Paliath Achan or Paliyath Achan is the name given to the male members of the Paliam royal family, a royal family from the Indian state of Kerala that ruled over regions that were under the erstwhile Kingdom of Villarvattom including Chendamangalam, Gothuruth, Chathedom, Kallur, Kadalvathuruth, Trikkur, Karumalloor, Neericode, Mulavukad, Nayarambalam, Pallippuram, Vypin, and some parts of Thrissur. The family had palaces & forts in these regions but their capital and primary residence remained in Chendamangalam. Although, they were Rajas in these areas(collectively known as the Paliam swaroopam) and pledged their obeisance to the Maharajah of Kingdom of Cochin (Kerala), they were placed above the post of the Princes of Kingdom of Cochin. This was because the Achans had held hereditary rights to the prime ministership of Cochin and effected a treaty with the Dutch East India Company(to oust the Portuguese East India Company that had control over the Kingdom of Cochin) which placed him second in position to the Maharajah of Kingdom of Cochin and sometimes exerting more power than the king.
 The Paliath Achans reigned as the independent kings of Chendamangalam, Vypin, portions of Thrissur, and areas that belonged to the former Kingdom of Villarvattom, where they upheld law and order.
 The Paliath Achan's, however, were better known for being hereditary prime ministers to the Maharajah of Kingdom of Cochin (Kerala) from 1632 to 1809 and second only to the Maharajah in power and wealth in the central Cochin area during that period. During the time the Achan's served as prime ministers, they never received remuneration for their services; instead, since they were wealthier than the Cochin royal family, they had to contribute to the latter's financial upkeep(As elucidated in the treaty with the Dutch). This arrangement proved to be more of a financial loss for the Paliam family. They offered the Kings unfettered advise on state-related issues even after they resigned from the hereditary post of Prime ministers of Cochin.
 The prevailing notions about the origins claims that the Paliam royal family stems from the Villarvattom Royal family. The description given in the Cochin State Manual by C. Achyutha Menon states that," The Achan was originally a petty vassal of the Raja of Villarvattath, who was himself a Kshatriya feudatory of Cochin. The family of Villarvattath was about to become extinct towards the close of the 16th century, when the last King Sri Rama Varma Apatiri Koviladhikari, instead of making an adoption from a Kshatriya family to continue the line, made his son, the Paliyath Menon his heir. This bequest appears to have happened during the year 1595 and with the sanction of the King of Cochin, and included the title and privileges, but only a part of the territory of Villarvattath royal family".
 The Paliam family is closely linked to the Cochin royal family or Perumpadappu Swarupam. It is thought that when the last Perumal departed, the Chera Kingdom of Mahodayapuram split with one segment leaving for Vanneri near Chowghat and the powerful feudal chieftain (during the Chera era), Paliath Achan also left with this segment. Until recently, a "Paliam Parambu" (Paliam Grounds) was found there. Quite possibly, Paliath Achan moved with the Perumpadappu Swarupam to Thiruvanchikulam due to the Zamorin's invasion. The flood of 1341 brought the Perumpaddappu Swaroopam to Kochi, and Paliath Achan may have moved with them as well.
 The Achans did much for his subjects and dominated the politics of Cochin placing him second only to the King himself, by dint of hard work and administrative ability. The kingdom was shaped largely by dynamics between the ruler and successive European powers, mediated through the Achan.
 The Achans were true loyalists to the Cochin Kingdom. According to a legend, when one of the family members advised the Paliath Valiachan to support the Zamorin, who was more powerful than the Kochi King, the Valiachan became enraged and told the Elaya Achan(translation: Younger Achan) that those who were loyal to the Kochi King only needed to be living in the Kingdom, and he commanded this Achan to leave the Cochin Kingdom the very next day with his possessions and never to return. According to historical accounts, when Paliath Komi Achan was captured by Dharma Raja of Travancore, he was offered the chance to become either the Raja under Travancore or the Dalawa, the minister for Travancore, otherwise he had to deal with the consequences of death. However, the Achan rejected both of these offers. The Achan explained that his family was an ordinary family before the Kochi Maharajah made them Raja's and gave them the position of prime minister, so he had to fulfil his obligation to the Kochi King and that he would much rather die than defect.
 The Paliam family also helped manage the Portuguese, and then when the latter grew overbearing, conspired with the Dutch to oust them. During succession disputes, the Achan's sided with the legitimate heirs, fighting battles and using diplomacy. The Achans' exalted position meant that for their weddings and major ceremonies, even such personages as the Maharajah of Travancore (Cochin’s richer, powerful rival to the south) sent representatives with presents.
 The members of the Paliam family had their own unique royal titles. The boys were called Kuttans, and girls Pillas. Upon attaining adulthood, they graduated to Achans and Kunjamma Thamburatti's. The oldest members of the family were addressed as Valiachans and Valiamma Thamburatti. When the male child is given the title of Valiachan, the convention followed is: the first male child would be given the title of Raman Valiachan, the second would be Krishnan Valiachan and the third would be Govindan Valiachan. The same convention would be repeated if there were more than three children. In the Nalukettu, the Valiamma Thamburatti had an ornate canopy bed, seated on which she settled domestic issues in the family. The Valiachan, on the other hand, stayed in the Kovilakam or palace, which had a platform in the upstairs balcony from where he addressed the common folk.
 The main family Naalukettu is approximately 450 years old and built in the traditional Kerala style Of architecture. It was in this Nalukettu that the Paliam family settled after shifting from Vanneri to Chendamangalam.
 The Palace and nalukettu originally extended over 10 acres. This Nalukettu is a self contained double storeyed building with eight bedrooms in the south and kitchen and the well in the northeast corner. It houses the Ara, the strong room, for the safekeeping of the family heirlooms. Interestingly, below the Ara is the concealed nether room with a secret exit which would have been used to escape in case of invasions to the palace. There is a wide courtyard all around the Nalukettu. The Paliam Bhagavathi Thara is just adjacent to the nalukettu.
 The complex contained a huge NaluKettu with Nadumittam, Akayi and Purathalam where the family gathered to chat and other recreational activities. There was a common dining hall and a common kitchen. All the family members dined together and lived together under the protection of Valiachan. In this kind of community living, they had no access to money. Rather there was no need for money as everything was provided by the administration. The boys who became adults, had separate bachelor living quarters and after their marriage, they lived in palaces provided by the administration. The infrastructure which housed the Menon wives of the Paliath Achan's in the Palace complex were called as madhoms. This style of 'community living' continued till the partition. The Paliam Palace, a two storey structure with minimum ornamentation made mostly of high quality wood built on the surrounding thick walls, the structure boasts of richly carved  wooden staircases and balustrades. The thick walls with splayed openings bear testimony to the Dutch influence. To keep indoors cooler during summer days a circulation channel  runs through the inner parts, insulating the interior. So inner portions are cooler than peripheral areas. Kovilakam was the official residence of Valiyachan (Eldest Achan) of Paliam and was meant for only official work. Also used by him are two other places for different purposes - as his offices. The Achan would hold court (Durbar) with people and listened to their grievances or complaints. The durbar hall is at the eastern end of the first floor. Here, he received his subjects and officials.
 The prime minister in time of war or some kind of tumultuous political situation emerging in the kingdom sheltered  and shielded the King. During Portuguese invasions, the European explorers made serious threats to the Maharajah of Cochin as he refused to  oblige them in their mercantile trade activities in his areas. Paliath Achan took the responsibility of  safeguarding  the ruler and temporarily shifted his residence to this palace in Chendamangalam. The Kovilakam (palace) houses a large number of artefacts including ancient documents, religious sacraments, swords, rifles, and gifts brought by foreign dignitaries. The Paliath Achan's Kovilakam, which was reconstructed by the Dutch, exists adjacent to the Tharavadu. Guards in khaki with guns were posted around the estate to ensure the rules were not breached. The buildings in the area date anywhere from 60 to 300 years. Till 1956, the complex housed 214 residents, as well as its own doctors, a school, elephants, boats, and a stately car.
 The Zamorin invaded Cochin in 1757. Due to the diplomatic efforts of the Paliath Achan, the Kingdom of Cochin was saved. During Hyder Ali's conquest of the south of India in 1776, the Paliath Achan was able to effect a treaty between Hyder Ali and the Cochin Raja.
 In 1806, Paliath Achan, became the virtual ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin since the Maharaja of Cochin was a spiritual and religious scholar and totally disinterested in ruling the State.  In 1808, the British East India Company were trying to persuade the Raja of Kochi's men to defect their side. They had succeeded in getting the support of Nadavarambu Kunhikrishna Menon. Paliath Govindan Achan was provoked by this. He took with him 600 Nair soldiers and attacked the headquarters of Colonel Macaulay, the local British Resident, who was forced to flee. Following the attack, Paliath Achan and his men broke open the local jails and set free any prisoners found inside. The Paliath Achan later joined the Travancore alliance of Velu Thampi Dalawa. During 1809 and 1810, Paliath Achan, allied with Velu Thampi Dalawa, fought the British on Travancore soil. Achan engaged the British East India Company troops in battle, and was defeated. After the rebellion, the British authorities deported him to Madras, where he was imprisoned at Fort St. George for 12 years. He was then taken to Bombay and remained a prisoner there for 13 years, finally passing away at Benares 1832. Paliath Govindan Achan was the last Paliath Achan to occupy the position of Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Cochin.
 Another notable Paliath Achan includes Komi Achan I. Komi Achan I resisted the attempts by the Portuguese to impose their power on the Cochin Royal Family. He allied himself with the Dutch, travelling to Colombo to sign a treaty with them. He also supported the Dutch against the Portuguese. In recognition of his efforts, the Dutch re-built him the palace (Kovilakam) at Chendamangalam in Dutch-Kerala style architecture.
 Between 1730 and 1740 the status of the Cochin kingdom dwindled due consolidation of power in Travancore under Marthanda Varma combined with the waning influence of the Dutch and a large-scale invasion by the Zamorin from the north. Paliath Komi Achan was able to effect a treaty between the Cochin and Travancore Kingdoms. This treaty facilitated the defeat of the Zamorin.
 The Chendamangalam Jews sing "The Song of Paliathachan" in which they mention the mention "Nayar Noblemen" who bestowed upon the Jews "gifts and books to all those who come, and titles to foreigners".
 In the Vishnugita Hamsappattu, a Malayalam poem about the life of Vishnu (as spoken by a swan), the poet (Kunjan Nambiar) makes a reference to a Paliath Achan named Kuberan. The first line roughly translates to," The narrative of sri Kuberan, the sovereign of Paliam":
 Kochu Sankaran Muthat of Vatakketam in Triprayar was a student of Manorama Thampuratti of Calicut. He lived at the Paliam kovilakam, teaching members of the Paliam Royal family there. He wrote a commentary named Prasika, on the eleventh book of the Bhagavad Gita, based on earlier commentaries of his student, a Paliath Achan:
 The Paliam family had a rich collection of manuscripts in Sanskrit and Malayalam. At the time of family partition, this collection was donated to the Kerala University Manuscript Library and the Tripunithura.
 Paliam satyagraha was a movement in 1947–48 to allow entry for Hindus of lower castes in the roads surrounding the Paliam family complex in Chendamangalam and the temples. Paliyam Satyagraha is the first post-independence Satyagraha organized in the state of Kerala. While the Guruvayur and Vaikom struggles were initiated and led by the progressive sections among the upper caste Hindus, the Paliyam struggle was unique since it was initiated by the Dalits and backward classes against the ban imposed by upper caste sections on the movement of Dalits on the Paliyam roads.
 Paliath Achan's fall from sublime was purely the edit of god, not a disgraceful one. He was away from the corridors of power, but his prestige and good deeds would last for eternity surpassing the ex-rulers.  According to a popular Malayalam saying,'' half of Cochin belonged to Paliam. Nearly 12,000 tenants tilled Paliam lands, added to which was the ownership of 41 temples.'' In 1956, the estate was partitioned. All 214 heirs received lands and goods worth a lakh each. Some sold their inheritance and invested elsewhere; those who didn’t lost much in land reforms passed by the Kerala government. Slowly, the Paliam complex grew empty of family, staff, guards and attendants. Paliam family's  glorious days are gone in the shifting sand dunes of time but their memories and contributions are frozen in the museum.