Mankulam
Grama Panchayat

Most of the regions have stories to tell of migration and foreign rule. This region was previously under the rule of the Poonjar kings. During the reign of Tipu Sultan, Madurai, which was under the rule of the Dravidian king Tirumala Nayak, also came under attack. The people of those areas, who were afraid of the invasion, established five villages and settled there: Kanthalloor, Keezhanthoor, Karayoor, Marayoor and Kottakkudy. This area came to be known as Anchu Nadu. A hybrid Tamil-Malayalam culture prevails here. During the campaigns of Tipu Sultan, there was migration from Madurai to Marayoor. The migrants thus became a group and lived together and intermarried with each other.

It is said that they came to be called Muthuvans because they carried heavy loads on their backs (muthuku). Apart from them, there are several indigenous tribal communities in the block that encompasses this panchayat, each maintaining unique cultural traditions and rituals.

The legacy of an ancient administrative system—consisting of traditional roles like Manthrimar (ministers), Mannadiyar, Ooruthendakkar, and Maniyakkar—still persists among certain tribal groups today. An ancient panchayat system and Naattukoottangal (community gatherings), which served as early precursors to modern Grama Sabhas, were once prevalent among them. There are also tribal communities here that practice social ostracization (ooruvilakku) if an individual marries outside their own settlement (ooru).

The economy of Mankulam Grama Panchayat is purely agrarian. Tea, cardamom, coffee, and rubber are the major plantation crops. A significant portion of the total agricultural land is occupied by these plantation crops, with the Lakshmi Tea Estate being the primary tea plantation. The majority of the workers in these tea estates are migrants from Tamil Nadu. Rubber cultivation spans around 250 hectares in the Mankulam area, which was formerly a part of the Munnar Panchayat.

Remnants of the historic Old Aluva-Munnar Road, which passes through various wards of Mankulam Panchayat, can still be seen today. Among these are ancient milestone markers at 50th Mile and the ruins of a bungalow that reflects the grandeur of the British era. Additionally, the region features Muniyaras (megalithic dolmens where sages reportedly meditated) and the remains of large burial urns (Nannangadis).