Pallichan Nair is an intermediate Nair subcaste [1] [2] seen predominantly in Malabar and Cochin areas. They are found in Travancore in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Jenmi Namboothiris [3] and Nair chieftains. [4] Today, two sub-castes among the Nairs, Pallichan and Maniyani, are theyyam worshippers, and they have their own shrines for their theyyams. [5]
Pallichan and Vattakad were treated as an intermediate class. [6]