Valanchery | |
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Town | |
![]() An aerial view of Valanchery town | |
Coordinates: 10°53′0″N76°4′0″E / 10.88333°N 76.06667°E Coordinates: 10°53′0″N76°4′0″E / 10.88333°N 76.06667°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Kerala |
District | Malappuram |
Taluk | Tirur |
Government | |
• Type | Municipality |
• Body | Valanchery Municipality |
Area | |
• Total | 21.90 km2 (8.46 sq mi) |
Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
Population (2011) [1] | |
• Total | 40,318 |
• Density | 1,841/km2 (4,770/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 676552 |
Telephone code | 0494 |
Vehicle registration | KL-55, KL −10 |
Nearest towns |
|
Sex ratio | 1047 ♂/♀ |
Literacy | 94.6% |
Niyamasabha constituency | Kottakkal |
Lok Sabha constituency | Ponnani |
Climate | Normal (Köppen) |
Website | valancherymunicipality |
Valanchery is a major town and one of the 12 municipalities in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. [2] It is one of the four municipalities in Tirur Taluk, besides Tirur, Kottakkal, and Tanur. [3] It is situated about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast to Karipur International Airport and 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwards to the district headquarters, and forms a part of Malappuram metropolitan area. [4] It is also one of the major commercial towns under the Malappuram urban agglomeration. Valanchery, which was a part of the erstwhile princely state of the Valluvanad in the early medieval period, had been under the direct control of the Zamorin of Calicut following the Tirunavaya war of 14th century CE. During British Raj, Valanchery was included in the Ponnani Taluk of erstwhile Malabar District. Vattapara accident zone is an accident zone near Valanchery. Valanchery is situated on National Highway 66.
Valanchery was originally part of the Valluvanad Swaroopam dynasty in the early medieval period (12th century CE). [5] Valluvanad was an erstwhile princely state in the present state of Kerala, that extended from the Bharathappuzha river in the South to the Panthaloor Mala in the North. [5] On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea at Ponnani and on the east by the Attappadi Hills during their zenith in the early Middle Ages. [5] The capital of erstwhile Valluvanad was at the present-day town of Angadipuram. [5] According to local legends, the last Cheraman Perumal ruler gave a vast extension of land in South Malabar during his journey to Mecca to one of their governors, Valluvakonathiri, and left for pilgrimage. [5] Valluvanad was famous for the Mamankam festivals, held once in 12 years and the endless wars against the Samoothiri of Kozhikode. [5]
The region came under the direct control of the Kozhikode Samoothiris in 13th/14th century CE by the defeat of Valluvakonathiris in Tirunavaya War. Assisted by the warriors of their subordinate chiefs (Chaliyam, Beypore, Tanur and Kodungallur) and the Muslim naval fleet under the Koya of Kozhikode , the Samoothiri's fighters advanced by both land and sea. [6] The main force under the command of Samoothiri himself attacked, encamping at Triprangode, an allied force of Valluvanadu and Perumpadappu from the north. Meanwhile, another force under the Eralppadu commanded a fleet across the sea and landed at Ponnani and later moved to Thirumanasseri, with the intention to descend on Tirunavaya from the south with help of the warriors of the Thirumanasseri Brahmins. Eralppadu also prevented the warriors of Perumpadappu from joining Valluvanadu forces. The Muslim merchants and commanders at Ponnani supported the Kozhikode force with food, transport, and provisions. The warriors of the Eralppadu moved north and crossed the Bharathappuzha and took up position on the northern side of the river. [6] The Koya marched at the head of a large column and stormed Tirunavaya. In spite of the fact that the warriors of Valluvanadu did not get the timely help of Perumpadappu, they fought vigorously and the battle dragged on. In the meantime, the Kozhikode minister Mangattachan was also successful in turning Kadannamanna Elavakayil Vellodi (junior branch of Kadannamanna) to their side. Finally, two Valluvanadu princes were killed in the battles, the Nairs abandoned the settlement and Kozhikode infested Thirunavaya. [6]
The battles along the western borders of Valluvanadu were bitter, for they were marked by treachery and crime. Panthalur and Ten Kalams came under Kozhikode only after a protracted struggle. The assassination of a minister of Kozhikode by the chief minister of Valluvanadu while visiting Kottakkal in Valluvanadu sparked the battle, which dragged on for almost a decade. At last, the Valluvanadu minister was captured by Samoothiri's warriors and executed at Padapparambu, and his province (Ten Kalams, including Kottakkal and Panthalur) were occupied by the Samoothiri. The Kizhakke Kovilakam Munalappadu, who took a leading part in this campaign, received half of the newly captured province from Samoothiri as a gift. The loss of this fiercely loyal chief minister was the greatest blow to Valluvanadu after the loss of Tirunavaya and Ponnani. [6]
During the last decades of eighteenth century, the army of the Kingdom of Mysore reached here. The region was annexed with the East India Company with the Treaty of Seringapatam, following the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Under the British Raj, Valanchery was an Amsom included in Cheranad which was scattered in the Taluks of Eranad and Ponnani in the erstwhile Malabar District. [7] Cheranad had been under the direct rule of the Zamorin of Calicut during the late medieval period. [7] The pottery industry and the blacksmith community, which has adopted it as a traditional caste occupation, were a part of Valanchery's identity. Changampally Mammi Gurukkal was a well-known figure in martial arts and neurology.
In 1932, as a part of the freedom struggle, a favorable environment was created for the seeds of a national political outlook to germinate in Valanchery. [8] After the Guruvayur Temple Satyagraha and Kelappan's fast, a referendum was held to get the views of the upper caste Hindus of Ponnani taluk. [8] The central office of the referendum was Valanchery. [8] It was on this occasion that prominent national leaders including Kasturba Gandhi, C. R. Das's sister Urmila Devi, Sadashiva Rao, C. Rajagopalachari, and U. Gopala Menon, visited Valanchery. [8] V. T. Bhattathiripad is also a notable figure in this group. [8] The first Indian National Congress committee in Valanchery was formed in 1936. [8] The Muslim League was formed in 1938 here. [8] During the hike of rice prices, Valanchery Matta Rice had possessed a position in the newspapers. [8] As a result of the efforts of Mazhavancheri Damodaran Namboothiri and others, a united currency group (Aikya Nanaya Sangham) had functioned in Valanchery. [8] After the war, as a result of K. Kelappan's efforts in Malabar, the Firka Consumer Co - operative Society was formed on a Firka basis. [8] A co-operative society was also formed in Valanchery under the presidency of TKC Moideenkutty kalathil. [8] Today's Kuttippuram Service Co-operative Bank is a continuation of that. [8]
C. M. Ramakurup was the founding manager of Valanchery High School, which was started in 1951 at Puthenkalam, Kolamangalam. [8] Today, it is the largest school under private sector in the Tirur educational district. [8] Kattipparuthi Grama Panchayat, which was upgraded to a Special Grade Panchayat in 1980, was renamed as Valanchery in 1981. [8] Valanchery became one of the major commercial and educational hubs of South Malabar region during the last decades. It was upgraded to a Municipality in the year 2015.
Now Valanchery is one of the 12 municipal towns in Malappuram district, and forms a part of the Malappuram metropolitan area, which is also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state according to the latest census conducted in 2011. [4]
Religion in Valanchery (2011) [9]
Total population under municipality limits is 40,318 according to the 2011 census. Males form 48.1% and females 51.9%. [1] Malayalam is the widely spoken language in the town. Valanchery has been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious town since the early medieval period. The Muslims form the largest religious group, followed by Hindus. [9] The municipality of Valanchery has an average literacy rate of 94.6%, which is higher than the state average of 94%. [1]
The town is administered by the Valanchery Municipality, headed by a chairperson. For administrative purposes, the town is divided into 33 wards, [10] from which the members of the municipal council are elected for five years. The municipality comes under the jurisdiction of Valanchery police station, which was formed on 18 October 1988. [11] Valanchery police station has also the jurisdiction over the villages of Athavanad, Edayur, Irimbiliyam, and Naduvattom, besides Valanchery town. [11]
S.No. | Party Name | Party symbol | Number of Councillors |
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01 | UDF | ![]() | 17 |
02 | Independents | ![]() | 12 |
03 | LDF | ![]() | 03 |
04 | BJP | ![]() | 01 |
Malappuram, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of 70 km (43 mi). It is the most populous district of Kerala, which is home to around 13% of the total population of the state. The district was formed on 16 June 1969, spanning an area of about 3,554 km2 (1,372 sq mi). It is the third-largest district of Kerala by area, as well as the largest district in the state, bounded by Western Ghats and Arabian Sea to either side. The district is divided into seven Taluks: Eranad, Kondotty, Nilambur, Perinthalmanna, Ponnani, Tirur, and Tirurangadi.
Valluvanad was an independent chiefdom in present-day central Kerala that held power from the early 12th century to the end of the 18th century. Prior to that, and since the late 10th century, Valluvanad existed as an autonomous chiefdom within the kingdom of the Chera Perumals. The disintegration of the Chera Perumal kingdom in early 12th century led to the independence of the various autonomous chiefdoms of the kingdom, Valluvanad being one of them.
Kottakkal is a municipal town in Malappuram district in Kerala, southern India having 32 wards. it is a part of Malappuram metropolitan area and a growing city in Kerala. The town is best known for the Arya Vaidya Sala, one of the top Ayurvedic health centres of the world. Kottakkal is also a major growing commercial, educational, and healthcare hub in South Malabar. The town lies on Mumbai–Kanyakumari National Highway 66.
Azhvanchery Thamprakkal or Azhvanchery Samrāṭ is the title of the senior-most male member of the Brahmin (Namboothiri) feudal lords of Azhvanchery Mana in Athavanad, Tirur Taluk, present-day Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India. They had the right over Guruvayur too. They were the titular head of all Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala. The Lord of Azhvanchery based at Athavanad and the Lord of Kalpakanchery based at the neighbouring Kalpakanchery were usually present at the coronation of a new Zamorin of Calicut. Kalpakanchery Thamprakkal were related to the Nambudiris of Panniyoor while Azhvanchery Thamprakkal to those of Chowwara.
Ponnani is a municipality in Ponnani Taluk, Malappuram District, in the state of Kerala, India. It serves as the administrative center of the Taluk and Block Panchayat of the same name. It is situated at the estuary of Bharatappuzha, on its southern bank, and is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and a series of brackish lagoons in the south.
Tirur is a Municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala spread over an area of 16.55 square kilometres (6.39 sq mi). It is one of the business centers of Malappuram district and is situated 26 kilometres (16 mi) west of Malappuram and 52.5 kilometres (32.6 mi) south of Kozhikode, on the Shoranur–Mangalore section under Southern Railway. Tirur is also a major regional trading centre for fish and betel leaf and has an average elevation of 2 metres.
Malabar District, also known as Malayalam District, was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792-1800) and Madras Presidency (1800-1947) in British India, and independent India's Madras State (1947-1956). It was the most populous and the third-largest district in the erstwhile Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Chavakad Taluk and parts of Kodungallur Taluk of Thrissur district, and Fort Kochi area of Ernakulam district in the northern and central parts of present Kerala state, the Lakshadweep Islands, and a major portion of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu. The detached settlements of Tangasseri and Anchuthengu, which were British colonies within the kingdom of Travancore in southern Kerala, also formed part of Malabar District until 1927. Malayalam was the administrative as well as the most spoken lingua franca of Malabar District during British Rule. Jeseri, a distinct dialect of Malayalam, was spoken in the Laccadive Islands. Malabar District merged with the erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin (1950-1956) to form Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. On the same day, the present Kasaragod district of South Canara District was also attached to Malabar, and the Laccadive & Minicoy Islands of Malabar were reorganised to form a new Union Territory. Malabar was trifurcated to form the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad, on 1 January 1957.
Tanur is a coastal town, a municipality, and a block located in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is located on the Malabar Coast, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Tirur and 9 kilometres south of Parappanangadi. It is the 17th-most populated municipality in the state, the fourth-most populated municipality in the district, and the second-most densely populated municipality in Malappuram district, having about 3,568 residents per square kilometre as of the year 2011. Tanur town is located south of the estuary of Poorappuzha River, which is a tributary of Kadalundi River. Tanur was one of the major ports in the southwestern coast of India during the medieval period. It was ruled by the Kingdom of Tanur, also known as Vettathunadu, who were vassals to the Zamorin of Calicut. In the early medieval period, under the chiefs of Kozhikode and Tanur, Tanur developed as one of the important maritime trade centre on the Malabar Coast. Later it became a part of Vettathunadu Taluk in Malabar District under British Raj, which was merged with the Ponnani taluk in 1860–1861. Tanur railway station is a part of the oldest Railway line of Kerala laid in 1861 from Tirur to Chaliyam. Presently, the status of Tanur is reduced to a major fishing centre in Kerala.
Thavanur is a village located on the southern bank of Bharathapuzha, the longest river of Kerala in the Malappuram District of Kerala state in India. This village is located at the border of Tirur and Ponnani Taluks. The Bharathappuzha River separates Thavanur from Tirunavaya and Kuttippuram towns in Tirur Taluk.
Kuttippuram is a town and a block headquarters, which is situated in the Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district of Kerala state, India. The town is located 34 kilometres south-west of Malappuram. The Bharathappuzha river flows through Kuttippuram. According to the last Census of India conducted in 2011, Kuttippuram forms a portion of the Malappuram metropolitan area.
The Samoothiri was the hereditary Nair monarch and ruler of the Kingdom of Kozhikode (Calicut) in the South Malabar region of India. Calicut was one of the most important trading ports on the southwest coast of India. At the peak of their reign, they ruled over a region extending from Kozhikode Kollam (Kollam) to the borders of Panthalayini Kollam (Koyilandy). The Zamorins belonged to the Eradi caste of the Samantan Nair community of medieval Kerala.
Athavanad is a village in the Tirur Taluk, in the Malappuram District of the state of Kerala, India. The town lies on the National Highway 17, between Kuttippuram and Valanchery. Puthanathani is the main town of the Athavanad village and the village office is located in Athavanad Para & Kurumbathoor. Nearby towns include Valanchery, Kalpakanchery, Tavanur, Tirunavaya, Kuttippuram, Irimbiliyam, and Edayur.
Eranad also known as Ernad refers to the erstwhile province in the midland area of Malabar, consisting of Malappuram and nearby regions such as Anakkayam, Manjeri, Kondotty, Nilambur, etc. Currently Eranad Taluk is a Taluk in Malappuram district. Eranad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Eradis, similar to the Vellodis of neighbouring Valluvanad and Nedungadis of Nedunganad. The rulers of Eranad were known by the title Eralppad/Eradi. They also used the title Thirumulpad.
Ponnani Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the town of Ponnani. Ponnani Taluk contains Ponnani Municipality and nine gram panchayats. Most of the administrative offices are located in the Mini-Civil Station at Ponnani.
Tirur Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the town of Tirur. Tirur Taluk contains four municipalities - Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, and Valanchery. Most of the administrative offices are located in the Mini-Civil Stations at Tirur, Kuttippuram, and Tanur. Most of the villages in present-day Tirur Taluk were parts of the medieval Kingdom of Tanur (Vettathunadu). The port of Tanur was an important port town in the southwestern coast of India during medieval period.
Perinthalmanna is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It serves as the headquarters of the Perinthalmanna Taluk, and a block and a Revenue Division by the same name. It was formerly the headquarters of Valluvanad Taluk, which was one of the two Taluks in the Malappuram Revenue Division of the erstwhile Malabar District during the British Raj. The town is located 23 kilometres (14 mi) southwest to the city of Malappuram at the centre of the Kozhikode–Malappuram–Perinthalmanna–Palakkad National Highway 966.
Malappuram district is an education hub of the state of Kerala, India with four universities, two medical colleges, two law colleges and several engineering and arts colleges. The city has several educational institutions from the school level to higher education. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, 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. The city is lacking an Engineering College under Government despite having the largest number of students appearing and excelling in respective entrance exams. Govt. College, Malappuram, which is the oldest college in the city, started in 1972, College of Applied Science Malappuram and Govt. College for Women started this year along with many other private colleges serves the higher educational purpose. Govt.TTI and MCT TTI are few teachers training institutes. The Regional Directorate of Higher Secondary Education and Regional Office (Malabar) of State Open School are located in the city inside the Civil Station.
Malappuram is one of the 14 districts in the South Indian state of Kerala. The district has a unique and eventful history starting from pre-historic times. During the early medieval period, the district was the home to two of the four major kingdoms that ruled Kerala. Perumpadappu was the original hometown of the Kingdom of Cochin, which is also known as Perumbadappu Swaroopam, and Nediyiruppu was the original hometown of the Zamorin of Calicut, which is also known as Nediyiruppu Swaroopam. Besides, the original headquarters of the Palakkad Rajas were also at Athavanad in the district.
South Malabar refers to a geographical area of the southwestern coast of India covering some parts of the present-day Kerala. South Malabar covers the regions included in present-day Kozhikode taluk of Kozhikode district, the whole area of Malappuram district, Chavakkad taluk of Thrissur district, and Palakkad district, excluding parts of Chittur taluk. The Fort Kochi region of Kochi city also historically belongs to South Malabar. The term South Malabar refers to the region of the erstwhile Malabar District south to the river Korapuzha, and bears a high cultural similarity to both the Cochin and the North Malabar region.
The Kuttippuram Block Panchayat is the block-level administrative body that administers the region around Kuttippuram in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is also one of the 15 Block Panchayats established for the proper block-level administration of Gram panchayats in the district. Established in 1962, the block's current president is Vaseema Veleri since 2020. Kuttippuram Block Panchayat lies in two assembly constituencies – Kottakkal and Tirur – both of which are part of the Ponnani parliamentary constituency. The Block is headed by a President and council, and manages 155.83 km2 of Kuttippuram block, with a population of about 229,468 within that area.