Malapuram

Malappuram is bounded by the Nilgiris hills on the East and the Arabian Sea on the west. District of Malappuram is literally the land atop the hills, is remarkable for its unique natural beauty. Perched among the undulating hills and the meandering rivers that flow to reach the coconut-fringed seacoast, the land conceals a unique and eventful history. Home to the khilafath movement and the mappila revolts, which questioned the British authority in India, Malappuram was the military headquarters of the Zamorins of Kozhikode since ancient times.

The hill country also contributed much to the cultural artistic traditions of the state. The mosques and temples of the land are known for their spectacular festivals. The land of great poets and writers, political and religious leaders, the district has carved a unique place of its own in the history of Kerala.

It has in store, a hoary past with Zamorin's rule, Mamankam festival, Vellattiri’s revenge and the resultant Chaver Pada (suicidal squad), the British rule and indiscriminate oppression of the masses in connivance with exploiting landlords, the National and the Khilafat movement, the Malabar rebellion and the such.

The land of great poets and writers, political and religious leaders, this district has carved a place of it’s own in the history of Kerala. The Kings of Valluvanad, the Zamorins, the Kings of Perumpadappu Swarupam and the Kings of Vettathunadu, were the early rulers. The Portuguese, Mysore sultans and the Britishers had their sway over this place, partly or wholly. But the unique social and cultural heritage is preserved.

Malappuram has still the ruins of an ancient fort built by Tippu Sultan. The district has a rich cultural and political heritage. Malappuram is known for national movements such as Khilafat Movement and Moplah Rebellion, in which the Muslim Mappilas and peasants struggled against feudalism and colonialism alike. Though there were occasional religious overtones associated with such movements, many historians acknowledge them as part of Indian Independence Struggle.

Malappuram (also Malapuram) was the headquarters of British troops[citation needed] and later it became the headquarters of the Malabar Special Police.MSP was created by the British in the aftermath of the widespread violence and bloodshed witnessed during the protests by the local Muslims (Mappilas/Moplahs) against the British decision abolishing the Islamic Caliphate in Turkey. The uprising is popularly known as Mappila Lahala. Anakkayam, 8 km from the city, was an important centre of 1921 Malabar Rebellion. The hill country has also contributed much to the cultural heritage of Kerala. It was a famous centre of Hindu-Vedic learning and Islamic philosophy

Before India's Independence in 1947, Malappuram was part of Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of British India. The area covered by the present district was administered as part of Kozhikode, Ernad, Valluvanad and Ponnani taluks. Malabar District remained part of Madras state immediately after Indian Independence. On 1 November 1956, Malabar District was merged with Travancore-Cochin to form the state of Kerala, and large-scale changes in the territorial jurisdiction of this tract took place in 1957 and 1969. On 1 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 95 panchayats. Two more taluks, namely Tirurangadi and Nilambur, were formed later by bifurcating Tirur and Ernad taluks.

ART AND CULTURE

Malappuram district has a good tradition in the field of art and culture. Many of the renowned writers and poets hail from this part of the land. The revival of the Malayalam stage was initiated by the late P.S. Varier, the founder of Arya Vaidya Sala. It was under his patronage that the Parama Siva Vilasam Dramatic Company was started in Kottakal to promote Malayalam drama, at a time when only Tamil drama troupes had their sway. A permanent hall to stage Malayalam drama, was built at Kottakkkal. Later this dramatic club was renamed as P.S.V. Natyasangham where Kathakali is the main programme now. A Kathakali School is also run by the Natyasangham. Of the popular theatre, K. Damodaran's Pattabakki and Cherukad's Nammal Onnu played an important role.

Kolkali, Draff Muttu and Aravana Muttu of Muslim community are important folk art forms of the district. Chavittukali or Cherumakkali is another ancient art of Malappuram.The living exponent of Sopana Sangeetham, Nheralath Rama Poduval, hails from Angadipuram. The district has a good network of libraries. The Kerala Grandhasala Sangham is very active here. There are 332 affiliated libraries, 140 in Ernad, 86 in Tirur, 66 in Perintalmanna and 40 in Ponnani taluks under the Library Council. Four Taluk library Unions are functioning under the District Library Council.

Malappuram district has a good tradition in the field of art and culture. Many of the renowned writers and poets hail from this part of the land. It is a long chain, starting with Thunjath Ezhuthachan, honoured as the father of modern Malayalam literature. Her was born in Trikkandiyur near Tirur, 400 years ago. He wrote his poems in Malayalam, when the Kerala literary field was crushed under Sanskrit, the language of the upper class. Ramayana and Bharatham of Ezhuthachan are widely read in Malayali houses, as sacred books.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

KOTTAKKAL ARYA VAIDYASALA :

Kottakkal is a world-renounced center of Ayurveda. The Arya Vaidya Sala, established by P.S. Warrier, the well-known physician and social reformer, has completed its hundred years of glorious existence. People from different parts of the world come for treatment, Art and culture also flourish in Kottakkal at the patronage of Arya Vaidya Sala. P.S.V. Natyasanghom has a unique place in Kathakali. A Kathakali School is run by the Sanghom. Venkata theva temple near the Arya Vaidya Sala, is noted for mural Paintings. Kottakkal Pooram festival attracts thousands. Connoisseurs of music, art, culture and literature of the country, participate in the cultural mela organized in connection with the pooram.

Annual Seminar on Ayurveda and other branches of medicine, conducted as a pert of founders day of Arya Vaidya Sala, are attented by experts from abroad also. A medicinal herbal garden, maintained by the Vaidya sala is a rare treasure.

There is an Ayurveda College at Kottakkal. The Govt. of Kerala runs the only Ayurveda Mental Hosptal of the state, here. Kottakkal is 12 Kms. west of Malappuram. National Highway-17 passes through Kottakkal. The distance from there to Calicut Airport is 13 Kms., and to Tirur Railway station is 16 Kms. The famous Kadampuzha Devi Temple is not far from Kottakkal, where devotees in and out of Kerala, come and pray to remove obstruction in life. Dry coconut is the main offering.

TEAK MEUSEUM :

Four Kms, away from Nilambur, on the side of Nilambur-Gudallur road, is worlds first Teak Museum and a sub center of Kerala Forest Research Institute. In the Teak Museum, a visitor can have at hand, information on all aspects of teak. The museum, arranged in a two storied building, exhibits articles and details of historic, aesthetic and scientific value.

Eighteen Kms, away from Nilabur, is Nedumkayam where the rain forests flourish. Form the wooden rest house built by the Britishers, elephants and deer can be viewed. An elephant-taming center is also there. Half an hour jeep journey through the thick forests from Nedumkayam, leads to Mancherri, the settlement of Chola Naickas, a primitive tribe.

Beyond Chaliyar river, 27 Kms. From Nilambur, is Valamthode, a hill top place where a perennial waterfall attracts people. This too is a tribal settlement. Road accessibility is through Kozhikode district by Areekode-Mukkam Road. Nilambur town is famous for kovilakams where the Rajas resided and ruled the land. The Kovilakams have beautiful frescoes and art works in wood. The forest division offices (Nilambur North & South) are functioning from here. It is the terminus of Shornur-Nilambur railway and it is 40 Kms from Malappuram town.

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.

Valiya Juma Masjid

PAZHAYANGADI MOSQUE,KONDOTTY :

(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.

ADYAN PARA :

Beautiful waterfall, suitable for trekking Adyan Para, 10 Kms. away from Nilambur is fast emerging as a main tourist center.

NILAMBUR :

Nilambur is famous for its teak plantation. The oldest teak plantation of the world is in the Conollys plot is just 2 Kms, from Nilambur town. The plot was named in memory of HV Conolly the then Malabar District collector, who was instrumental in raising the teak plantation in the entire Nilambur area. Sir Chathu Menon, a forest officer under Conolly, organized the hectic task of planning Teak. Chathu Menon was laid to rest in the Teak garden in the Conollys plot. The plot of 2.31 hectares is beside the Chaliyar River at Aruvakkode, where a country boat ferry awaits visitors.

MANJERI :

Twelve Kms. northeast Malappuram town, Manjeri is the head quarters of Eranad taluk. It was a live center of the National movement. Majeri Kovilakam was the seat of the ruling families under the Zamorins. The district hospital and District court are at Majeri. Some district offices like the District Medical Office, PWD Roads Division etc. are also functioning in this own. Anakkayam 2 Kms. from Manjeri was an important center in 1921 mass upsurge. Anti British revolts took place from 1790 itself, in and around Manjeri.

MALAPPURAM :

Malappuram is the head quarters of the district. It is 26 Kms. South-East from Calicut Airport and 28 Kms. North-East from Tirur railway station. It was a military head quarters from ancient times. The Zamorins of Kozhikode had their away over this place and they stationed a part of their militia here. Para Nimbi, the chieftain of the Zamorin, ruled with his head quarters at Kottappady in Malappuram. Malappuram Nercha, celebrated in summer, is in memory of martyrs who fought the atrocities of the militia. The Britishers established the Haig barracks on top of hill, at the banks of kadalundi river, to station their forces. Main barracks has now been turned into the seat of district administration. Main district offices are functioning here. Malappuram is the headquarters of the Malabar Special Police, established in 1921. Pookkottyr near Malappuram, has a place in history, where the mappila warrior fought the British with their traditional weapons were killed in cold blood, during the Malabar rebellion. Panakkad, 6 Km from malappuram in Malappuram-Parappanangadi road, is an important spiritual center for the Muslims of Kerala, Ten Km. away from Malappuram, between Anakkayam and Manakada, is poonkudi Mana, famous for the traditional method of treatment of mental illness. Seminars on modern treatment and traditional styles are conducted here. Poonkudi Thalappoli is a Hindu religious festival of this mana.

TIRUNNAVAYA :

The land of ancient Mamankam, Tirunnavya is South of Tirur. Situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha; it is a place of historical importance. In olden days, Mamankam was a grand assembly of the rulers held once in 12 years, in which, one among them was selected as the emperor of Kerala. It was an enormous trade fair also. The Mamankam festival was celebrated for 28 days with great pomp and pageantry where traders from outside came in ships and barges to Tirunnavaya through Ponnani Port. Thus the economical importance of Mamankam was high and hence the right to conduct and control it was important. At the end of the rule of Perumals, the right of mamankam was with Vellattiri, the ruler of Valluvanad. Later the Zamorn of Kozhikode, took this right by force and this resulted in dispute and bloodshed between these two Rajas. Valluvanad Raja used to sent Chaver warriors to fight until death, to recapture the right from the Zamorin, who would stand Nilapadu at Nilapadu thara in Tirunnavaya, Surrounded by a large contingent of soldiers, in every 12th year. The last of such Mamankam, was believed to be held in 1755, when Zamorin had an hair breath escape from a 16 year old Chaver. The Nilapadu thara, now in the premises of Kottakkal Tile factory, is protected by the Archaeological department. A deep well called Manikkinar believed to be dumped with bodies of the Chavers is also protected. Tirunnavaya is a converging place of the Trimurtis, - (Brahma, Vishnu, Siva). Three temples, Consecrated to these deities, are on either bank of Bharathapuzha. The famous vedic Vidyalaya Othanmar Madhom of ancient times, is on of the left bank of Bharathapuzha, near the Siva temple. This madhom was a center of aryanisation through Sanskrit and Vedic education as Tirunnavaya as believed to be the main center, where Parusurama brought and settled Brahmins. The place (Mana) of Puranic fame Azhavancherry Thamprakkal is 2 Kms north of Tirunnavya. Nava mukunda Temple beloved to be constructed by Nava yogis on the right bank of Bharathapuzha, is an important Vishnu temple of Kerala. Pithru Tharpanam is a ritual, held here on the day of Amavasi of Karkitaka (July). Bali Karma is offered by people in their wet clothes, after dip in the river, for the salvation of sins and appease the dead souls

A martial art  festival of Kalarippayattu is conducted during summer on the sands of Bharathapuzha. The famous Changampalli Kalari is near Tirunnavaya. During the second week of February, A Sarvodya Mela is conducted in Tirunnavaya where the Gandhians of Kerala, use to assemble. The Santhikudeeram established by the national leader K. Kelappan, is the center place of this mela

NATURES GIFTS

RIVERS :

Four important rivers of Kerala flow through Malappuram district. They are, Chaliyar, Kadalundippuzha, Bharathappuzha and Tirurpuzha. Chaliyar has a length of 169 Kms, and originates from Illambaleri hills in Tamil Nadu. Important tributaries of this river are Chalippuzha, Punnapuzha, Pandiyar, Karimpuzha, Cherupuzha and Vadapurampuzha. Chaliyar traverses through Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Areekode, Vazhakkad and flows into the sea at Beypore in Kozhikode district. Kadalundippuzha is formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Olipuzha and Veliyar. Olipuzha originates from Cherakomban hill and Veliyar from Erattakomban hill. They flow by the wilds of silent valley and traverses through Eranad and Valluvanad regions, before flowing in to the sea at Kadalundi Nagaram. It passes through places like Melattur, Pandikkad, Malappuram, Panakkad, Parappur, Kooriyad and Thirurangadi. Kadalundippuzha has a circuits course of 130 Kms. Bharathappuzha the second longest river in Kerala, flows by the southern border of the district and drains in to the sea at Ponnani. Its main tributary, Thothappuzha, originates from the silent Valley, flows through Thootha, Elamkulam, Pulamanthole and joins the main river at Pallippuram. After a course in Palakkad and Thrissur districts, the Bharathappuzha again enters Malappuram district at Tiruvegappura and from Kuttippuram onwards, the river belongs entirely to Malappuram. Tirurpuzha 48 Kms long, originates from Athavanad hills in Tirur Taluk, flows in a south west course upto Tirunavaya, deviares to encircle Tirur Taluk, flows in a south west course up to Tirunavaya, deviates to encircle Tirur town and flows south west parallel to the sea, until it joins the Bharathappuzha near Ponnani port. Of these rivers, only Chaliyar is perennial; all other get dried up in summer and hence Malappuram District is prone to drought. In Tirur and ponnani taluks, Kayalas (back water) like Biyyamp, Veliyancode, manur, Kodinhi etc. offer fishing and navigation facilities.

FLORA  AND  FAUNA :

The major forest area is concentrated in Nilambur and Vandoor blocks and Melattur in the Western Ghats. Of the forests, 80 percent is deciduous and the rest is evergreen. Teak, Rosewood, Venteak, Choropin, Mahagonyh, etc. are the important trees. Other varieties like Kulamavu and villa pine are used in the plywood industry. Bamboo hills extensively grown in all parts of the forest. The district has also several man made plantations mainly of Teak.

Elephants, deers, tigers blue monkeys, bears, boars, rabbits etc. are found in the forests along with variety of birds and reptiles. Forests are the main source of raw materials for a number of wood-based industrial units. Besides timber, firewood and green manure, forest produces like honey, medicinal herbs, spices etc. are collected. The tribals collect minor forest produces. Bamboo for pulp factories is mainly supplied from Nilambur forests. The forests are protected by two forest divisions Nilambur North and Nilambur South. The social forestry division promotes planting of trees outside forestlands, for protecting natural forests. About 50 Acres of Mangroves forest are spread over kadalundi Estuary in Vallikkunnu Gram    a Panchayat.

MINERALS :

Malappuram district is not rich in mineral wealth. Laterite stone is found abundantly in the midland areas. It is exploited economically for construction work and hundreds of quarries cutting laterite stone known as Vettukallu are in operation, giving employment to thousands. It was Dr. Francis Buchanan, a Scottish scholar who named the porous rock Laterite based on the Latin term Laterites, meaning brick stone. He conducted his studies in and around Angadipuram in 1800 A.D.

Deposits of lime shells are found in the coastal belt, mainly in ponnani and Kadalundi nagaram. The coastal sands of ponnani and Veliyancode contain heavy minerals like ilmenite and monosite. China clay, the principal raw material for porcelain industry, is found abundantly in many parts of district. Iron-ore, as Magentite-Quartizite is found in Nilambur, Vaniyambalm, Kalikavu and Chembrassery. Karuvarakkundu in the district derived its name from iron-ore cutting and blacksmithy, which flourished in the district from very ancient time. Nilambur region of the district, forms part of the hidden Wayanad Goldfields Placer gold; Main zones for auriferous gravels are in Nilambur valley, namely Pandippuzha-Chiyarpuzha zone and Punnapuzha-Maruthappuzha zone.

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