Country India District Palakkad Vehicle registration KL-52 Area 20.95 km² Population 22,601 (2001) | State Kerala Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Elevation 11 m Local time Sunday 5:01 AM | |
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Weather 27°C, Wind N at 3 km/h, 91% Humidity | ||
Kumbidi ( Malayalam:കുമ്പിടി ) is a village in Pattambi taluk of Palakkad district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters and main commercial centre of Anakkara Panchayath. It is situated in the western end of Palakkad district on the banks of River Nila(Bharathapuzha). Kumbidi town area extends from town centre to the surrounding areas such as Ummathur, Thottazhiyam, Perumbalam, Panniyur, Puramathilssery, Maniyam Perumbalam and Melazhiyam.
Contents
- Map of Kumbidi Kerala
- Anakkara Vadakkath Family
- Archeology
- Suburbs and Villages
- Transportation
- References
Map of Kumbidi, Kerala
Kumbidi is the site for the proposed Kalagramam by The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, a village for artists and sculptures. It will come up in 5 acres of land on the banks of River Nila, is aimed at accommodating artists and sculptures along with their families and provide them facilities to pursue their creative work. Major offices like Panchayat Office, PHC, Krishi Bhavan, Village Office, SBT, CO-operative Bank etc. are situated at Kumbidi Town. There is one River Gauge Station running under The Central Water Commission(CWC;Govt. Of India) in Kumbidi to examining the quantity and quality of water in the Bharathapuzha River.
Anakkara Vadakkath Family
The Legendary Vadakkath Tharavadu at Anakkara, a nalukkettu of architectural beauty is only 5 km from Kumbidi Town. It gives birth to some of the great personalities to the nation like A.V.Kuttymalu Amma, a freedom fighter and Congress leader. She and her husband late K. Madhava Menon were among the pioneers of the freedom movement under the leadership of the Congress party. Freedom fighter and member of the Constituent Assembly of India late Ammu Swaminathan (1874-1978) is also a member of this family. Lakshmi Sehgal or Captain Laxmi, an ex-officer of the Indian National Army, is another illustrious member of the Anakkara Vadakkath family. All India Democratic Women’s Association president Subhashini Ali is the daughter of Captain Laxmi.
Yet another famous member of the family is Mrinalini Sarabhai, renowned classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. Ms. Sarabhai is the widow of Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian Space Programme. Her daughter Mallika Sarabhai is an activist and Indian classical dancer.
It was constructed by P. Govinda Menon and his brother P. Theyunni Menon in 1896, ‘Vadakkath’ mansion is a typical existing example of traditional Kerala style house. G. Susheela, herself a freedom fighter, is the lone member living in this illustrious Tharavad now.
Archeology
The hills of Anakkara and Kumbidi is becoming a site of great archeological importance because of many recent findings. The archeological excavation gives the evidences of first excavated Iron-Age habitation-cum-burial site in Kerala. Archaeologists have discovered a pre-historic necropolis (cemetery) with megalithic cairn circles dating back 2,500 years, many post holes that probably point to the ancient practice of excarnation, a 'wood-henge'-like ritual monument and a site of primitive astronomical intelligence.
The excavation of the cairn circle and archaeological experimentation with postholes are attracting scholars from the neighbouring States. K. Rajan (Head, Department of Archaeology, Pondicherry University), P. Rajendran (Vice Chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur), Athiyaman and Selvakumar (Archaeology Department, Tamil University), P.J. Cherian (Director, KCHR), Hemendran (Director, State Department of Archaeology) are among those who have already visited the site.
Suburbs and Villages
Transportation
Kumbidi town connects to other parts of India through Palakkad city. National Highway No.544 connects to Coimbatore and Bangalore. Other parts of Kerala is accessed through National Highway No.66 going through Thrissur. Calicut International Airport, Cochin International Airport and Coimbatore Airport are the nearest airports. Shoranur Junction railway station is the nearest major railway station.