Pazhassi Raja Museum - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting
Tombs
Museums
Things to know
Pazhassi tomb and museum, the memorial of Pazhassi Raja is situated at Mananthavady. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, also called the lion of Kerala organised guerrilla wars against the spread and dominance of the British India Company in the region.
About Pazhassi Raja and his raids on British
Pazhassi was a prince belonging to the Kottayam royal family who garnered tremendous support from the tribal people called Kurichias for his wars against the British. After the Mysore King Tipu Sultan, Pazhassi Raja was the last ruler to rebel against the British in Kerala.
He met his death in 1805, betrayed by someone from his inner circle. The British came to know of the prince's whereabouts through the betrayer and attacked and killed him. There are two different versions of the story of his death. One says that he poisoned himself to prevent capture but the other indicates he was killed in combat. His body was taken to Mananthavady and his rival, Malabar sub-collector Mr. Babar cremated the body with respect. The current monument stands at the place where the Pazhassi Raja was cremated.
The tomb and the museum
In addition to the tomb of the prince, there is a small underground museum here. It has limited collections of local artefacts and weapons such as swords and arrows used in Pazhassi's time. Some of his possessions such as mural paintings, ancient coins, models of temples, and umbrella stones are also housed in this museum.
Getting to the Museum
The tomb is 1 KM from Mananthavady town of Wayanad district in Kerala State of Southern India. Mananthawady is well connected with buses to other cities of Kerala. The nearest train station is in Kozhikode, there are no railway stations in the entire district of Wayanad.
Activities Around
Attractions Near Pazhassi Raja Museum
Valliyoorkavu
3.21km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy Temple, the 14th-century temple dedicated to goddess Durga is located at the high hills of Valliyoorkavu, 3 KM’s from Mananthavady town in Wayanad district of Kerala. It is believed that the idol of the goddess is self-manifested. The temple is a prominent place of worship for tribal communities. The goddess manifests in three forms, ‘Vana Durga’ (forest goddess), ‘Jala Durga’(Water goddess) and ‘Bhadrakaali’ (The auspicious form of goddess Kali who protects the good).
Kuruvadweep
10.22km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
Group of islets in the Kabini River covered in evergreen forest with rich flora and fauna.
Panamaram Jain Temple
11.69km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
Amidst coffee plantations and right on a the sides of a highway remains the ruins of a Jain Temple, one of the oldest in India.
Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple
12.3km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple or Thirunelli Temple as generally called is an ancient Vishnu Temple. Located on the side of Brahmagiri hill in Kerala, it is a melting pot of myths and history. The temple is at an altitude of about 900 meters in a valley surrounded by mountains and beautiful forests.
Banasura Sagar Dam
15.26km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
Banasura Sagar dam which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabani river is a part of the Indian Banasura Sagar project consisting of a dam and a canal project started in 1979.
Meenmutty waterfalls-Wayanad
15.53km from Pazhassi Raja Museum
The tallest falls in Wayanad district, cascading through three stages at a height of 300 meters.