The town of Malappuram is a municipality and administrative headquarters of Malappuram district and is situated 50 km southeast of Kozhikode and 90 km northwest of Palakkad. The town still has some of the ruins of an ancient fort built by Tipu Sultan. During the British rule the town was also the headquarters of European and British troops; it later became the headquarters of the Malabar Special Police. The hill country has a large contribution to the cultural heritage of Kerala and it was also a popular centre for Hindu-Vedic learning and Islamic philosophy. Many of the temples and the mosques of this district have their own festivals. Apart from the historic monuments and diverse naturalattractions there are also various other cultural and ritual art forms add to its value as a destination worth visiting. The name of the city means 'on top of the hills') and the name is rightly given because the town is packed with hills and valleys.
This district was also known for its national movements such as Khilafat Movement and Moplah Rebellion. The Muslim Mappilas and peasants had struggled against feudalism and colonialism in this movement. Also Malappuram was part of Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of British India.
The city is bounded by beautiful hills and valleys and towards the west lays the Arabian Sea. There are major rivers flowing through the district and hence the town has rich natural flora and fauna. The city has a pleasant climate through out the year with heavy rainfalls. Due to the rains the temperatures here dip below the regular pleasant one and a light jacket is often required.
Demographics:
As per the 2001 India census, Malappuram had a population of 58,490. The average literacy rate in Malappuram is 80%, with a male literacy of 82%, and female literacy of 79%.
The town is mainly based on the wood business for its economy along with agriculture but there are also various kinds of large and small industrial set ups here. The booming industrial growth in the area has also led to new developments and opportunities for business in the sector.
The town is the home to some natural beauty and various other tourist attractions also. Kottakkunnu is a very beautiful Tourist location here and the traces of the first fort to be built by the Zamorins of Kozhikode can be seen. The town also has a special place for football and even though it does not have a single football stadium football tournaments are played in school grounds or paddy fields and the popular 'Sevens' football tournament is also held here.
The town of Malappuram is well connected through roads to major cities in the area. The Kozhikode Airport, about 26 km from the town, is one of the most beautifully designed airports in India and has internationalflights. There are nearby railways links in the region also which make transportation easier.
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