Nedumangad is a town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram metropolitan area of Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala, and is the headquarters of Nedumangad tehsil and Nedumangad Revenue Division (RDO). It is a suburb of the extended metropolitan region of Thiruvananthapuram city. It is located around 16 km to the north-east of Thiruvananthapuram city on the Thiruvananthapuram – Shenkottah (State Highway 2). It is an important commercial center in the district. It is a growing commercial and educational hub and all important government institutions are situated in the town. Nedumangadu Market is important in South Kerala. It is an important centre for commercial trade in hill products such as pepper and rubber. A wholesale market set up by the Department of Agriculture (with the assistance of the European Union) is also situated there. History Nedumangad panchayat was formed in 1936. It was one among the four Panchayats sanctioned by Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer (Diwan-Thiruvithamcore). The others were Paravur, Boothapandi and Perumbavoor. In 1978 Nedumangad Municipality was established. Nedumangad Chantha Revolt Nedumangad was a main center of trade in Thiruvananthapuram. Lower caste people were not allowed to enter in the trade markets (Chantha) of Nedumangad and items brought by them from their farms have to be placed outside and used to get a lower price. A group of people under the leadership of Ayyankali questioned this social injustice which resulted in a great revolt and fought back their rights to enter and sell the goods of lower caste people in Nedumangad market and the trade markets nearby. This is known as Nedumangad Chantha revolt. Behind the name Nedumangad There are still many opinions as to how the taluk Nedumangad got its name. It is said that there is a fruit called Neduvan and that it is the land of a local ruler named Neduvan. According to some historical sources, the old name of Nedumangad was Ilavallur Nadu. Social and cultural history The adivasis are the tribal people of the region. From 1677 to 1689 AD, Umayamurani, who ruled Travancore, lost a battle and escaped to Koyikkal Palace, Nedumangad. The queen sought the help of Kerala Varma to defeat the Mukkappappa. History has indicated that Kerala Varma defeated Mukulapada in Thiruvattar and took Umayamma Rani to Trivandrum. With the arrival of Umayamma Rani to Koyikkal Palace, merchants, gold smiths and the Tamil Brahmins who became Puajaris also settled here. The Tamil Brahmins