Ezhimala

Ezhimala, the imposing mountainous region on the seashore that borders the western part of Payyanur, had played a significant role in the history of the country. This was the head quarters of the Ezhimala Rajya during the Sang period.  In Sang literatures, this area is referred to as “ezhil malai” which means high hillock.  It is believed that in the later years ezhilmalai reduced to ezhimala. This region is also known as “Elimala”, “Mooshika Sailam”, “Sapta Sailam”,”Mount Eli” and “Mount the Eli” in the history. It was the seat of the renowned Mooshika dynasty.  This dynasty reached its zenith of glory during the regime of King Nandan. Ezhimala was a well-known landmark of the ancient sailors.  The relics of the past indicate that it was an inhabited region from the very ancient past. The burial chambers, caves, granite-platforms are indications of this.

The beautiful beach in Ezhimala and the nearby hillock, which is 286 m high, is a major tourist attraction. Carved stone pillars, an ancient mosque and an ancient burial chamber can be seen at the foot of the hills. The hills are noted for rare medicinal herbs.  The Mount Dilli LightHouse here remained a tourist attraction until this area was acquired by the Govt. of India for the development of Naval Academy.

A Naval Academy is being developed here. The Naval project whose  estimated cost is around 500 crores will be largest of its kind in the whole Asia.  It is believed that the completion of this massive project will change the whole face of this region.  Permission is required for entry to these premises from the Naval Academy Authorities.

The Ezhimala beaches are also known for its rare view of Dolphin jumping.   Guru Freddy’s Ashramam was another attraction of Ezhimala till 1983.  Guru Freddy, the Belgium –born, who is known as the “white Malayalee” is a follower of Sree Narayana Guru.  He established his Ashram at Ezhimala as per the advice of Nataraja Guru. The naval authorities acquired the Ashram in 1983. Presently he is running his ashram at Somanahalli, near Bangalore.

These are few quoting from the writings of various well-known ancient travelers

Marco Polo (1298): “Eli is a kingdom towards the west, about 300 miles from Comari (Kanyakumari)…. There is no proper harbour in the country, but there are many rivers good estuaries, wide and deep.

Abulfeda (1330): “Three days beyond this city (Manjarur, ie. Mangalore) there is a great hill, which projects into the sea, and is described by travelers from afar, the promontory called Hili.

Ibn Batuta (1343): “At the end of that time we set off for Hili, where we arrived two days later. It is a large well-built town on a great bay(or estuary) which big ships enter. 

Nicolo Conti (1440): “Proceeding onwards he…arrived at tow cities situated on the sea shore, one named Pacamuria, and the other Helly.”

Barbosa (1516): “After passing this place along the coast is the Mountain Dely, on the edge of the sea; it is a round mountain, very lofty in the midst of low land; all the ships of the Moors and Gentiles..sight this mountain..and make their reckoning by it.”

Correa (1562):“In twenty days they got sight of land, which the pilots foretold before that they saw it, this was a great mountain which is on the coast of India, in the Kingdom of Cananor, which the people of the country in their language call the mountain Dely, elly meaning “the rat” and they call it Mount Dely, because in this mountain there are so many rats that they could never make a village there.

Rowalandson (1579): “…Malik Bin Habeed…proceeded first to Quilon..and after erecting a mosque in that town and settling his wife there, he himself journeyed on to Hili Marawi…”

P. Della Valle (1623): “…a high Hill, inland near the seashore, call’d Monte Deli.

Mandelslo (1638): “Sur le midy nous passames a la veue de Monte-Leone, qui est vne haute montagne don’t les Malabares descouurent de loin les vaisseaux,qu’ils peuuent attaquer avec aduantage”

A.Hamilton (1727): “And three leagues south from Mount Delly is a spacious deep River called Balliapatam, where the English company had once a Factory for pepper.

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