History
Since ancient times, Amboori was a settlement area of the tribal community known as the “Kanikkar”. After the Second World War, the princely state of Travancore experienced a severe famine throughout the region. As a result, with the permission of the King of Travancore, Christians from Pala and Kottayam migrated to uncultivated areas in the Western Ghats and began farming there. This forced the indigenous tribal population to withdraw from their traditional settlements.
The first Christian settlement was established at “Pantha,” near “Mayam,” to the north of Amboori. The St. Mary’s Church at Mayam was the first Roman Catholic church in this region. The St. Mary’s School at Mayam was also the first school in this area.
Later, due to the construction of the Neyyar Reservoir, large numbers of people, including the Christians, Pulayas and Parayas of Pantha, were displaced. Most of them were rehabilitated in Amboori.
In 1947, 25 Christian families from Central Travancore migrated to the hilly region known as Amboori. At that time, Panachamoot, about 12 kilometres away, was the last point accessible by vehicle. The settlers had to carry their belongings on their heads and travel on foot from Panachamoot to Amboori.
Those who settled in Amboori had to struggle against wild animals and malaria during the first three years. By around 1950, another 50 families from Pala, Changanassery, Thodupuzha and Chengannur migrated to Amboori.
Dravyappara
The historically renowned “Dravyappara” is situated in the mountain ranges to the west of Amboori. According to another legend, Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, hid on top of Dravyappara while fleeing from an attack by the Ettuveettil Pillamar.
There are 72 steps carved into the rock leading up to the cave temple situated on top of Dravyappara. The rock is approximately 700 feet above ground level and 1,500 feet above sea level. The cave temple is situated at the very top of Dravyappara.
It is believed that poor people of this land used to pray to the Goddess believed to reside at Dravyappara, telling her their hardships and seeking the fulfilment of their wishes.
It is said that those who stand near the huge gateway on the north-eastern slope of Dravyappara and loudly state their wishes in prayer would receive the amount of money they had requested, filling a stone vessel located at the south-eastern edge of the gateway, if the Goddess accepted their prayer.
A person who received such financial blessings was required to return the amount to the stone vessel within a specified period and loudly announce the matter from there. There was an unwritten rule that no one should enter inside the gateway and look.
Nevertheless, on one occasion, a young man who had come to return the money he had received to repay his father's debt reportedly waited there out of curiosity to see who would come to collect the money.
After a short while, a beautiful woman appeared naked from inside the gateway, took the money and went back inside. Suddenly, on seeing the young man, the woman became extremely angry, and according to the legend, the gateway of Dravyappara closed forever with a thunderous sound.
The villagers believe that the gateway will open again one day. For this reason, people continue to perform daily worship and religious rituals with faith near the south-eastern gateway, which has three narrow entrances.
Another legend believed by the Kanikkar is that, in ancient times, the Goddess appeared before a devotee who had been performing worship and religious rituals at Dravyappara.
