Meenachil Karthas  (also known as  Njavakkat Karthas ) before Marthanda Varma  annexed it to  Travancore  in 1754. The name of the place comes from Goddess  Meenakshi , the deity of the  Karthas . Veera Kerala Damodara Simhar was a chieftain belonging to this family. [1]  The southern bank of the river