On our trip to Mala Giby's farm on Dec 25th of 2025 to attend Reenu's marriage, I was surprised to find Kothi kallu in the outer boundary of the property. I had found a similar Kothikallu in my daughter-in-law Anna's property in Aarakkunnam. The info then was totally new to me and I was taken aback by it. The highlight of her property in Aarakkunnam is this stone, no doubt.
History sleeps in that place. This was the main trading areas during the Muziris port times, about 2000 years back, though the stones are just around three hundred years old, the age of Travancore and Kochi kingdoms. These stones are part of history and are preserved by the owners as very valuable property. Here is some info on these stones.
These stones, often made of granite and shaped like milestones (typically 6–10 feet tall with a square cross-section), feature inscriptions:
- The Malayalam letter "เดൊ" (Ko) on one side, facing the Cochin side.
- "เดคി" (Thi)on the opposite side, facing the Travancore side (short for Thiruvithamkoor).
They were placed along the boundary line, sometimes 15–30 meters apart in certain areas, to clearly demarcate territories and resolve disputes. This was particularly important for trade, customs, and administration, as goods moving across borders (especially via waterways in the coastal Muziris region) required clear demarcation.
Historical Context
The boundary stones date back to the 18th century, during the expansion of Travancore under rulers like Marthanda Varma and Dharma Raja, who extended their kingdom northward to the borders of Cochin. Areas like North Paravur and Alangad shifted hands, and these stones helped formalize the borders. Some were placed near forts, canals, rivers, or significant houses.
Many surviving Kothikallu are found in the ancient Muziris heritage region (around Kodungallur-North Paravur in present-day Ernakulam and Thrissur districts), as well as other spots like:
- Chathedam–Thuruthippuram
- Cherai
- Palarivattom
- Tripunithura
- Karingachira
- Annamanada
They hold archaeological significance as remnants of Kerala's pre-independence princely state era.
After India's independence, Cochin and Travancore merged in 1949 to form Travancore-Cochin (Thiru-Kochi), and in 1956, this united with Malabar to form modern Kerala, rendering the boundaries obsolete.
Some of these stones today are preserved by the owners of the land or noted in heritage sites, and they serve as references in local land surveys. They symbolize the historical division (and eventual unity) of these kingdoms.
