Anakkara, Palakkad

Anakkara is a town and grama panchayath in Palakkad district of Kerala. The town is on Palakkad Malappuram border. Chekanoor in Malappuram district is just one kilometer away from Anakkara. It is a junction town where Kandanakam – Anakkara road and Kumbidi – Neeliyad road intersect. Padinjarangadi road also originates from Anakkara.

Anakkara is well connected by roads and has approximately 8 kilometers distance to Kuttipuram and Edappal. Anakkara lies very close to Bharathappuzha, second longest river in Kerala.

Anakkara and surrounding areas have long history of human settlement. In the hills of Anakkara panchayath, different burial sites and cemeteries have been found during archeological excavations. Bharathappuzha valley in Anakkara grama panchayath is one of the old Brahmin settlement in Kerala. All Brahmin illams were situated within a radius of 20 kilometers from Sree Varahamoorthy temple.

Sree Varahamoorthy Temple

Panniyoor Sree Varahamoorthy Bhoomidevi temple is believed to be the first temple in Kerala. Parashuram after the victory over Kshatriyas donated everything to Kashyap. He sought a peaceful land for meditation. So he pulled out a peace of land from the sea and with advice of Lord Vishnu he erected the temple in the middle of erected land. It is said that Panniyoor temple was worshipped as the supreme God of Kerala for almost 1300 years from 800 BC to 600 AD during the reign of Brahmanas in Kerala. Some archeological evidences found from Kumbidi and surrounding areas show that there was an active organisation called “Panniyoorayiram” existed here. There were 1000 members who carried out all cultural and religious activities of the temple. Panniyoor is one of the oldest Brahmin settlement on the Bharathappuzha shore in Kerala. During the early medieval times, all illams were situated within a radius of 20 kilometers from the Varahamoorthy temple.

Vadakkath Tharavadu

Vadakkath house near Kumbidi in Anakkara panchayath is a prominent family which provides several women heroes and revolutionaries to the Indian national movement, arts, culture and politics. A.V Kuttimalu Amma was a courageous freedom fighter of the Indian national movement. She was one of the important figures of Civil disobedience movement and Quit India movement and later was arrested by British Government. Ammu Swaminathan was another freedom fighter and was the member of Constituent assembly of India. She was also elected to Rajyasabha from Madras state.

Captain Lakshmi Seghal and Mrinalini Sarabhai were the daughters of Ammu swaminathan. Captain Lakshmi Seghal was a prominent freedom fighter and revolutionary of Indian national movement. She joined Indian National Army (INA) under the command of Subhash Chandra Bose. She became the minister of Women’s affairs in Azad Hind Fauj Government. In 2002 she was nominated as a Presidential candidate by Left parties in the Indian Presidential election, but lost election to Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Mrinalini Sarabhai, a prominent Bharathanatyam dancer, married famous Indian scientist Vikram Sarabhai. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Subhashini Ali is the daughter of Captain Lakshmi Seghal