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Kerala Must See


Malappuram District took its birth on 16-6-1969.

It is situated on the Calicut - Madras road, 12 km. south - west of Manjeri and 52 km. south - west of Calicut. Malappuram is the head quarters of the district. In earlier times, Malappuram was the head quarters of European and British troops and later it became the head quarters of the Malabar Special Police (M.S.P). This place has still the ruins of an ancient fort built by Tippu Sultan. Malappuram was also the scene of the Malabar rebellion of 1921 which was suppressed by the Malabar Special Police (M.S.P)

Prior to 1947, the area covered by the present district formed part of Kozhikode, Ernad, Valluvanad and Ponnani taluks of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. However, large scale changes in the territorial jurisdiction of this tract took place in 1957 and 1969. On 1st January 1957, Tirur taluk was newly formed taking portions of Ernad and Ponnani taluks. Another portion of Ponnani taluk was transferred to the newly formed Chavakkad taluk, while the residuary portion was known as Ponnani taluk. Perinthalmanna was a new taluk formed out of the erstwhile Valluvanad taluk. Of these, Ernad and Tirur continued under Kozhikode district and Perinthalmanna as well as Ponnani under the Palakkad district. The new district of Malappuram was formed with four taluks, Ernad, Perinthalmanna, Tirur and Ponnani, four statutory towns, fourteen developmental blocks and ninetyfive panchayats. Two more taluks namely Tirurangadi and Nilambur were formed later by bifurcating Tirur and Ernad taluk.

At present Malappuram District consists of 2 Revenue Divisions, 6 Taluks, 135 Villages, 14 blocks, 5 Muncipalities and 100 panchayats.

BEACHES

» Padinharekara Beach
Close to Ponnani and at the end point of the Tipu Sulthan road. It offers a breath taking view of the confluence of the river Bharathapuzha and Tirur puzha with the Arabian sea.

PILGRIMAGE CENTRES

» Kadampuzha
In Melmuri village of Tirur taluk is situated 3 Km north of Vettichira on the NH-17 connecting Calicut and Trissur and is famous for its Bhagavathi temple said to have been set up by Jagadguru Sankaracharya.

» Angadipuram
About 1.5 Kms west of Perinthalmanna. This is an important place on the Madras-Calicut Trunk road through which the Shoranur-Nilambur railway line also passes. This place has two well known temples Thirumandhamkunnu and Tali.

» Thirunavaya
This ancient and famous temple on the banks of the Bharathapuzha dedicated to Lord Shiva was the traditional venue of the ritual of Mamankam an enactment of traditional martial arts by suicide squades

» Trikandiyur
This ancient Shiva temple with an idol said to have been installed by Parasurama, is situated close to the town of Tirur, and attracts devotees from far and wide.

» Mumburam
Muslim shrine and receptacle for dead bodies of the Thangals (the relegious leaders of the malabar muslims), situated in A.R.Nagar village; is a major pilgrimage centre of Muslims.

» Valiya Juma Masjid Malappuram
This is an important pilgrim centre of the Muslims of Kerala. The four day annual festival at the mosque(nercha) is celebrated in April. Adjoining the mosque is the mausoleum of the Malappuram shaheeds (martys) whose brave exploits have been immortalised in the Mappila ballads.

» Pazhayangadi Mosque, Kondotti
(18km east of Manjeri. On the way to Malappuram): The three day long Valia Nercha feat at this 500 year old Muslim pilgrim centre, celebrated in February/March, is a local cultural event. Moyin Kutty Vaidyar- Kondotty, the finest exponanent of Mappila Pattu. His Badral Muneer - Husn-Ul-Jamal, the earliest romantic piece is praised for its craft.

» Kottakunnu
One can see trace of an old fort at the base of the cantonment Hill. The fort was the first to be built by the Zamorins of Kozhikode. Nearby are the Vettakkorumakan Temple and the Siva temple with the famous murals of Malabar.

DTPC has plan to develop Kottakunnu in to an attractive park and the District Sports Council to establish a stadium nearby.

There is a beautiful helipad at Kottakunnu.

BACKWATERS

» Biyyam Kayal
Close to Ponnani, is a placed greenery fringed waterway with a watersports facility recenlty set up by the D.T.P.C.

» Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
Located 19kms from Kozhikode and 7kms from Beypore port, the sanctuary which is spread over a cluster of islands covers an area surrounded by hillocks where the Kadalundipuzha flows in to the Arabian sea. Over a 100 varieties of native birds and over 60 varieties of migratory birds flock here.

AYURVEDA

Kottakkal, 13kms from Malappuram, is the premier centre for the traditional classical Indian medical system of Ayurveda with a renowned private institution set up in 1900. It possess a large private hospital, drugs producing centre, herbarium and even an Ayurvedic Medical College. Patients even from several foreign countries come to this world renowned centre of excellence in ayurveda for treatment.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

» Manjeri
The headquaters of Ernad Taluk, a place rich in history, and a witness to the vicissitudes of the Malabar rebellion and the indipendence struggle; also home to the renowned Kunnathmbalam, and the Karikkad Subramania temple; now an important administrative and commercial centre as well.

» Tirur
43 Kms south of Calicut, this is an important Railway Station of the Shoranur-Mangalore section of the Southern railway, a major trading centre of fish and betel, and the birth place of Tunchan Ramanujan Ezhutassan, the founder of Malayalam Literature, Even now the Thunchan Paramba, being developed into an important research centre and literacy meeting place by the government; is considerd a place of great veneration. The site attracts a large number of people on Vijayadashami day for the ritual initiation of children into the world of learning.

» Wagon Tragedy Memorial Muncipal Town Hall
A standing monument reminiscent of the notorious Wagon Tragedy during the British rule.

» Tanur
The costal town Tanur was one of the earliest Portugeese settlements situated 8 kms from Tirur. It is believed that St. Francis Xavier visited this place in 1546. The Keraladheeswarapuram temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which is one among the oldest temple of Kerala, is 3 kms, south of Tanur town. Keraladheeswarapuram is also a weavers settlement.

» Tirurangadi
Tirurangadi was an important centre of the Khilapath movement, national movement and the Malabar Rebillion. It was the Tirurangadi incident on 20th Augest, 1921, that ignited the out break of Mappila Rebillion. Mumburam Kizhakke Palli was the seat of Khilapath leader Ali Musliar.

» Ponnani
Ponnani is the only port in Malappuram District and one of the oldest in Kerala. A tidal port at the mouth of Bharathapuzha.

» Nilambur
On the Calicut - Ootty highway, 40 Kms from Malappuram, this is an important halting place for tourists on route to Ootty, a trading centre in hill products and is well known for its teak plantations, said to the oldest in the world (Connolly's plot) and a well desingned Teak Museum, which traces the history and uses of the wonder wood.

» Adyanpara
Adyanpara lies in Kurumbalangode village of Nilambur taluk and is famous for its water falls and the splendour of its wooded jungles.

» Kodikuthimala
Kodikuthimala a scenic hilltop near Perinthalmanna, attracting tourists with it's panoramic viewes and DTPC has plans to develop this in to a majer tourist spot in the district.