Mylapra
Grama Panchayat

Situated about three kilometers northeast of the district headquarters of Pathanamthitta, this small village lies at the confluence of hills and rocky terrains. It also serves as a gateway to the sacred pilgrimage centers of Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy, Vavar Swamy, Erumeli Manikanta Swamy, and Nilakkal Church.

This region, characterized by thickets, paddy fields, streams, and rocky outcrops, was once a natural habitat for peacocks, the vehicle of Lord Subrahmanya. It is believed that Hindu elders of ancient times, who regarded peacocks as sacred, provided these birds with the necessary protection. According to local tradition, the rocky area where peacocks lived in large numbers came to be known as “Mayilppara” (Peacock Rock). The nearby place name “Mayiladum Para” (Rock Where Peacocks Dance) further strengthens this assumption. Over time, the name Mayilppara gradually evolved into Mylapra.

To the immediate north of Mylapra is the Mekozhoor Rishikesh Temple, which is believed to be more than 500 years old. The Mekozhoor M.D.L.P. School is the oldest educational institution in the surrounding area.

It is believed that the village located downstream of the Pamba River came to be known as Keezhkozhur, while the settlement situated upstream became known as Mekozhoor. Elders recount that, in earlier times, agricultural produce from these regions was collected and transported to the Peruchal (Keezhkozhur) riverbank, from where it was carried by boat to the Aranmula Temple for the Athachamayam festival.

In an era when transportation facilities were limited, Ayyappa devotees from the western regions who travelled to Sabarimala for pilgrimage used this route and journeyed on foot through this area.