Kumbala was the northernmost princely state of Kerala if we consider the areas included in today’s Kerala. But according to historical and geographical division, the areas north of Chandragiripuzh are Tulunad. Considering that, it would be correct to say that Kumbala was the southernmost principality of Tulunadu. This country was known as Kumbala Seema. Kumbala Seema is a region that shares the border between Tulu Nadu and Malayalam Nadu. In the early days, their palace was in Arikadi near Kumbala. Hence the Kumbala dynasty is also known as the ArikKadi dynasty. We can still see the remains of the fort at ArikKadi. Parts of the foundation of the palace have been found near the fort. The southern boundary of the Kumbala Seema is the Chandragiri River, the northern boundary is the Thalappadi River, the eastern boundary is the Sulya Forest and the western boundary is the Arabian Sea.
In the 15th century, the kingdom of Kumbala Seema emerged with the collapse of the Alupa Empire. The Kumbala dynasty is considered to be the descendants of the Kadamba dynasty. The Alupa kingdom once recognized the supremacy of the Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi. It is possible that it was a branch of the Kadambas then settled in Kumbala or a branch derived through the matrimonial relationship of the Kadambas with Alupar. The Kumbala dynasty is believed to be the Hanagallu branch of the Kadamba dynasty. It is said that the kingdom of Kumbala was founded by a king named Mayura Varma. Their royal abode was on the shores of a small harbor called Kumbala. The main port was Kasaragod. Barbosa, a Portuguese traveler who visited Kumbala in the 16th century, wrote that rice was exported to the Maldives from these ports, and the rope was imported from there.
Alupa and Kumbala formed from Alupa recognized the suzerainty of Vijayanagara. But the Naik dynasty of Ikeri and the Haleri dynasty of Kotak, formed when Vijayanagar fell in the 16th century, became a threat to Kumbala Seema. Constant wars with Koda and Ikeri were frequent. By the 17th century, Kumbala Seema Ikeri surrendered to the warlords. The fort at Arikadi in Kumbala was captured by the Ikeri Naikkans. Kumbala Palace, which was adjacent to the fort, was demolished by the Ikeri army and left in ruins. The Kumbala kings had to leave Kumbala and flee to the interior. When the Kumbala dynasty, which had lost its royal power, was sure that it would not attack again, King Ikeri allowed them to build a palace and live in a village called Siribagilu in the interior of Maipadi. With this King, Kumbala came to be known as Maipadi Tampuran. Having lost their kingdom and royal rule, the Kumbala kings became middle-class landlords holding only positions in some temples.
In the 18th century, when Tipu Sultan Ullal conquered the kingdom and reached Mangalore, the Maipadi lords fled to Kerala. Later, after the death of Tipu Sultan, they came back and argued for royal power, but they were forced to stay confined by taking a pension called Malikhan given by the British government. Among them, men marry from Tuluva noble families while women marry Tulu Brahmins. They were following the system of in-laws.
Maipadi is on the Kasarkot-Sithangoli route. It is an agricultural village rich in gourds and paddy fields. The palace is located within hundred meters from Maipadi intersection. The royal family still lives in the palace. This ancestral home is a two-storied, four-tiered palace. Adjacent to it is a mansion built later.
Adjacent to the old palace is a shrine of Bhagwati. There is a large pond on the other side of the panchayat road in front of the palace. A little north of the palace there is a temple and a paddock. The temple is now in ruins. The roof of the enclosure has collapsed in many places. As the perimeter is broken, the interior can be seen from the outside. Trees are growing on the wall of the shrine which has fallen down. This temple looks ancient. The concrete namaz mandapam shows signs of renovation at some point in time. Any traveler visiting Maipadi would wish that this ancient temple had been salvaged from ruin and rebuilt intact.
