History of Block Panchayat
The history of the Alathur region is rich with ancient settlements, Naduvazhi rule, and modern administrative reforms:
Ancient History: Archaeological evidence found on the banks of the Gayatripuzha River indicates that Alathur and its surrounding areas were inhabited since the Stone Age. Due to its strategic location near the Palakkad Pass, which connects Kerala with Tamil Nadu, it was an important trade and cultural route since the time of the early Chera kings. Stone inscriptions found in the region reveal the presence of ancient Jain religious centers here.
Rulership and colonial rule: For centuries, the area was under the rule of the Perumals, and later of local rulers like the Kollankode Rajas (Nellikkidaddu swaroopam) and Valluvakonathiri. During the British rule, it was included in the Palakkad taluk, part of the Malabar District of the Madras Presidency. The establishment of the Alathur Munsif Court in 1862 was an important milestone in the administrative development of the area.
Modern Decentralization: After the formation of Kerala in 1956, Palakkad Taluk was divided on 1 January 1957 to form Alathur Taluk. With the introduction of block systems for rural development, Alathur also became a development block. It was only with the enactment of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act of 1994 that the present-day Alathur Block Panchayat, which coordinates the village panchayats and carries out local development, was officially formed.
