Pilicode
Grama Panchayat

Pilicode is a panchayat of great importance for agricultural research and cultural heritage, located in Hosdurg taluk of Kasaragod district. This area, which was part of the old administrative area of ​​​​the Nileswaram dynasty (Allada swaroopam), is currently notable for its innovative experiments in agriculture and energy conservation. This village panchayat was formed in 1949. Through continuous development activities with mass participation, it has become one of the best local self-government institutions in the state. The administrators who were the driving force of the administration in the past have created many exemplary development models. They have been recognized at the state and national levels and have made us more responsible.
From the fact that the remains of Mahashila monuments are still visible in Kalikkadav, the heart of Pilikode, it can be assumed that this was a habitable place from ancient times. Like the general situation of Kerala, this panchayat is also located from east to west. The eastern parts of the panchayat exhibit the characteristics of the midlands and the western parts exhibit the characteristics of the coastal region.
This gram panchayat is rich in inland red sandstone hills such as Edachery Kunnu, Devar Kunnu, Othukunnu, Veethukunnu, Kallanam Kunnu, Kariyakara Kunnu, and Mattalayikunnu. Bommam Kunnu, which is located at an altitude of 104 m above sea level, is the highest point in the panchayat. 75.96 percent of the total area is red sandstone. Pilikode Kannankai, Mattalayi, Olattu, Valiyapoyil, Vengapara, and Pollapoyil are thick or layered red sandstone areas. The areas have a variety of red sandstone areas, coastal areas, swamps, and grasslands. Lignite is also found in the soil of the Karapath section of Pilikode. The western parts of Pilikode are sandy. Clay soil is also available in some parts of the panchayat.
The 5 streams that originate from the interior red hills of the panchayat have a total length of 25 km. At one time, water flowed through them throughout the year. Pilikode is an area of ​​ecological and biodiversity importance. Although it is in the name of faith, the forests that are protected in various places represent a first-class biodiversity area. Remnants of biodiversity can be seen in Karakkakkavu, Cheermakkavu, Echikulangara Sree Narayanapuram Temple, Shulappu Kavu, Manjathoor Kavu, Mappidacheri Kavu, Thondachan Kavu (Panayakattu) and the Naga Kavus in various areas. The Katvakkadu forest near Kalikkad should actually be considered a tiger forest. There are also those who believe that Pilikode is the origin of the tiger forest. The touch of biodiversity can be seen in the rituals and agricultural ceremonies here. From the Karthika day of the Meena month, various flowers like Murikkin flower, Athirani flower, Kattapoovu, etc., which symbolize our biological richness, can be seen in the Kamarupa made in connection with the Pooragsha festival, which is celebrated. The house is decorated with flowers before the harvest. As part of this, the leaves of plants such as fig, ithi, aal, arayal, kanjire, maav, poluvalli, sutravalli, vellila, kayal, (mushroom leaves) and perayalam (vattappalam) were used in the Nirakolam made. Our biodiversity was also seen in the flowers prepared during Onam. The fact that such flowers are not common today indicates biodiversity depletion. Today, Kunthalapala, Nannava, Sutravalla, Orilathamara, Pachilaporul, Atapariyan, Anachuvadi, Eeshwaramooli, Elithadi, Karimuthil, Kattuthipalli, and Pail are found in the forests here. The tuvakkaya obtained from the forests was used as a very nutritious food. It still exists in Karakkakavu as a reminder of the past. It can be said that eating 18 leafy vegetables on Karkidakam 18 is an idea that the ancients found to survive the lean month of Karkidakam. Pilikode was rich in leafy vegetables that sprouted and grew on their own, such as yam, yam, yam, kottuwa, spinach, moringa, ponnankanni, thakara, mullein, sambar chira, and talu. Instead of sweets, the children here used organic resources that were abundant. There were many biodiversity-rich foods here, such as motampuli, coconut husk, cashew nuts when they sprouted, gooseberries, honey from banana bushes, and guava. Toys, medicines for diseases, household appliances, house construction materials, and everything that touched life, including clean air and clean water, were provided by nothing but biodiversity here.
60 years ago, 90% of the houses were thatched. The walls were made of mud bricks, and the roofs were made of thatch, thatch, reeds, and bamboo, which were locally available. However, cut stone was widely used for house construction and for marking the boundaries of fields.