The district name “Malappuram” literally means “a land atop hills” which is situated on the banks of the Bharathapuzha 50 Km southeast of Kozhikode bounded by the three great rivers of Chaliyar, the Kadalundi and the Bharathapuzha. The tourists from all around the world visited here to explore its unique natural beauty of undulating hills, meandering rivers alongside the coconut-fringed seacoast. The district of Malappuram is also popular for backwater holidays, beach holidays, wildlife sanctuaries, pilgrimage centres, flora and fauna and many other attractions.

Location:

Malappuram is situated at a distance of 50 Kms from south east of Kozhikode which is surrounded by the Nilgiri Hills on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west and Thrissur and Palakkad districts on the south.

Access:

It is also well connected by roadways, railways and airways that make easy accessible to the domestic as well as international tourists. The brief description of all these ways is as under:
Air:Malappuram is well connected with domestic and international airports by an International Airport which is 26 Km away from Malappuram..
Rail:Indian Railway network embraces almost all the major cities and towns of India under its lapse to make India one with geographical diversity. Konkan Railway is a new effort of the Government of India to connect the south India with the mainstream of the Indian railways.
Road: The district of Malappuram is well connected to all the major towns Kerala by the road from where Kozhikode is 50 Km and Palakkad is 90 Km.

History:

The land of Malappuram is remembered in the history of south India as the land of great personalities like writers, poets, political and religious leaders. In the past Malappuram was ruled by many dynasties and rulers and had served as the centre of power for Tipu Sultan, Europeans and British. Not only this, the name of Malappuram is associated with the anti-colonial movements where the Malabar Rebellion took place against the colonial and feudal exploitation of the peasants as highlighted by the scholar Dr. Iltiza Begum in her research work. Presently, the district of Malappuram serves as the headquarters of the Malabar Special Police.

Climate:

The district of Malappuram is rambling over an area of 5,061 Sq. Kms. located on the geographical map between 75 to 77 east longitude and 10 to 12 north latitude. On the basis of topography, the whole district of Malappuram is divided into three natural divisions of lowland, midland and highland. The district has more or less same climate condition as in other districts of Malappuram with the temperature varying between 30° C and 20° C and the average rainfall is 2900 mm.

Wildlife Sancturies :

The district of Malappuram is also famous for wildlife tourism where the Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is the centre of attractions with over sixty varieties of migratory birds and over hundred varieties of native birds. Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is also provides a panoramic view of the Kadalundipuzha River. This wildlife sanctuary is situated 19 Km from Kozhikode and 7 Km from Beypore Port.

Pilgrimage Centres:

The district of Malappuram is the confluence of both the Hindus and Islamic culture and Philosophy. So, the pilgrimage centres in Malappuram belong to all the communities, some of them are as under:
Thali temple, Perinthalmanna: This temple is situated on the way to Malappuram which is about 3 Km west of Angadipuram.
Thirumandhamkunnu temple, Angadipuram: This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga where the annual festival of Pooram is celebrated during the months of March /April.
The Jama-at Mosque, Malappuram: This is the Muslim pilgrimage centre where the four day annual festival is celebrated during the month of April.
Pazhayangadi Mosque, This pilgrimage centre of Muslim is about 500 years old famous for the three days Valia Nercha feast during the month of February/ March.

The district of Malappuram also attracted the tourists for its flora and fauna where the forest areas covered 1,03,417 hectares which is about 28.47% of total geographical area of the district out of which 80% is deciduous and the rest is evergreen. Besides the bamboo plantation, the flora of Malappuram is also famous for medicinal herbs and spices. The fauna of Malappuram is equivalent rich with full of deer, blue monkeys, rabbits, elephants, tigers, boars etc. along with the famous wildlife sanctuary of Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary.

Places to visit :

As the meaning of the Malappuram itself signifies its beauty “a land atop hills” surrounded by Nilgiri hills, Arabian Sea, tranquil backwaters and valleys that enchanted the tourists from all over the world to navigate and experience the bounty of nature’s gift of the “God’s Own Country”. Some of the major attractions of Malappuram are as under:

Teak Museum: The teak museum of Malappuram is the world’s fist museum in the world located on the side of Nilambur-Gudallur Road.

Adyan Para: This destination of Malappuram is famous for beautiful waterfalls and trekking.

Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala: Kottakkal of Malappuram district is centre of attraction for Ayurvedic holidays.

Nilambur This destination of Malappuram is famous all over the world for teak plantation.

Tirunavaya: This historical place of Malappuram is famous for historical places.

Tirur This district of Malappuram is famous for the important business centres and the birth place of the father of Malayalam literature Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan.

Kottakkal - 12 km south east of Malappuram.
This small town is home to the famed Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala, one of the pioneer institutions of Ayurveda, the traditional system of health and medicine, in Kerala. Founded in 1902 by Vaidyaratnam P S. Warrier, Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala has branches all over the State as well as in Delhi and Madras. One of the best Ayurvedic centres in the State, the Arya Vaidyasala runs an Ayurvedic research centre, a nursing home and a hospital. The chief physician can be consulted only by appointment made at least 10 days in advance. Accommodation options at the nursing home include family blocks, double rooms, single rooms and suites.

Kottappadi Located near the renowned Ayurvedic centre atKottakkal, one can see traces of an old fort at the base of the Cantonment Hill. The fort was the first to be built by the Zamorins of Kozhikode. Nearby are the Vettakkorumakan Temple and the Siva Temple with the famous murals of Malabar.

The Kerala district of Malappuram is full of other tourist attractions like Perinthalmanna, Kodikuthimala, Kondotty, Tirurangadi, Kadalundi Nagaram, Tanur, Ponnani, Perumpadappa, Thirunavaya, Nilambur, Kottappadi, Kadampuzha, Mamburam, Biyyan Kayal, Kodikuthimala, Adyanpara etc.

Excursions :

The famous excursions from Malappuram are Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary which is located at a distance of 48 Kms, Pazhayangadi Mosque and Kondotti are located at a distance of 18 Kms.

Rivers :

The tourism of Malappuram also takes the tourists to the important rivers of Kerala flow through Malappuram district. These four rivers of the Malappuram are - Chaliyar also known as Beypore River, Kadalundipuzha, Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha.

Beaches :

The Malappuram tour has enchanted the tourists for its beach holidays. The famous beaches of Malappuram are:

Tanur: It was here in this coastal town where the Portuguese had made the earliest settlement. The beach of Tanur is also famous for in the history for visit of St. Francis Xavier in 1546.

Padinharekara Beach: This beach of Padinharekara is provides a breathtaking view of the confluence of the Bharathapuzha, the Tirur Puzha and the Arabian Sea.

Vallikunnu Beach:This beach resort is set in the middle of coconut groves from where the Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is located at short distance.