On This Tree In Kerala, The Spirit Of A Tribal Man Killed By British Is Believed To Be Enchained

Wayanad in Northern Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state.

The hill district offers something for everyone - from the meandering roads of Thamarassery Churam, the misty mountains, tea plantations, trekking, wildlife safaris, a sneak peek into the tribal way of life, and more.

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The Chain Tree of Wayanad

Among the several tourist attractions scattered across the district, there is one which is often overlooked and has a grim past.

An ordinary-looking fig tree on the Kozhikode-Wayanad route near Lakkidi has a thick metal chain hanging from it and a small 'temple' built in front.

Popularly called Changala Maram (Chain Tree), the tree is at least a few hundred years old, and the chain has been hanging on it for more than a century.

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It is believed that the spirit of Karinthandan, a tribal Chieftain, is chained on the tree.

Who is Karinthandan?

There are no historic records to establish the life of Karinthandan, but according to local folklore, he lived between 1700¨C1750.

Karinthandan was the chief of the Paniya tribe, one of the most prominent tribal communities in Wayanad.

According to legend, he helped the British discover the road connecting Thamarassery to Wayanad, which is being used even now.

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The British had struggled to find a route to the resource-rich Wayanad, and that is when they came across the local knowledge of the Paniya tribe.

Thamarassery Churam - Karinthandan's legacy

Karinthandan, being the chief of the Paniya tribe, was well-versed in forests and mountain passes.

With the help of Karinthandan, a British engineer 'discovered' the forest route to connect Thamarassery to Wayanad.

The British engineer allegedly did not want to share the credit of his 'discovery' with the tribal man, and it is believed that he killed Karinthandan in deceit.

There are several versions of how Karinthandan was killed - according to some claims, he was pushed off a cliff, while others say he was shot dead at night inside the forest.

Karinthandan's spirit seeks revenge

The legend of Karinthandan then took a paranormal turn. After the Thamarassery Churam road was built and opened for traffic, there was a series of fatal accidents.

Roumor spread that Karinthandan had cursed the road, and his spirit is causing the mishaps.

Somewhere in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the wandering spirit of Karinthandan was ritually summoned to the tree. Some claims say that it was under the tree that Karinthandan was shot dead.

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Either way, the mysterious road accidents reportedly stopped after the spirit was contained and chained.

Karinthandan's legacy lives on

Today there is a small 'temple' in front of the chained tree, and people offer prayers there while relieving the nearly-forgotten story of Karinthandan.

There is also a statue of Karinthandan nearby to remind everyone passing through Thamarassery Churam about the legend.

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The story has been passed down through generations and is now an integral part of the local tribal folklore.

Karinthandan's life has also made it into popular culture, including novels and a 2018 film by the same name.

Since the chain tree is also close to the Lakkidi viewpoint, it has become a must-see attraction for the thousands of tourists visiting Wayanad through the Thamarassery Churam every day.

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