Viswanatha, who became the Nayak of Madurai in 1529 AD, divided his kingdom into 72 palayams and Nilakottai became one. In the 18th Century, with the advent of the East India Company, the Paliyakars lost their importance and came under the zamindari system. The 26th heir of the Zameen now lives in the musty confines of the palace
From a sprawling estate, Nilakottai Zameen has become an obscure remnant of a fief
