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Mathrumala is an attractive hilltop destination located nearly 16 kilometers east to Kottayam town in Kooroppada, Kottayam District, Kerala, India. Mathrumala can be easily accessed through the Kottayam- Kumili road by taking a deviation from Manarcaud towards Oravakkal and then to Kooroppada. The hill top is nearly one and half kilometers away from Kooroppada crossroads.

A well-defined natural elevation smaller than a mountain, Mathrumala is covered by lush green vegetation and rubber plantations. Hilltop is covered with hard laterite and soil and gives the scenic view of approximately 50 kilometers around. The hilltop has a temple shrine dedicated to Rajarajeshwari (Devi). Mathrumala hilltop has become a favourite spot for the devotees, nature enthusiasts, photographers, trekkers and leisurely visitors.

History

As per the known history, Mathrumala, a part of Kooroppada, is the place where Thekkumkur Kings with their headquarters at Vennimala accommodated their royal army. In AD 1749 King Marthanda Varma captured Thekkumkur and annexed it to Venad. Previous land lords namely Ambazhathunkal Karthas were removed from their posts and a large portion of the land then came under the tenancy of Kolathettu family who were migrated to Kooroppada from Kolathunadu. The area including Mathrumala had the dwellings of farm laborers from Paraya community who used to work in the vast stretch of land owned by the Kolathettu family. These farm labourers had their Kuladevata (deity) namely ‘Saptamathrukkal’ installed on hilltop and regular offerings were done.

By early fifties, the legal custody of Mathrumala came through inheritance to the progeny of Kolathettu family namely Chempakasseril Thankamma, Tharavattathil Pappiyamma, Champakara Savithriyamma and Asariparambil Gopala Pillai. And in mid sixties, Assariparambil Gopala Pillai sold 30 cents of land next to hill top to Padoor Sreedharan Pillai. This portion of land was again sold to Shri Scaria Kalayil, who with the help of the Holy Cross Church administration, Kooropada, erected an iron holy cross on hilltop though the land was not officially owned by them. This incursion created so much tension in the area and took a communal tone dividing Christians and Hindus of the area who were otherwise lived amicably. In 1967 Shri Mulanthanathu G. Raman Nair and his sisters who inherited the property had filed a case in Kottayam Munsiff Court. The case continued for nearly 15 years and at last the verdict came against Holy Cross Church administration favoring plaintiffs and the Church was compelled to handover the land to the Committee constituted to rebuild the primitive temple which was once known as ‘Saptamathrukkal’ and was worshipped by the sons of the soil. The holy cross was also removed subsequently. Chempakasseril Thankamma and her sisters wholeheartedly donated 2 acre 25 cents of land owned by them to the temple for further expansion. This temple is now being managed by the Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.

How to reach

Nearest Bus Station: Kooroppada (Buses are available from Pampady and Manarcaud).

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam.

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

The hilltop can be accessed from two different directions; through Pangada and also through Kooroppada crossroads.

Reference

http://www.keralatourism.org/routes-locations/mathrumala/id/9895

http://www.onefivenine.com/india/Places/checkin/mathrumala-devi-temple

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 As per the known history, Mathrumala, a part of [[Kooroppada]], is the place where [[Thekkumkur]] Kings with their headquarters at Vennimala accommodated their royal army. In AD 1749 King [[Marthanda Varma]] captured [[Thekkumkur]] and annexed it to [[Venad]]. Previous land lords namely Ambazhathunkal Karthas were removed from their posts and a large portion of the land then came under the tenancy of Kolathettu family who were migrated to Kooroppada from [[Kolathunadu]].  The area including Mathrumala had the dwellings of farm laborers from Paraya community who used to work in the vast stretch of land owned by the Kolathettu family. These farm labourers had their [[Kuladevata]] (deity) namely ‘Saptamathrukkal’ installed on hilltop and regular offerings were done.
-By early fifties, the legal custody of Mathrumala came through inheritance to the progeny of Kolathettu family namely Chempakasseril Thankamma, Tharavattathil Pappiyamma, Champakara Savithriyamma and Asariparambil Gopala Pillai.  And in mid sixties, Assariparambil Gopala Pillai sold 30 cents of land next to hill top to Padoor Sreedharan Pillai.  This portion of land was again sold to Shri Scaria Kalayil, who with the help of the Holy Cross Church administration, Kooropada, erected an iron holy cross on hilltop though the land was not officially owned by them.  This incursion created so much tension in the area and took a communal tone dividing Christians and Hindus of the area who were otherwise lived amicably. In 1967 Shri Mulanthanathu G. Raman Nair and his sisters who inherited the property had filed a case in Kottayam Munsiff Court.  The case continued for nearly 15 years and at last the verdict came against Holy Cross Church administration who were compelled to handover the land to the committee constituted to rebuild the primitive temple which was once known as ‘Saptamathrukkal’ and was worshipped by the sons of the soil.  The holy cross was also removed subsequently.  Chempakasseril Thankamma and her sisters wholeheartedly donated 2 acre 25 cents of land owned by them to the temple for further expansion.  This temple is now being managed by the Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.
+By early fifties, the legal custody of Mathrumala came through inheritance to the progeny of Kolathettu family namely Chempakasseril Thankamma, Tharavattathil Pappiyamma, Champakara Savithriyamma and Asariparambil Gopala Pillai.  And in mid sixties, Assariparambil Gopala Pillai sold 30 cents of land next to hill top to Padoor Sreedharan Pillai.  This portion of land was again sold to Shri Scaria Kalayil, who with the help of the Holy Cross Church administration, Kooropada, erected an iron holy cross on hilltop though the land was not officially owned by them.  This incursion created so much tension in the area and took a communal tone dividing Christians and Hindus of the area who were otherwise lived amicably. In 1967 Shri Mulanthanathu G. Raman Nair and his sisters who inherited the property had filed a case in Kottayam Munsiff Court.  The case continued for nearly 15 years and at last the verdict came against Holy Cross Church administration favoring plaintiffs and the Church was compelled to handover the land to the Committee constituted to rebuild the primitive temple which was once known as ‘Saptamathrukkal’ and was worshipped by the sons of the soil.  The holy cross was also removed subsequently.  Chempakasseril Thankamma and her sisters wholeheartedly donated 2 acre 25 cents of land owned by them to the temple for further expansion.  This temple is now being managed by the Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.
 ==How to reach==