History of Grama Panchayat
Varappetty region was formerly under the rule of the Karoor Kingdom, which had its headquarters at Thrikkariyoor. It is said that a “petty” (box or chest) was used in this area for collecting and storing taxes or revenue (“vaaram”), and over time, the place where the box was kept came to be known as “Varappetty.”
Athippilly Mundan of Elangav was a person from this Panchayat who participated in the Indian National Movement. The first school in Varappetty was established in 1898 at Padinjareparambu. The Vazhakulam–Kothamangalam road, an important route, passes through this Panchayat. The Panchayat was officially formed in 1953, and its first President was Prof. V. J. Joseph Kandavath.
Areas that are now part of Paingottoor Panchayat were once under the Vadakkumkoor Kingdom. Kottappara, which marked the beginning of the fort separating the kingdoms of Thekkumkoor and Vadakkumkoor, and the vast fertile paddy fields known as Kottappadam, faded into history following the invasion of Venad ruler Marthanda Varma.
The famous Mahadeva Temple in Varappetty is believed to be over a thousand years old. Major places of worship in the area include the Inchur Mar Thoma Syrian Church established in January 1918, St. Mary’s Knanaya Church founded in 1895, Inchur St. Antony’s Church established in 1931, and several Muslim mosques.
Elders believe that the great flood of Kollavarsham 1099 brought major changes to the geography of this region. Varappetty is a hill-side Gram Panchayat bordering Idukki district and possesses all the characteristics of a high-range village. The Panchayat has a rich historical background.
Centuries ago, the ancestors who migrated here fought against wild animals such as elephants, tigers, bears, and wild buffaloes while clearing the dense forests for cultivation. The idols, stone sculptures, and ruins of walls and houses discovered during this process stand as evidence of an ancient civilization and culture that once existed here.
People from different regions migrated to this area mainly for agriculture. Paddy cultivation was the primary occupation in the early days. Later, farmers began cultivating commercial crops such as ginger grass, coconut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, cashew, and rubber.