Kerala - Malappuram
Malappuram(Malayalam:മലപ്പുറം ),is a city and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Malappuram District.
Malappuram is situated on the Kozhikode (Calicut) - Chennai road, 12 km southwest of Manjeri and 52 km southwest of Kozhikode. In earlier times, Malappuram was the headquarters of European and British troops and later it became the headquarters of the Malabar Special Police. This place has still the ruins of an ancient fort built by Tipu Sultan. Malappuram was also the scene of the Malabar rebellion of 1921 which was suppressed by the Malabar Special Police. Recently a Passport office was started at Malappuram due to pressure from huge expatriate community.
Malappuram(literally a land atop hills) is situated 50 km southeast of Kozhikode. Bounded by the Nilgiri hills on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west and Thrissur and Palakkad districts on the south, Malappuram is enriched by three great rivers flowing through it - the Chaliyar, the Kadalundi and the Bharathapuzha. Malappuram has a rich and eventful history.
Rich and evergreen forests, ravines, hills and dales, rivers and brooks, sandy surfs and palm fringed coasts, festive mood of the gayful Oonapatt - the district preserves the cultural wealth of the good old days. 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 Khilapthat movement, the Malabar rebellion and the such.
This district was the venue for many of the Mappila revolts between 1792 and 1921. The hill country has also contributed much to the cultural heritage of Kerala. It was a famous centre for Hindu-Vedic learning and Islamic philosophy. The temples and the mosques of this district are well-known for their spectacular festivals. Along with historic monuments and diverse natural attractions, a range of cultural and ritual art forms add to its value as a destination worth visiting.
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.
The birth place of Thunchath Ezuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language, now called Thunchan Parambu, is in Tirur. It is the hallowed ground where hundreds of children are initiated into the wonders of writing when they first trace the letters of the Malayalam alphabet in sand taken from that revered spot which was Ezhuthachan's home. The festival, that the entire city, anticipates with great enthusiasm is Onam, which marks Kerala's new year and harvest season, and comes around in August-September. The other spectacular event that transfigures the entire city is Thrissur Pooram, the annual temple festival.
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