Manimalakkavu Devi Temple is a sacred site where the Goddess Durga, also known as Vishnumaya and Aadiparashakthi, is revered in her noble form. Legend has it that a group of travellers, after journeying through various places, found solace at the very spot where the temple now stands. As they rested by a campfire one night, singing devotional songs, they sensed the presence of Lord Dharmashasta beneath a nearby koovala tree. United in their reverence, they invoked the blessings of the Lord and erected a shrine in the same location where they experienced the divine encounter. This shrine is believed by devotees to be the Kovalathara Sastha at more the Manimalakkavu Temple. These tales cement the bond between Ayyappa Swamy and the Manimalakkavu Temple. It is strongly suggested that Ayyappa Swamy's quest for leopards centred around this sacred site. Subsequently, the descendants of the then King entrusted the temple's administration and 1700 acres of land to the renowned Nair family, known as Othara Nairs. However, amidst social and political upheavals, the temple lost most of its land, retaining only one acre and eighty cents. Recognizing the challenges in managing the temple's affairs, the Othara Nairs family relinquished control, transferring both the temple and its adjacent land to the Kerala Khethra Samrakshana Samithy (Kerala Temple Protection Society) on April 13, 1987. Since then, the Manimalakkavu temple has operated as the 797th branch under their stewardship, with active participation from the local community. Over the years, the temple has flourished, with devotees generously contributing during festivals, ensuring that rituals are conducted with utmost grandeur. The esteemed Thazhamon family holds the position of Thanthri, or chief priest, at the Manimalakkavu Temple. This is noteworthy as they also hold the same position at the Sabarimala temple.