While Kodinhi, a village in the verdant expanse of Kerala's Malappuram district, may strike any ordinary village without a semblance of what's called ‘uncanny’ in literary terms, the village lingers undertones of mystery. The said mystery has also been its claim to fame. With an exceptionally high incidence of twin births, Kodinhi—often referred to as the “Twin Village of India”—has confounded both experts and tourists over the years. The community, which is home to some 2,000 families and contains more than 400 known pairs of twins, has drawn interest from both scientists and interested tourists. However, the phenomenon is still mostly unknown, which makes Kodinhi one of India's most fascinating travel locations.
Numerous research have examined Kodinhi's exceptionally high twin birth rate, but no conclusive scientific reason has been discovered. The village's twin rate is far higher than both the national and even international averages. There are around four twins for every 1,000 births in India. In Kodinhi, that number skyrockets to around 45 twins per 1,000 births—a tenfold increase.
It is curious to note that contrary to popular belief, this phenomenon is not inherited. It appears that even couples without a family history of twins are having them here. Furthermore, since previous generations have produced even more twins, the pattern has only emboldened over the past few decades. Although none of the environmental or nutritional elements have explained the reasons, inconclusive ends are where experts have reached so far. In an attempt to solve the riddle, researchers from international organisations, including German teams, as well as Indian institutions have travelled to the area. Kodinhi, however, still holds its bastion.
A local doctor named Dr. Krishnan Sribiju started recording twin births in the area in 2008, speculating that the actual number may be even higher. As a result of his efforts, the Twins and Kin Association (TAKA) was established. This local organisation not only records twin births but also provides impacted families with support and a sense of community. Kodinhi's narrative has appeared in scholarly study papers and international news articles as a result of this grassroots effort.
According to Dr. Sribiju, the cause of women's hyperovulation—a condition that raises the chance of having twins—may simply be ascribed to environmental factors, such as something in the local water or nutrition. However, no biological or chemical analysis has been able to provide conclusive evidence for this assertion.
A simple act of a stroll around Kodinhi may strike as bizarre. Multiple sets of identical twins have been reported by schools to be seated in the same classroom, which frequently perplexes teachers. Public meetings, weddings, and festivals often become futuristic assemblies of cloned faces. The village's distinct demographic trend is influenced by more than simply twins; triplets and higher-order multiples have also been observed in a number of cases!
However, Kodinhi's way of life is mostly unaffected by the attention. The majority of the population works in traditional jobs like farming and small-scale commerce. For their part, the locals have become accustomed to the media and researchers' frequent visits. Many have learnt to embrace their worldwide fame, viewing it as a source of pride and identity, despite their initial shyness about the publicity.
Twin births are common in other parts of the world besides Kodinhi. This peculiar quality is also shared by Cândido Godói in Brazil and Igbo-Ora in Nigeria. Although Kodinhi's staple foods—primarily rice and coconut—differ greatly from those of these twin hotspots, comparisons have shown some genetic and dietary similarities, such as diets based on cassava.
For those looking to visit, Kodinhi is situated about 35 km from the nearest major town, Malappuram, and is accessible by road. The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport, roughly an hour’s drive away. The best time to visit is during local festivals or school functions when the village’s twin population is on vibrant display.
While not a typical tourist destination, places to see in Kodinhi are scarce. Beyond interacting with locals, one visit Kundoor Usthad Maqam, and Kodinhi Old Juma Masjid, two historic mosques in the region.
