Omalloor
Grama Panchayat

It is believed that human habitation in this region dates back more than a thousand years. During the period when Central Travancore was divided into several small principalities, the kingdoms of Kayamkulam, Pandalam, Chembakassery, Thekkumkoor, and Vadakkumkoor were among the most prominent. The areas extending eastward from Pandalam were under the rule of the King of Pandalam.

The administration and governance of Omalloor were carried out by a group of local feudal chiefs known as the Thampurakkans, who served as vassals under the Pandalam Raja. Their headquarters was known as Koyikkal, and almost the entire land of the village was under their ownership and control.

Between 1740 and 1750 AD, Maharaja Marthanda Varma conquered the principalities extending from Kollam to the southern boundary of the Kingdom of Cochin and established the Kingdom of Travancore. Pandalam and Omalloor subsequently became part of the Travancore Kingdom.

One of the most significant historical landmarks of Omalloor is the Omalloor Vayal Vanibham (Agricultural Trade Fair), one of the largest agricultural and commercial fairs in the former Travancore region. Although its exact origin remains unknown, the fair is believed to have been celebrated for several centuries and is associated with numerous local legends.

According to a popular legend, a bull escaped from the Velinalloor trade fair in southern Travancore and ran northwards until it reached the paddy fields of Omalloor. A local farmer tied the animal to a wooden stake in the middle of the field. The stake later grew into a large Pala tree, which still stands today as a living memorial to the historic trade fair.

The Vayal Vanibham continues to be celebrated every year from the first day of the Malayalam month of Meenam. In earlier times, the cattle fair lasted for more than a week, while the general trade fair continued for nearly a month. Farmers from the present-day districts of Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Kottayam brought livestock for trade.

During the fair, special sittings of the Tahsildar Magistrate Court, initially from Chengannur and later from Pathanamthitta, were held in Omalloor to hear and dispose of legal matters related to the fair.

Omalloor is home to several ancient temples, including the renowned Sree Rakthakantha Swamy Temple and Thazhoor Bhagavathy Temple. The Omalloor Temple, believed to be over 800 years old, is associated with many legends. It is one of the rare temples in Kerala where the Arattu procession is conducted on nine consecutive days during its ten-day annual festival. The temple also preserves unique stone-carved artifacts, including a Nadaswaram and Chengala, which are considered valuable archaeological treasures.

The Omalloor Valiyapally (Great Church) has a history of more than 400 years. When the construction of the church at Manjinikkara faced difficulties, permission was granted by the Pandalam Raja to build the church on Koyikkal land, about half a kilometre west of the Omalloor Temple.

In 1909, when the Government High School (then newly established) was sanctioned for Omalloor, classes initially functioned in the church building.

Another well-known place of worship is the Manjinikkara Church, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from across Kerala every year on 13 February (Kumbham 1).

In 1110 M.E., a public meeting held at Omalloor Althara Maidanam featured speeches by Harijan leader P. C. Adichan and several distinguished members of the Brahmin community.

Mahatma Gandhi received a grand public reception at Omalloor during his visit in 1937. National leaders such as Vinoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan were also welcomed by the people of Omalloor.

A remarkable example of communal harmony in Omalloor is that one of the trustees responsible for the administration of the Sree Rakthakantha Swamy Temple belonged to the Christian Vadakkedath family.

Since 1930, Omalloor has celebrated a Joint Christmas Celebration, one of the earliest public Christmas events in Central Travancore.

When Moran Mor Elias III, the Patriarch of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, passed away at Manjinikkara Church in 1932 during his visit from Antioch, members of the Hindu community also strongly supported his wish to be buried there instead of transporting his body elsewhere. This remains a remarkable symbol of the village's enduring religious harmony.

Omalloor has long been recognised as a centre of Sanskrit education. The Aryabharathi Vidyapeetham, one of the leading Sanskrit institutions in Central Travancore, attracted students from distant regions. It was later converted into a Malayalam-medium High School.

The village was also known for its skilled traditional stone artisans. The temple's stone-carved Nadaswaram and Chengala stand as enduring examples of their craftsmanship.

Following the establishment of the Kingdom of Travancore by Maharaja Marthanda Varma, a formal civil administrative system was introduced in the region. Before the formation of Pathanamthitta Taluk, Omalloor remained under the jurisdiction of the Chengannur Mandapathumvathukkal Office, which functioned as both the Taluk Office and Treasury.

Omalloor had its own Assembly constituency during both the Travancore Assembly and the Travancore-Cochin Assembly, covering much of the present-day Pathanamthitta Assembly Constituency. The Pathanamthitta Assembly Constituency was formed in 1957.

Panchayat administration was introduced in Omalloor in 1941. In the first Panchayat election held in the Travancore-Cochin State in August 1953, a Panchayat Committee was constituted under the presidency of Veera Kerala Varma Raja of Velliyathumuri Koyikkal, Manjinikkara.

After the formation of the State of Kerala, another Panchayat election was held in 1963, resulting in the formation of a seven-member Panchayat Committee. T. N. Pappi was elected as its President.