We have all heard of amazing fantasy scenes in the pages of famous novels. However, what if those fantasies become a reality?—that is Marottichal. Marottichal Village is a village just outside the town of Thrissur in Kerala.
With beautiful overgrown moss groves and ancient trees lining the village, placed within the embrace of multiple decadent waterfalls—Marottichal is a haven that enchants all who walk willingly into it.
The forests around Marottichal are also occupied by mesmerising wildlife, flora, and fauna that will leave visitors awestruck. That is why Marottichal is considered an amazing trekking destination in Kerala.
That’s not all it’s known for. Marottichal is famous for another surprising reason—Chess. Marottichal is known as India’s Chess Village. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the aesthetics of this quaint little village and explore its rich legacy in the realm of Chess.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Marottichal was a secluded village in the Thrissur district. The village faced a lot of systemic issues that crippled its economy, causing families and residents to face endless struggles.
During those years, the village was plagued by rampant alcohol and gambling addiction. Both of these issues would result in a negative communal impact in many ways. With the rise of crime and domestic violence—it was high time for a change.
As the village was struggling to gain a footing towards a peaceful existence, one man had a vision to change the image of this quaint village. A tea master named C. Unnikrishnan wanted to start a wave to help his fellow villagers overcome the demons and hardships associated with gambling and alcohol addiction—that’s where Chess comes in.
Let’s take a closer look at how Chess changed Marottichal's fate.
C.Unnikrishnan was adamant about introducing an activity that could change his villagers’ mindsets, and he succeeded in finding an avenue through Chess. He dedicated his time to transforming his village’s addiction to alcohol and gambling into a recreational addiction to this timeless game.
Today, almost 90% of the village is composed of expert chess players with a deep passion for the game. C. Unnikrishnan personally dedicated his time and resources to teaching 700+ people how to play Chess. This is why Marottichal is known as the “Chess Village of India”.
The cascading impact of his efforts resonated through the village, sparking lifelong curiosity in citizens who once strayed far away from the light of communal living. Reformed alcoholics and gamblers alike attribute their change and growth to Unnikrishnan and his dedication to the game.
Due to their strong love and passion for the game of chess, the village arranged a chess spectacle for 1000 people to play the game. This event is the reason why Marottichal has won the URF Asian awards for the most people playing Chess simultaneously.
Being known for high-brow chess activity, this quaint Chess Village has become a hub of international activity.
Tourists and neighbouring villages alike have found the hamlet of Marottichal a haven of novel and respectable competition. People flock from near and far to put their skills to the test against the chess maestros of Marottichal. In fact, the village has gotten recognition from Viswanathan Anand—the Chess Grandmaster himself!
At MemoryTrain, we celebrate the heritage and rich legacy of Kerala culture. That is why we have created an authentic chess set composed of unique pieces that act as an ode to ancient Keralian heritage.
We have created two unique chess sets known as the Kerala Chess set (Heritage edition) and a smaller Travel Edition. The significance of these sets is two-fold: they honour the history of Kerala and act as a homage to the efforts of C. Unnikrishnan in building up Marottichal.
If you are someone who enjoys the cultural heritage of Kerala and respects the noble standing of the renowned Chess Village in India, take a trip to our online gift shop. Handcrafted with nobility at its core, our Chess sets go beyond the game of Chess to spark conversations that are rich in culture.
Steep your chess games in a bit of culture and revelry with MemoryTrain. Visit our website to know more.
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