Ulikkal is located about 7 km north of the taluk headquarters at Iritty, 46 km from the district headquarters at Kannur, and approximately 11 km from Kootupuzha, near the Kerala–Karnataka border.[4]
Demographics
As per the 2011 census, Ulikkal Grama Panchayat had a total population of 35,429, comprising 17,457 males and 17,952 females. The sex ratio of Ulikkal was 1,028, which is lower than the state average of 1,084. The population of children in the 0–6 age group was 3,648 (10.3%), including 1,895 males and 1,753 females. The overall literacy rate of Ulikkal was 94.8%, higher than the state average of 94%. Male literacy stood at 96.6%, while female literacy was 93.1%.
Ulikkal Grama Panchayat comprises two revenue villages, namely Nuchiyad and Vayathur, under its administrative jurisdiction.[5]
History
Ulikkal is located near the Vayathur village panchayat area and is home to the Bythoor or Baithur (Vayathur) Temple. The Bythoorappa (Vayathoorappan) Vayathur Kaliyar Shiva Kshethra, believed to be over 300 years old, is one of the major temples in the panchayat. It is situated on the banks of the Valapattanam River, about 3 km from the town. The river originates in Kodagu and flows through Parikkalam and Nuchiyad villages.
The Eshwara (Shiva or Mahadeva) temple at Vayathur, located near the Kodagu border, is an important pilgrimage centre for the Kodavas of Kodagu. The annual temple festival is jointly celebrated by the Kodavas and the Malayalis in keeping with tradition. Historically, the temple priests from Kodagu were Namboothiri Brahmins. Kodagu, which borders Kannur district, lies adjacent to the Ulikkal region.[6][7]
According to local folklore, the deities worshipped in Kodagu are of Kerala origin and are believed to have entered Kodagu from Kerala thousands of years ago through Vayathur (Bythoor), near the present-day border. Historically, Ulikkal was part of the Vayathur region.[8]
Geography
Ulikkal is a hilly village located on the eastern side of the Kannur district. The terrain is generally undulating, and the easternmost part of the area is covered by forests that border the state of Karnataka.
Economy
The economy of Ulikkal Panchayat is primarily agrarian. The major crops cultivated include rubber, cashew, coconut, and areca nut. Ulikkal was among the panchayats in the Kannur district that were severely affected by the 2018 Kerala floods, which caused significant economic losses to farmers. Approximately 12 hectares of cropped area, mainly rubber and cashew plantations, were destroyed by strong winds. The most affected areas within the panchayat were the midland slopes (around 43 m elevation) and mid-highlands (around 178 m elevation), including Kalanki, Kolithatt, Vayathur, Arabikulam, and Kokkad.[9]
Transportation
Kerala State Highway SH 59 passes through Ulikkal, connecting the town to nearby villages and towns in the hilly terrains of Kannur district. The taluk headquarters, Iritty, is located about 7 km away. The road east of Ulikkal provides access to Mysore and Bangalore.[10]
↑ Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. District Census Handbook, Kannur(PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. pp.278–279. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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