| TRAVEL
Airport
The Calicut airport is at Karipur, 26 Kms away from Malappuram and 28 Kms away from Kozhikode.Regular flights to Bombay, Coimbatore, Madras are operated. Also international flights to Sharjah, Dubai, Abudhabi, Muscat, Kuwait are operated almost everyday. Air India flight to Bombay is a connection to many international flights.
Roads and Rail
There are two Railway lines, Mangalore-Shornur and Nilambur-Shornur passing through the district. The first is through the coastal belt. Parappanangadi, Tirur, Tirunavaya and Kuttipuram are in this line.
KSRTC bus stations are at Ponnani, Malappuram and Perintalmanna. But major part of road transportation is handled by private sector.
The National Highway !7 is the major road passing through the district. It connects Calicut University, Kottakal, Valanchery, Kuttipuram and Ponnani. Kozhikode-Nilambur-Gudalloor and Kozhikode-Palakkad are state highways. Other parts of the district are connected by district roads and rural roads.
Accommodation
Hotel Sabrina Perintalmanna, Hotel Mahendrapuri Malappuram, KTDC Nilambur. There is a Govt Guest house at Malappuram and Rest houses at Tirur, Manjeri, Kottakal, Ponnani. Also there is a Rest house under Calicut University
ATTRACTIONS
Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala
This is a world renowned centre for Ayurvedic treatment, founded by the well known physician and social reformer P.S.Warrier. People from different parts of the world come here for treatment. Arya Vaidya Sala maintains a medicinal herbal garden, which is a rare treasure. At the patronage of Arya Vaidya Sala, art and culture also flourish. PSV Natysanghom, has a unique place in Kathakali. There is an Ayurveda College and Ayurvedic Mental hospital, run by Govt. of Kerala, at Kottakal.
Kottakal Venkata thevayya temple has a collection of mural paintings. Also Kottakal Pooram is a festival of music, culture and literature. It attracts thousands of people.
Kottakal is 13 kms away from Calicut Airport and 16 kms away from Tirur railway station.
Nilambur
Nilambur is famous for rain forests and teak plantations. Oldest teak pantation of the world, the Conolly's plot is near Nilambur town.It was named in memory of H.V. Conolly, the then Malabar district Collector, who was instrumental in raising the teak plantations in the area. Sir Chathu Menon, a forest officer under Conolly, organised the hectic task of raising the teak. The plantation is beside the Chaliyar river at Aruvakode. A country boat ferry operates for the visitors.
Nilambur teak museum is a sub center under Kerala Forest Reserch Institute. Museum exhibits everything related to historic, aesthetic and scientific value of teak. Teak museum is on the side of Nilambur-Gudalloor road.
Rain forests flourish in Nedumkayam, 18kms. away from Nilambur. Chola Naikas, a primitive tribe dwell inside the Nedumkayam forests. There is also an elephant taming centre.
Nilambur is famous for Kovilakams where the rulers resided and ruled the land.
Ponnani
Ponnani is the only port in Malappuram district. It is a tidal port at the mouth of Bharathapuzha. Ponnani is also an important fishing center. It is a town of mosques and khabaristans. Malik Ibnu Dinar, the first islamic missionary who came to Kerala, was beleived to have visited Ponnani. The Huma Ath mosque was built by Sheikh Zainudheen Makhdoom in the 16th century. He was an Arabic scholar. Zainudheen Makhdoom II was another scholar who wrote early history of Kerala Muslims.
Zamorians of Calicut controlled the trade and commerce from Trikavu in Ponnani. Also Trikavu Durga temple is famous.
Legendary Mookkuthala Bhagavathi temple is 10 Kms south east of Ponnani. It is belived that Sankaracharya is associated with the founding of the temple. The Mookkuthala stone is believed to be growing below the idol everyday.
Biyyam Kayal is a spread of backwaters near Ponnani town, where a boat race is conducted annualy.
Tirur
Tirur is a major business centre of Malappuram district. Trikkandiyur in Tirur is the birth place of Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, honoured as father of Malayam literature. Ezhuthachan lived in 16th century AD. Thunjan paramba is a memorium to the great poet. Thousands of people reach Thunjan paramba with their children, on Vijayadasami day, to initiate them into the world of letters. This is a sacred place for Malayalis. A week long literary celebrations are organised every year at Thunjan Paramba.
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was born at Chandakkavu, 10 kms away from Tirur.
At Padinjharakara, where Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha converge, thousands of migratory birds arrive during February to May.
Tirur also witnessed the ill-famed Wagon tragedy. Prisoners of 1921 rebellion were filled up in a air tight goods wagon from Tirur railway station. They were sent to Pothannur. But all of them died of suffocation before they reached the destination. Wagons were returned to Tirur with dead bodies. Tirur Town hall is a memorial to Wagon tragedy.
Thirunavaya
Land of Mamankam, Thirunavaya is near Tirur. Thirunavaya situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha is a place of historical importance. Mamankam was a great assembly of rulers, held once in every 12 years. Mamankam decides the emperor of Kerala. It was also an enormous trade fair. It was a 28 days long fair where traders from outside came even by ships through Ponnani port. The commercial importance of Mamankam was high. After the decline of Perumals Valluvanad rulers got the right to conduct Mamankam. Later Zamorin of Calicut took the right by force and this resulted in dispute between these two rulers. Valluvanad Raja used to send Chaver, warriors to fight until death, to recapture the right of Mamankam. Once Zamorin narrowly escaped from a 16 year old Chaver, even though he was surrounded by a continent of soldiers. Last of such Mamankam was beleived to be held in 1755 AD.
Thirunavaya is the place of the 3 Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, causing birth, life and death, according to Hindu belief. Navamukunda temple is believed to be constructed by Navayogis, is an important Vishnu temple. Pitru Tarpanam is a ritual on Amavasi day of Karkkidakam(July), offered by people for dead souls.
The famous Othanmar Madom is on the left bank of Bharathapuzha. It was a Vedic Centre during Aryanisation period.
Perintalmanna
Birth place of EMS Namboothiripadu, the first Chief Minister of unified Kerala is at Elamkulam, Perintalmanna. The Famous Thirumanthankunnu temple is at Angadipuram, near Perintalmanna. The 16th century poet Poonthanam was born at Keezhattur. Poet's house "Poonthanam Illam" is preserved by Guruvayur Devaswom. Mankada Kovilakam is 8kms away from Perintalmanna. It was the seat of ruling family, under old Valluvanad Kingdom.
Malappuram
Malappuram is the head quarters of the district. Once it was a military station for Zamorins. Para Nambi, the Chieftain of the Zamorin, had his seat at Kottapady, now known as down hill Malappuram. Later Britishers established their military base here, at the banks of Kadalundi river, known as Haig Baracks. Now district collectorate is functioning in these buildings. Malappuram is the head quarters of Malabar Special Police, established in 1921.
Panakkad, a spiritual centre for Muslims is 6 kms away from Malappuram.
Poonkudi Mana near Mankada is famous for Ayurvedic treatment for mental illness.
Kondotty
Kondotty is a growing town near Calicut Airport. It is famous for Pazhayangadi Nercha. Great Mapila poet Moyinkutty Vaidyar was born here. Thangals, the Sufi exponents lived here. First Thangal was brought by Tippu for his campaigning.
Zamorins expanded from Nediyiruppu near Kondotty. Zamorins were ealier known as Nediyiruppu Swaroopams.
Kadalundipuzha
On the banks of Kadalundipuzha is Mampuram mosque, a pilgrim centre. At Mampuram Nercha people from all religions offer agarbathis for the fulfilment of their aspirations. Tirurangadi is on the other side of the river. It was an important centre of the Khilafat movement. It was the Tirurangadi incident which triggered the 1921 rebellon.
Kadalundi Nagaram is situated where the river meets the Arabean sea. It is an abode of migratory birds during Febuary, March and April.
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