Malappuram

The word Malappuram means "terraced place atop the hills" or simply "hilltop", derived from the general geographical characteristics of the city.[9][10][11]

Malabar Special Police HQ entrance

Malappuram was a military headquarters from ancient times though the ancient history of the city is hardly seen recorded. However, there are some pre-historic relics, particularly Rock-cut caves found in some parts of the city like Oorakam, Melmuri, Ponmala, Vengara etc. manifesting the inhabitancy.[12] Locality named like Valiyangadi, Kootilangadi, Pallipuram etc. points to the Jain - Buddhist history of Malappuram. Notably, the 1500 year old Jain Temple above 2000 ft sea level at Oorakam Hill of Malappuram undoubtedly proves the same.[13] During the Sangam period, Eranadan Malappuram was under the Chera Empire. Places like Pattar Kadav, Panakkad etc. are possibly evolved out of Pattars and Panars having lived there. But no further details are available about the life and culture of the people either during the Sangam age or in the post-Sangam age.[14] Archaeological relics found in Malappuram also include the remnants of palaces of the eastern branch of the Zamorin reign. Details of the rulers of erstwhile Malappuram, who were the ancestors of later Zamorins, figure in the Jewish copper plates of Bhaskara Ravi Varman (1000 AD) and in the Kottayam copper plates of Veera Raghava Chakravarthy (1225 AD). The later history of the city is interwoven with the history of Zamorin's rule.[15]

Malappuram is situated in the mid land area of the state. As the name suggests, it is covered with small mountains of lush greenery, bonded with several freshwater streams flowing through the city. Kadalundi Puzha, a major river in Kerala is flowing around the city.[16] Malappuram is one of the few municipalities in the state with a tremendous track record of keeping the city clean. The recognition as second 'best municipality in up keeping the cleanliness and health by state government in 2011 [17] and Second prize for Swachhata Excellence Awards in 2019 by Government of India[18] acknowledges these sincere efforts of the municipality. Malappuram is the biggest potential nod of the district. Unlike other district headquarters, Malappuram holds a significant position in west-east transit along with north-south. It makes the city accessible for everyone in the district through either National Highway or State Highway.[19] The strategical location of the city is yet to be exploited in many aspects.

The city has more or less the same climatic conditions prevalent else-where the state. The climate is generally mild hot and humid in nature. However, the South West Monsoon is usually very heavy. The best season to visit Malappuram is during the months of September to March as the weather conditions are quite pleasant. Owing to its natural habitat, Malappuram is also a city of fresh air. According to the Central Pollution Control Board data for the year 2010, of the 180 cities monitored for SO2, NO2 and PM10, Malappuram was one of the two cities which met the criteria of low pollution (i.e. 50% below the standard) for all air pollutants.

Kottakkunnu, a view from giant wheel

Being the headquarters city, Malappuram comprises the Civil Station area which consists of administrative and other Government offices of the district such as District Collectorate, District Treasury, RTO, PWD Division Office, Jilla Panchayat, Town planning Office, Text depot, District Medical office etc. to name a few. The city is administered by the Malappuram Municipality, headed by a Municipal Chairman. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 40 wards, from which the members of the municipal council are elected for five years. The Chairperson of Malappuram Municipality is Smt.C.H Jameela and the Deputy Chairperson is Sri. Perumpally Said. Malappuram District Collector is Jaffer Malik.[21]

According to the 2011 Indian Census, Malappuram and had a total population of 101,386, of which 48,957 were males and 52,429 were females. Population within the age range of 0 to 6 years was 14,629. The total number of literates in Malappuram was 83,524, which constituted 82.4% of the population with male literacy of 82.7% and female literacy of 82.1%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Malappuram was 96.3%, of which male literacy rate was 97.5% and female literacy rate was 95.1%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 5,323 and 77 respectively. Malappuram had 19785 households in 2011.[1]

The major language spoken in the city is Malayalam. English is widely understood, while Tamil have considerable speakers.

The city has several educational institutions from the school level to higher education. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malappuram, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Malappuram, Malabar Special Police HSS, Government Girls Higher secondary school, Govt. Boys, St.Gemmas HSS, Islahiya HSS, A.U.P School, Sree Arunodaya Vidya Nigethan etc. to name a few schools. Government College, Malappuram, which is the oldest college in the district started in 1972,[25] College of Applied Science Malappuram started in 1987[26] and Govt. College for Women, Malappuram [27] started in the year 2015 along with many other private colleges serves the higher educational purpose. Govt.TTI, Malappuram,[28] MCT TTI[29] and Fazfari TTI[30] are few teachers training institutes. MCT College of Legal Studies, one of the two law colleges in the district is located in the city.[31] The Regional Directorate of Higher Secondary Education[32] and Regional Office (Malabar) of State Open School[33] are located in the city inside the Civil Station. University of Calicut is located in the district at Thenjipalam around 29KM away from the city center. AMU Malappuram Campus is located at the hills of Chelamala near Cherukara in Malappuram district.

Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, Chandrika, Deshabhimani, Suprabhaatham dailies have their printing centres in and around the city. The Hindu has an edition and printing press at Malappuram. A few periodicals-monthlies, fortnightlies and weeklies-mostly devoted to religion and culture are also published. Almost all Malayalam channels and newspapers have their bureau at Up Hill. There are some local cable TV channels including (MCV), (ACV) etc. Malappuram Press Club is also situated at UP Hill adjacent to Municipal Town Hall. Doordarshan has its major relay station in the district at Malappuram. Government of India's Prasarbharati National Public Service Broadcaster has FM station in the district, broadcasting on 102.7 Mhtz. Even without any private FM stations, Malappuram finds a place in Top Ten Towns with Highest Radio Listenership in India.[34] There is a multiplex and four standalone cinema halls that screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. Rasmi Film Society, one of Kerala's oldest film forum is from Malappuram. The 72nd International film festival of Malappuram was conducted in March 2011.[35]

MDSC Stadium

Malabar Special Police HSS, which is the current champion of State Mahindra Youth Football Challenge is an all-time achiever in the inter-school tournaments.[36] It is also the runner up team of 53rd and 55th Subroto Cup international football tournament held at Delhi.[37]

• Thunchath Ezhuthachan
• V.C. Balakrishna Panicker (1889 - 1912) - Writer and Poet of acclaimed 'Oru Vilapam'.
• Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji- Indian Muslim leader and Mappila revolt leader in the 1921 anti-British revolt
• Panakkad Shihab Thangal
• Moyinkutty Vaidyar
• E. M. S. Namboodiripad (Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad) - Indian Communist leader, Socialist-Marxist theorist, revolutionary, author, historian, social commentator and the first Chief Minister of Kerala state.
• Nirupama Rao - Former Indian ambassador to the US.
• A. Vijayaraghavan- Leftist politician and former Member of Parliament, Rajyasabha.
• A.P. Anil Kumar - former minister of tourism, Kerala State.
• Paloli Mohammed Kutty - left-wing social worker and the former Minister for Local Administration in the Government of Kerala.
• U. Sharaf Ali - former Indian football player, former Commandant of Malabar Special Police
• Shahabaz Aman - Musician and Playback singer
• Mankada Ravi Varma - Cinematographer and director
• Irfan Kolothum Thodi - Indian athlete
• Gopinath Muthukad - Magician
• Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier - Kottakkal Arya vydya sala
• Vallathol - Also known as Mahakavi Vallathol, he was one of the celebrity poets in Malayalam literature. Born in Chennara, near Tirur in Malappuram
• Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri - Born in Melpathur Illam, Tirunavaya, Narayana Bhattathiri was the third student to Achutha Pisharody, Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer, astronomer and mathematician.
• Edasseri - a pioneer in bringing an array of changes in Malayalam literature during the modern era, was born in Kuttippuram
• Anas Edathodika - is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League.
• Poonthanam - author of Jnanappana and a devotee of Guruvayurappan
• C. Radhakrishnan - writer
• C. Karunakara Menon- Indian journalist and politician

• Kolmanna
• Malappuram Urban Center

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malappuram.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Malappuram.

• Malappuram Municipality