Tourism Attractions
Malappuram district, with its rich natural
beauty and historic past has its own tourist attractions.
Nilambur
Nilambur is famous for its teak plantation.
The oldest teak plantation of the world is in the Conolly�s 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 Conolly�s plot. The plot of 2.31 hectares is beside the Chaliyar
River at Aruvakkode, where a country boat ferry awaits visitors.
Teak Museum
�Four Kms, away from Nilambur, on the side of
Nilambur-Gudallur road, is world�s 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.
Adyan Para
Beautiful waterfall, suitable for trekking
Adyan Para, 10 Kms. away from Nilambur is fast emerging as a main tourist
center.
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.
Kottakkal Arya Vaidya
Sala
�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 founder�s 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.
Tirunavaya
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.
Tirur
Tirur is one of the important business
centers of Malappuram district. It is 41 Kms. south of Kozhikode, on the
Mangalore-Madras railway line. Thunjan Paramba in Trikandiyur, 3 Kms. from Tirur
railway station, is sacred for all who sepak Malayalam. This is the birth place
of Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan of the 15 century AD, honoured as the father
of Malayalam literature. Important works of Ezhuthachan, Adhyatma Ramayanam and
Maha Bharatham are widely recited in kerala homes. A memorium for the great
poet has been built at Thunjan Paramba, where weeklong literary mela is
organized in last week of December. People in hundreds reach Thunjan paramba
with their children, to initiate them into the world of letter on the
vijayadasami day. Children are made to write on the white sands of Thunjan
paramba with their fingers. Young poets of Kerala come on that day to offer
their poem. A Nuxvomica tree, of which leaves are not bitter, is a surprise here.
12 Kms. south of Tirur is Chamravattom Sasta Temple, which is constructed on
the Bharathapuzha. Six Kms. from Tirur, is Triprangode where the only temple of
Kerala, consecrated to Garuda, the bird deity, is situated. Chandanakkavu, the
birth place of the great Sanskrit poet and grammarian, Melpathur Narayana
Bhattathiri of 16th Century, is 10 Kms. away from Triur in
Thiruvnnavaya Kottakkal road. A memoriam has been built there for the poet
where small children are brought for their formal initiation into learning, on
Vijayadasami day, as in Thunjan Paramba. Tirur-Koottayi road ends at
Padinjharakkara, where the Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha converge to drain into
the sea. This place is noted for migratory birds, gathering in thousands during
February-April.
Tirur was a witness of the ill-famed Wagon
tragedy of the 1921 rebellion. Seventy prisoners sent to Pothannur, filed up in
an airtight goods wagon from Tirur railway station, died of asphyxiation. The
wagons were returned with the dead bodies to Tirur. Tirur municipality has
built a town hall on memory of the Wagon Tragedy.
Perinthalmanna
Twenty Kms. South-East of Malappuram, this
town is the headquarters of Perinthalmanna Taluk. Thirumandham kunnu temple and
Tali temple in Angadippuram, 2 Kms. from Perinthalmanna, are important pilgrim
centers, Tiruurkad, a place 6 Kms. away from Perinthalmanna, in Kozhikode road,
is famous for its Muslim educational complex and Yathimkhana. The Mankada
Kovilakam, 8 Kms. away in Majeri road, was the seat of the ruling family, under
old Valluvanad Kingdom. A Chaverthara, preserved near the Thirumandham kunnu
temple, is a memorium for the martyrs of Mamankam. The Chaver warriors �used to
converge at this place before moving to Tirunnavaya.
Eight Kms. from Perinthalmanna is Keezhattur,
the birthplace of great poet of Malayalam, Poonthanam Namboothirit of 16th
century AD. The Guruvayur Devasom preserves the house of the poet as a
monument. Pariyapuram Church and Malaparamba Church are important Christian
Centers. A fort of Tippu Sultan is at Paloor near Angadippuram.
In the Angadippuram Rest house premises, a
monument of Francis Hamilton Buchanan;s finding of laterite stone is built by
the Gelogical survey of India.
Kodikuthimala
Known as Ooty of Malappuram, Kodikuthimala emerged
as one of the important center of tourist attraction. 1500 feet above from sea
level, this place is cooler than the height indicates. The DTPC plans some
development schemes to convert this hilly area into a tourist hot spot.
Kondotty
The growing town of Kondotty near the Calicut
Airport is famous for the nercha in the Pazhayangadi Mosque. It is the
birthplace of the great Mappila poet, Moyin Kutty Vaidyar. He popularised
Mappilapattu by his poems on non-religious and romantic themes. A memorium for the
poet is proposed to be built in Kondotty. The history of Kondotty is connected
with that of Kondotty Thangals, the Sufi exponents. Tippu of Mysore brought the
first Thangal Mohammed Shah, to bring the Mappilas to the side of his rule. The
Thangal first resided at Areekode and later settled in Kondotty. When the
British emerged on the scene putting an end to the reign to Tippu sultan, the
Thangal switched sides with them. Hence, during the 1921 upsurge, the Mappila
mob attacked the house of the seventh thangal, naziruddin shah, Kondotty nercha
is held at the tomb of the first Thangal.
Two Kms. from Kondotty is Nediyiruppu from
where the Zamorin Kingdom was expanded. In ancient time, Zamorins were known as
Neiyiruppu Swaroopams.
Tirurangadi
Tirurangadi was an important centre of the
Khilaphat movement, the National movement and the Malabar rebellion. It was the
Tirurangadi incident on 20th August 1921 that ignited the outbreak
of the Mappila rebellion. Mampuram Kizhakkeppalli was the seat of Khilaphat
leader, Ali Musliar and a center of religious education.
The Mampuram mosque on the other side of the
Kadalundi River is a pilgrim centre. At Mampuram Nercha, people from all
religious come and offer incese sticks for the fulfillment of their
aspirations. Tirurangadi 24 km. west of Malappuram is now the block
headquarters. A new Taluk is proposed to be formed with its headquarters at
Tirurangadi. There is a PSMO College and a big YatheemKhana (Muslim Orphanage)
here.
Eight Kms. West of Tirurangadi is Parappanangadi,
which is an important fishing center. A Fisheries Development project is
functioning here. A fish seed central also functions at Ullanam, near
Parappanangadi.
Kadalundi Nagaram
Kadalundi Nagarm is situated in the north
western border of Malappuram district, where the Kadalundi River flows into the
Arabian Sea. It is 10 Kms. north of Parappanangadi. The nearest railway station
is a Vallikkunnu. Kadalundi nagaram is an above of migratory birds, which flock
in on the vast stretch of water during February-April. Pooram festival in the
Niramkaitha Kotta Bhagavati temple near Vallikkunnu, lasts for a week,
attracting thousands.
Tanur
The coastal town Tanur was one of earliest
Portuguese settlements. It is believed that. St. Francis Xavier visited this
place is 1564. Situated 8 Kms. from Tirur, it is an important fishing center.
Mangalore-Madras railway line passes through this town. The
Keraladhesswarapuram temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which is one among the
oldest temples of Kerala, is 3 Kms. south of Tanur town. Keraladhesswarapuram
is also a weaver�s settlement.
Ponnani
Ponnani is the only port in Malappuram
district and one of the oldest ones in Kerala. A tidal port at the mouth of
Bharathappuzha, Ponnani is an important fishing center. Ponnani is connected by
road from Kuttipputam railway station. National Highway � 17 passes through
this town, which is divided by the Canolly Canal, adding to its beauty.
Ponnani is a town of mosques and
Khabaristans. Though described as a place of 23a mosques, there are
nearly more than 50 mosques. Malik Ibnu Dinar, the first Islamic missionary who
cam to Kerala, was believed to have visited Ponnani. The Huma Ath mosque, the
biggest mosque in the town was built by Sheikh Zainuddin Makhodum in the 16th
Century. Zainuddin was proficient in Arabic and he wrote books. Zainuddin
Makhodum-II was another scholar who wrote the early history of Kerala Muslims.
The religions established by the Makhodum-I, is renounced all over the country.
Trikavu in Ponnani was one among the seats of
the Zamorin, from where he controlled the trade and commerce. The famous
Trikavu Durga temple here, clebrates Navarathri festival.
Ten Kms. South-East of Ponnani, is the
legendary Mookuthala Bhagavathi Temple, one of the ancient Durga temples of
Kerala. It is believed that Sankaracharya is associated with founding of the
temple. The Karthika Mahotsav, celebrated in Vrischikam (November-December)
attracts thousands of devotees. The Mookkuthala stone, believed to be growing
from below the idol every day, is considered sacred. Sukapuram temple near
Edappal, is another important Hindu temple.
Biyyam Kayal is a spread of backwaters near
Ponnani town, where a boat race is conducted annually, during Onam
celebrations. A permanent pavilion is built for the spectators and nearly a
dozen country boats, including some rowed by women participate. A big scheme is
underway to develop a tourist complex here, with hotel, park and pedal boats.
Perumpadappa
Boarding Thrissur district, perumpadappa was
the seat of Cochin princes known as perumpadappa Swaroopam. It is now the
headquarters of Perumpadappa Block. Puthenpalli mosque and Jaram attract
devotees. Perumpadappa is about 15 Kms. from Ponnani. Veliyancode near
Perumpadappa in the coastal line, is an important Islamic center from ancient
times. The religious leader Umar Quasi (1757-1852) was also a social reformer.
He instigated tax denial, a movement when the landlords inordinately increased
land tax with government backing. He was arrested by the Kozhikode Collector
and imprisoned. Another social reformer was the successor of the Qasi, sayed
Makti Thangal, who preached for secular education of Muslims, for progress in
life.
