady. Vemoth Nambiar served as the local chieftain (Madampi).
On March 18, 1792, under the peace treaty between the East India Company and Tipu Sultan, sovereignty over Malabar was transferred to the British. Pazhassi Raja strongly opposed this arrangement because the Company failed to honor its promise of restoring authority to local rulers. He successfully mobilized people against British rule, prompting British administrators to devise strategies to suppress him.
By April 1805, Pazhassi Raja's position had weakened considerably. When T.H. Baber, the Malabar Sub-Collector, assumed command of Company forces, Pazhassi's situation became even more difficult. On November 30, 1805, he died heroically at Mavilanthottam near Pulpally. His body was brought to Mananthavady the next day under heavy guard and cremated at Thazheyangadi according to Brahmin rituals. His remains were later buried near the hospital. The tomb built by the British and the tree that grew over it remain historical landmarks.
A British-built gunpowder storage facility near Chuttakkadavu still stands as a reminder of those conflicts. Pazhassi Raja died at the age of 47. Following his death, the Kurichiya military force declined.
According to a report prepared by Robinson in 1856, Elamkoor Nadu was divided into new administrative units including Vemom and Thirunelli. Although private coffee plantations existed around Mananthavady by 1830, a Ceylon planter named Pugh established a coffee plantation there around 1835. Coffee cultivation was initially introduced as an occupation for soldiers stationed in the region. Tea plantations were established in Chirakkara and Jessy by 1854. By 1892, the firm Peary & Company had established a presence in the area.
William Logan's *Malabar Manual* (1887) records that Mananthavady housed offices of officials including a Deputy Collector with magisterial powers, a Police Inspector, a Sub-Registrar, and a Sub-Assistant Conservator of Forests. There was also a government middle school and a post office. Prior to 1886, medical officers in Mananthavady were Europeans. A European club stood on what is now known as Club Hill, along with a canteen serving its members.
Initially under the authority of the Thalassery Sub-Collector during East India Company rule, Mananthavady later came under a separate Deputy Collector during British administration. From 1859 to 1879, the Deputy Collector possessed civil judicial powers.
When the Forest Department was established in 1859, Wayanad's forests were divided into fourteen blocks. A Forest Officer, a Sub-Assistant Conservator, and twenty foresters were appointed for forest management, with the Sub-Assistant Conservator's office located in Mananthavady.
Mananthavady Panchayat was established in 1935, though Kaniyaram and Ozhakodi were not initially included. The Panchayat then covered only about twenty square kilometers. In 2015, Mananthavady was upgraded to a municipality.
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# Social and Cultural History
As in the rest of Wayanad, agriculture was the foundation of life in Mananthavady. Much of the agricultural land belonged to the Sree Valliyoorkavu Devaswom and the Vadiyoor Devaswom at Koyileri. Brahmins, Chettis, Gowdas, and other landlords controlled the land, while tenant farmers cultivated it.
Under the traditional landlord-tenant system, tenants held land through lease agreements. For paddy cultivation, tenants paid rent in the form of paddy equivalent to the quantity of seed supplied. For dry land, the rent was five rupees per acre. Agricultural labor was largely performed by Paniyas, Kurichiyas, Adiyans, and Kurumas.
Migration into the region began in the 1930s and became particularly active during the 1960s. Until then, paddy cultivation had been the primary agricultural activity.
The population included Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and Jains, as well as communities such as Yadavas, Chettis, and Tamil Brahmins. During the food shortages associated with World War II, many Christian families migrated from Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, and Pala and settled in different parts of the area.
The descendants of Pathans and other Muslims who arrived during Tipu Sultan's military campaigns also settled in Mananthavady. The tribal communities of the region possess rich and diverse cultural traditions.
Mananthavady was once home to large numbers of tigers. Many areas of the present town that are now densely populated were formerly thick forests. Roads, bridges, and electricity were scarce. Authorities arranged for lamps to be lit at major junctions during the night.
Bus services connected Mananthavady with Thalassery, Kozhikode, and Mysore. During World War II, when petrol was scarce, buses operated using coir and charcoal as fuel. It was common for residents to seek treatment from Krishnan Vaidyar in Vadakara when illness struck.
Malaria, which affected much of Wayanad, was also prevalent in Mananthavady. In 1946–47, fears of a plague outbreak led authorities to close the town and even dismantle house roofs to destroy rats.
Many local residents actively participated in India's freedom struggle. In the early years, films were shown through touring talkies, with Ambukuthi serving as a major center.
One of the most famous places of worship in Mananthavady is Valliyoorkavu Temple, whose architecture reflects a Dravidian style. The first Christian church, Amalothbhava Church, was established in 1848. A small church stood at the present location, while another existed at Pathivayal, primarily serving converts from the Kurichiya community. Over time, additional churches were established for these communities.
The Pattani Mosque and the Muslim mosque at Thazheyangadi were among the earliest Muslim places of worship. Notable religious sites also include the recently built Jain temple at Oorpally and the Kanchikamaksiyamman Temple at Erumattheruvu, dedicated to the Yadava community.
The diverse religious practices of the various tribal communities remain an important cultural feature of Mananthavady today.
