Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad, formerly known as Mannarghat, is a major municipal town in Palakkad district of the Indian state of Kerala. The Silent Valley National Park and the Attappadi Reserve Forest are located in Mannarkkad Taluk. Mannarkkad is situated 36 km away from district headquarters Palakkad on National Highway 966. It is the traditional seat of the Mannarghat Moopil Nair.
History
Mannarkkad and Attappadi were parts of Valluvanad Swaroopam dynasty in medieval period with their headquarters at Angadipuram near Perinthalmanna in present-day Malappuram district. According to local legends, the last Cheraman Perumal ruler gave a vast extension of land in South Malabar during his journey to Mecca to one of their governors, Valluvakonathiri, and left for pilgrimage.During the last decades of the eighteenth century, the region came under the control of the vast Kingdom of Mysore. Under British Raj, it was a part of Valluvanad Taluk of Malappuram Revenue Division in Malabar District. Mannarkkad, along with the towns of Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Manjeri, Pandikkad, and Tirurangadi, was one of the main centres of the Malabar Rebellion of 1921.
Walluvanad Taluk was divided into six Revenue blocks: Mankada, Perinthalmanna, Mannarkkad, Ottapalam, Sreekrishnapuram, and Pattambi. On 1 January 1957, Palakkad district was formed consisting of 6 taluks. Mannarkad was part of Perinthalmanna taluk which was part of Palakkad district until the formation of Malappuram district. During the formation of Malappuram district on 16 June 1969, the Revenue blocks of Mannarkkad and Attappadi were separated from Perinthalmanna Taluk and Mannarkkad became an independent taluk.
Later some years, a portion of Karuvarakundu village in Eranad Taluk of Malappuram district was transferred to the Silent Valley area of Mannarkkad Taluk. In 2021 Attapady was separated from Mannarkad taluk and became independent taluk with taluk headquarters at Agali.