India is famous for historic sites, ancient art villages, or even uncommon medicinal herbs but there is one small village in Kerala that is special for a completely different reason. Welcome to Kodinhi, otherwise described as The Twin Village — and the name couldn't be more justified.

Hidden away in Kerala's Malappuram district, Kodinhi has made international headlines for a phenomenon that will leave you buzzing: the small village of about 2,000 families is home to more than 450 sets of twins. That's right.

The village of twins

Known as the "Twin Town," Kodinhi has puzzled tourists as well as scientists. The twin birth rate in the village is six times the national average, and the trend continues unabated. More twins are born every year, and the figure has been persistently high for decades.

What is so special about this is that the phenomenon is not witnessed anywhere in the nearby villages or areas — Kodinhi being an absolute genetic and cultural aberration.

The 'Twin Village of India': Why does THIS place have so many twins? - The Times of India[Image source - TOI]

Ask the locals, and you’ll get a variety of spiritual and cultural explanations. Many believe the high twin birth rate is a divine blessing, with some attributing it to a local deity. Others claim that the village's natural water has mystical, fertility-boosting properties.

As one resident told Mirage:

"People have believed for generations that twins are a gift, a blessing from God, and that's part of what makes Kodinhi unique."

These beliefs speak to the community's strong cultural heritage and give this already intriguing enigma a spiritual dimension.

The science behind the mystery

Curiosity about Kodinhi’s unique birth patterns has led scientists to dive into the mystery. In 2016, a team of researchers from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) initiated studies to uncover any genetic or environmental factors contributing to this rare phenomenon.

Although researchers continue to study this phenomenon, no absolute cause has yet been determined. Hypotheses vary from heredity to diet and environment, but none adequately account for why twin births happen so commonly — and only — in Kodinhi.

 

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