Nedumkunnam was the centre of trade and commerce in the area for nearly two centuries. Earlier it included lands up to Champakara in the North to Vaipur in the South, Karukachal in the West and Kanam/Kangazha Pathanadu in the East. It is fast becoming a centre of education in Central Kerala.

The Nedumkunnam Bhagavati Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. The word 'Kavunnada' is derived from the words 'Kavu' and 'Nada' both related to the temple. The Nampoothiris of Edamana Illam of Nedumkunnam, trace their ancestry to the 237 Tulu Brahmin families, who were brought in 1617 AD (792 ME) by Kolathiri Raja Udayavarman and got settled in five desams in Perinchallur. Later, the then Travancore Raja brought 185 of these Saagara families to Thiruvalla. They are generally called Thiruvalladesi Embraanthiris. All of them follow the customs of Namboothiris.

Nedumkunnam's ancient historical status is indicated by its geographical proximity and easy accessibility using waterways (River Manimala) or the road, to the ancient towns or ports of Niranam, Kaviyoor, Tiruvalla, Changanassery, Kottayam and Alappuzha. Vaipur on River Manimala had Christian settlements from the thirteenth century and must have been a center of timber trade using timber from the forests of Nedumkunnam, Manimala, etc.

The Chathanatt (Panicker) tharavad is believed to have originally owned the land comprising Nedumkunnam.Chemplani family settled here with administrative and military duties.The family owned a major part of this land.Extending from northwest kadoorkaavu to south porumathar,pekaavu,entire kumbikapuzha, to base of veeranmala were owned by chemplani family. This is not to dispute the fact that the native tribals (the Pulayas and the Arrayans) were inhabitants of the forest land. The Chathanatt kudumbom was reportedly, related to the Thekkumkur royal family (that had its headquarters in Kottayam and Changanassery). When Marthanda Varma Maharajah annexed Thekkumkur in 1750 AD, Nedumkunnam became part of the Travancore kingdom. Towards the latter half of the eighteenth century, people started settling in Nedumkunnam. They cleared the forest areas and started cultivating various highland produce, such as tapioca, coconut, black pepper, coffee, arecanut, ginger, etc. Trade in timber from the forests and the spices, increased.

The Mukkattu Syrian Christian family monopolized the spice and timber trade. They stayed near the temple. According to tradition, Christians had to purify the oil used in the local Hindu temple. Such purification was required when people of different castes started visiting the temple and donating oil to the temple and Christians were considered as merchants outside Hindu caste system.

Trade flourished with use of the waterways (Manimala River) from nearby Vaipur (6 km South) to the Arabian Sea Coast (Purakkad & Alappuzha). With the introduction of bullock carts, the produces were taken by land using bullock carts through the land route to Changanacherry (about 16 km to the West).

St.Andrew's CMS Anglican Church is a Protestant church established by the missionaries of the church mission society (in short CMS)in 1857, on the day of St Andrew, 30 November. (Now St. Andrews day was transferred to 2 December.)

The missionaries of CMS came to Calcutta first and started gospel work there. As a result of their work a diocese was established.Then their work spread to madras and there too a diocese was established. It was in July 1879, diocese of Travaccore and Cochin was established and St. Andrews CMS Anglican church became one of the churches in Travencore and Cochin Diocese.

Before the formation of TC Diocese, St Andrews CMS Anglican Church was in existence. The Missionary named Thomas Norton came to Alleppey in 1816. A Church existed Mallapally wholly became a church of the CMS missionaries and thereafter the missionaries began their gospel work making this church as their centre place or headquarters. The downtrodden castes enjoyed freedom when they became Christians. Seeing the freedom enjoyed by the converted Christians, almost all members of the downtrodden castes at chelakompu converted to Christianity. Thus a church was Anglican church. In order to educate the converted Christians, a school was also established nearly one kilometer away from this church. This school is "CMS U.p school chelakompu". To express their gratitude to God, the faithful conduct procession (or rassa) every year on 8th vrichikom at 7 PM from the foot of this UP school to their church. Hundreds of faithfuls participate in this grand procession. This harvest festival of this church is celebrated on 8th and 9th of vrichikom.

The taluk (local government) headquarters is located in Changanacherry and the District headquarters in Kottayam. Local people mostly work as farmers, cultivating cash crops such as rubber and black pepper, and food crops such as cassava and plantain. The village is also a good base for trekking through hills in the local area. Sight-seeing destinations include are Mulamala, Chathanpara, Puliyalackalpara and Nilampodinja. Village center is at Kavumnada that hosts the Panchayat Office, village office, major commercial institutions, banks and shops.