Kerala, also known as God’s Own Country, is a prominent Indian State. Its picturesque locations, beautiful backwaters, and ecotourism initiatives are known. It is among the popular tourist destinations in India. Within this beautiful state lies the Marottichal village.
Often referred to as a sleepy village, the Marottichal village is located in the Thrissur district in Kerala. It is at a distance of about 15 Km from Thrissur Town. Although it is more famous for the big and small Waterfalls found here, there is another reason you can visit this place.
People in this village are often found playing chess. It is like an addiction to them. That is why it came to be known as the Chess Village of India. But it was not always like that.
Let’s know more about this unique village in India:
How did Marottichal become the chess village of India?
Almost five decades ago, during the 60s and 70s, the Marottichal Village was the complete opposite of what it is today. It was infamous for the ill practices here. Alcoholism, gambling, and domestic violence were common in this village. The residents of this village were also found brewing their alcohol. It was to the extent that all attempts made to stop these ill habits went in vain. That is when the game of chess rescued this village.
Mr. Unnikrishnan, a teashop owner in the village was very fond of this Indian-origin game. He was so attached to it that he wanted to teach it to the people of his village. After learning it himself, he gave free chess-playing lessons to the villagers. His teashop has become a place where anyone can come and play chess at any time.
This is the only village in India where thousands of people learn how to play chess. Gradually, they became so addicted to it that they left all their unhealthy habits. Currently, around 90% of this village’s population are chess players, irrespective of gender and age.
How to reach the Marottichal Village?
To reach the Marottichal Village, you need to go to Thrissur first. You can get there in the following ways:
- By Road
Thrissur is well connected with other districts of Kerala. It can be easily reached from Cochin, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts. National Highway 47 is the nearest. It passes through Mannuthy, which is at a distance of 6 km from Thrissur city. It also has a well-connected network of private and state buses.
- By Train
The nearest railway station to Thrissur is Thrissur Railway Station. It is a central railway station in India. Poonkunnam is another railway station to reach here. You can take any trains to these stations to reach the village.
- By Air
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport to Thrissur. It is located in Nedumbassery, at a distance of 50 Km from Thrissur. After reaching here, you can hire a cab or take any public transport to get to Thrissur.
Places to Visit near the Marottichal Village
You can visit the following places near the Marottichal village:
- Athirappily Waterfalls
- Vadakkunnathan Temple
- Snehatheeram Beach
- Chavakkad Beach
- Thiruvambadi Krishna Shrine
- Paramekavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple
- Shakthan Thampuran Palace
- Chimmini Dam
- Thrissur Zoo & Museum
