Tirur

Tirur is one of the important business centers of Malappuram district. Thunjan Parambu in Trikandiyur is 3 Km from Tirur railway station, is sacred for all who speak Malayalam. This is the birth place of Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan of the 15 century AD, honoured as the father of Malayalam literature. Important works of Ezhuthachan, Adhyatma Ramayanam and Maha Bharatham are widely recited in kerala homes. A memorium for the great poet has been built at Thunjan Paramba, where weeklong literary mela is organized in last week of December.

Stone Lamp at Chamravattom Temple

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri

People in hundreds reach Thunjan paramba with their children, to initiate them into the world of letter on the vijayadasami day. Children are made to write on the white sands of Thunjan paramba with their fingers. Young poets of Kerala come on that day to offer their poem. A Nuxvomica tree, of which leaves are not bitter, is a surprise here. 12 Km south of Tirur is Chamravattom Shasta Temple, which is constructed on the Bharathapuzha. 6Km from Tirur, is Triprangode where the only temple of Kerala, consecrated to Garuda, the bird deity, is situated.

Thali Temple

Chandanakkavu, the birth place of the great Sanskrit poet and grammarian, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri of 16th Century, is 10 Km away from Triur in Thiruvnnavaya Kottakkal road. A memoriam has been built there for the poet where small children are brought for their formal initiation into learning, on Vijayadasami day, as in Thunjan Parambu. Tirur-Koottayi road ends at Padinjharakkara, where the Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha converge to drain into the sea. This place is noted for migratory birds, gathering in thousands during February-April.

Tirur was a witness of the ill-famed Wagon tragedy of the 1921 rebellion. Seventy prisoners sent to Pothannur, filed up in an airtight goods wagon from Tirur railway station, died of asphyxiation. 

Chamravattom Temple

The wagons were returned with the dead bodies to Tirur. Tirur municipality has built a town hall on memory of the Wagon Tragedy.

Location: It is 41 Km south of Kozhikode, on the Mangalore-Madras railway line.

Kottakkal Arya Vaidhyasala

                       Kottakkal is a world renowned center of Ayurveda. The Arya Vaidya Sala, established by P.S. Warrier, the well-known physician and social reformer, has completed its hundred years of glorious existence. People from different parts of the world come for treatment; Art and culture also flourish in Kottakkal at the patronage of Arya Vaidya Sala. P.S.V. Natyasanghom has a unique place in Kathakali. A Kathakali School is run by the Sanghom. Venkata theva temple near the Arya Vaidya Sala, is noted for mural Paintings. Kottakkal Pooram festival attracts thousands. Connoisseurs of music, art, culture and literature of the country, participate in the cultural mela organized in connection with the pooram.

            Annual Seminar on Ayurveda and other branches of medicine, conducted as a part of founder’s day of Arya Vaidya Sala, are attented by experts from abroad also. A medicinal herbal garden, maintained by the Vaidya sala is a rare treasure. Several type of treatments ere available in the Vaidhya Sala. Few examples are described under.

Pizhichil

1. Pizhichil: The patient is lying on a tree Drone (a specially designed wooden plank). Then pieces of linen dipped in comfortably warm oil is pressed against the patient's body from a certain height. When the flow of hot oil and spread throughout the body, four masseurs sitting on either side to give the patient a gentle massage. This technique is effective in diseases associated with the Vata Dosha and its allied manifestations like spondylosis, hemiplegia, Arhtritis, back pain, muscular dystrophy, etc. This is done only in the body below the neck and duration can be set half of the past depending on the strength of the patient.

Dhara

 2. Dhara: The patient is advised to lie on a special drone wooden neck and head comfortably placed. Then, a steady stream of continuous medication prescribed liquid is poured gently on the forehead from a height prescribed by a specially designed apparatus called Dhara unions for a period of 1:00 to 1:30. Dhara sometimes occurs throughout the body in special cases. Dhara is considered an effective number of diseases, such as stress-related disorders, insomnia and many degenerative brain disease. Several liquid media used in various diseases Dhara. medicated oils, milk, tender coconut water and herbal extracts and decoctions are some of the liquids used.

Navarakizhi

3. Navarakkizhi: Medicated oil is first applied liberally over the patient’s body. Then the body is massaged with small linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice. The rice is cooked by boiling it in cow’s milk along with suitable. The linen bags filled with rice are dipped in the same mixture kept boiling over a gentle flame and applied by masseurs at a comfortable temperature over the whole body of the patient.  

Navarakkizhi is a special massage , which rejuvenates the body. It is very effective in degenerative muscle diseases like poliomyelitis muscular atrophy etc. It is more effective when done immediately after Pizhichil treatment . The course of treatment can last for 14 or 21 days.

Shirovasthi

4. Shirovasthi: Sirovasti is an important procedure which is found to be very effective in trigiminal neuralgia, hemicrania, optic atrophy, otalgia, deafness, facial paralysis and in all diseases affecting cranial nerves . Generally the course of treatment is only seven days at a stretch.

                     There is an Ayurveda College at Kottakkal. The Govt. of Kerala runs the only Ayurveda Mental Hosptal of the state, here. National Highway-17 passes through Kottakkal. The famous Kadampuzha Devi Temple is not far from Kottakkal, where devotees in and out of Kerala, come and pray to remove obstruction in life. Dry coconut is the main offering.

Location: Kottakkal is 12 Km west of Malappuram. The distance from Calicut Airport is 13 Km and from Tirur Railway station is 16 Km.

Ponnani

          Ponnani is the only port in Malappuram district and one of the oldest ones in Kerala. A tidal port at the mouth of Bharathappuzha, Ponnani is an important fishing center. Ponnani is connected by road from Kuttipputam railway station. National Highway 17 passes through this town, which is divided by the Canolly Canal, adding to its beauty.

Ponnani is a town of mosques and Khabaristans. Though described as a place of 23 mosques, there are nearly more than 50 mosques. Malik Ibnu Dinar, the first Islamic missionary who came to Kerala, was believed to have visited Ponnani. The Huma Ath mosque, the biggest mosque in the town was built by Sheikh Zainuddin Makhodum in the 16th Century. Zainuddin was proficient in Arabic and he wrote books. Zainuddin Makhodum-II was another scholar who wrote the early history of Kerala Muslims. The religions established by the Makhodum-I, is renounced all over the country.

 Light House-Ponnani

Trikavu in Ponnani was one among the seats of the Zamorin, from where he controlled the trade and commerce. The famous Trikavu Durga temple here, clebrates Navarathri festival.

10km South-East of Ponnani, is the legendary Mookuthala Bhagavathi Temple, one of the ancient Durga temples of Kerala. It is believed that Sankaracharya is associated with founding of the temple. The Karthika Mahotsav, celebrated in Vrischikam (November-December) attracts thousands of devotees. The Mookkuthala stone, believed to be growing from below the idol every day, is considered sacred. Sukapuram temple near Edappal, is another important Hindu temple.

Ferry Service-Ponnani

Biyyam Kayal is a spread of backwaters near Ponnani town, where a boat race is conducted annually, during Onam celebrations. A permanent pavilion is built for the spectators and nearly a dozen country boats, including some rowed by women participate. A big scheme is underway to develop a tourist complex here, with hotel, park and pedal boats.

Location: Only 35 km from Malappuram.

Nilambur Teak Museum

              Only 4Km, away from Nilambur, on the side of Nilambur-Gudallur road, is world’s first Teak Museum and a sub center of Kerala Forest Research Institute. In the Teak Museum, a visitor can have at hand, information on all aspects of teak. The museum, arranged in a two storied building, exhibits articles and details of historic, aesthetic and scientific value.

          Eighteen Km, away from Nilabur, is Nedumkayam where the rain forests flourish. Form the wooden rest house built by the Britishers, elephants and deer can be viewed. An elephant-taming center is also there. Half an hour jeep journey through the thick forests from Nedumkayam, leads to Mancherri, the settlement of Chola Naickas, a primitive tribe.

          Beyond Chaliyar river, 27 Km. From Nilambur, is Valamthode, a hill top place where a perennial waterfall attracts people. This too is a tribal settlement. Road accessibility is through Kozhikode district by Areekode-Mukkam Road. Nilambur town is famous for kovilakams where the Rajas resided and ruled the land. The Kovilakams have beautiful frescoes and art works in wood. The forest division offices (Nilambur North & South) are functioning from here.

Location: It is the terminus of Shornur-Nilambur railway and it is 40 Kms from Malappuram town. Only 4km from Nilambur.

Thirunavaya

Kalarippayattu

          The land of ancient Mamankam, Tirunnavya is South of Tirur. Situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha; it is a place of historical importance. In olden days, Mamankam was a grand assembly of the rulers held once in 12 years, in which, one among them was selected as the emperor of Kerala. It was an enormous trade fair also. The Mamankam festival was celebrated for 28 days with great pomp and pageantry where traders from outside came in ships and barges to Tirunnavaya through Ponnani Port. Thus the economical importance of Mamankam was high and hence the right to conduct and control it was important. 

At the end of the rule of Perumals, the right of mamankam was with Vellattiri, the ruler of Valluvanad. Later the Zamorn of Kozhikode took this right by force and this resulted in dispute and bloodshed between these two Rajas. Valluvanad Raja used to send Chaver warriors to fight until death, to recapture the right from the Zamorin, who would stand Nilapadu at Nilapadu thara in Tirunnavaya, Surrounded by a large contingent of soldiers, in every 12th year. The last of such Mamankam, was believed to be held in 1755, when Zamorin had a hair breath escape from a 16 year old Chaver. The Nilapadu thara, now in the premises of Kottakkal Tile factory, is protected by the Archaeological department. 

River Nila

A deep well called Manikkinar believed to be dumped with bodies of the Chavers is also protected. Tirunnavaya is a converging place of the Trimurtis, - (Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva). Three temples, Consecrated to these deities, are on either bank of Bharathapuzha. The famous vedic Vidyalaya Othanmar Madhom of ancient times, is one of the left bank of Bharathapuzha, near the Siva temple. This madhom was a center of aryanisation through Sanskrit and Vedic education as Tirunnavaya as believed to be the main center, where Parusurama brought and settled Brahmins. The place (Mana) of Puranic fame Azhavancherry Thamprakkal is 2 Kms north of Tirunnavya. Nava mukunda Temple beloved to be constructed by Nava yogis on the right bank of Bharathapuzha, is an important Vishnu temple of Kerala. Pithru Tharpanam is a ritual, held here on the day of Amavasi of Karkitaka (July). Bali Karma is offered by people in their wet clothes, after dip in the river, for the salvation of sins and appeases the dead souls.

Nila River

A martial art festival of Kalarippayattu is conducted during summer on the sands of Bharathapuzha. The famous Changampalli Kalari is near Tirunnavaya. During the second week of February, A Sarvodya Mela is conducted in Tirunnavaya where the Gandhians of Kerala, use to assemble. The Santhikudeeram established by the national leader K. Kelappan, is the center place of this mela.

 

Location: Thirunavaya is located 8 km south of Tirur.