Palai

Palai is a central town in Kottayam district. There are many legends about how this region became known as Palai. Palai is believed to be an old time holy place of Hindus. The very word Palai was derived from Palazhi, the mythological Ocean of Milk from which nectar or “amrutha” was churned out. It is also believed that the word comes from ‘Palathu Chettiyar families, the then prominent settlers of the region. Another school maintains that the first group of Christian settlers who came from Paloor was instrumental in christening the place Palai. According to another school, the palayam ( fort) of the Meenachil Karthas (the ruling family ) was situated in the region and so the name Palai got established. The first Kartha families were known as Njavakattu Karthas.

Palai was the headquarters of the Meenachil region. Meenachil derives its name from the famous Meenachil river. It is believed that the famous Palai market was established in 1736. It is then Meenachil Karthas who decided to allot a place to the Christians to form a market. It is believed that later a Meenakshi temple was established somewhere on the shores and over centuries, the holy abode of Meenakshi came to be known as Meenachil.