Malappuram facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malappuram
Malappuram
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Clockwise from top:
Malappuram Down Hill, Town Hall, Kottakkunnu Hills, Vaidyar Smarakam, AI International College, MDSC Stadium, River view Chaliyar |
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| Nickname(s):
City of Hills, Soccer Capital/ Mecca of Football
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 Malappuram
Location in Kerala
Malappuram
Location in India
Malappuram
Location in Asia
.svg)
Malappuram
Location in Earth
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| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Malappuram |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Body | Malappuram Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Metropolis | 158.20 km2 (61.08 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 38.21 m (125.36 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Metropolis | 629,450 |
| • Rank | 20th in Indian |
| • Density | 4,800/km2 (12,000/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,829,522 |
| Demonym(s) | Malappuramite |
| Language | |
| • Official | Malayalam. |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
676505
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| Telephone code | +91483xxxxxxx |
| Vehicle registration | KL-10
KL-53 KL-54 KL-84 KL-71 KL-65 KL-55 |
| Literacy rate | 98.47% |
| Climate | Am/Aw (Köppen) |
| Precipitation | 3,100 millimetres (120 in) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 39 °C (102 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 20 °C (68 °F) |
Malappuram is a lively town in Kerala, India. It's the main city of the Malappuram district. It's one of the biggest urban areas in Kerala and among the top 20 in India, covering about 158 square kilometers.
Malappuram became the first municipality (a type of local government) in its district in 1970. It's where many important government offices are located. The town is divided into 40 areas called wards.
In 2011, the Malappuram metropolitan area was the fourth largest in Kerala. It is also known as one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Malappuram is about 54 km southeast of Calicut. It was the first city in India to offer free Wi-Fi to all its residents. It was also the first Indian municipality to get an International Organization for Standardization certificate.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Malappuram means "over the hill" in the Malayalam language. This name comes from the many hills found in the area. The district has several rolling hills like Arimbra hills and Oorakam Hill. However, the sandy coastal areas are flatter.
A Glimpse into History
Malappuram has been an important military and administrative center for a very long time. Even though much of its ancient history isn't well recorded, we know people lived here long ago. For example, ancient rock-cut caves have been found in places like Oorakam.
Some local names like Valiyangadi suggest a history with Jain and Buddhist cultures. A 1500-year-old Jain Temple on Oorakam Hill proves this. During the Sangam period, Malappuram was part of the Chera Empire.
Rulers of Malappuram
The Eranad region was ruled by a clan called the Eradis. Malappuram was the military headquarters for the Zamorins, who were powerful rulers. Their chief, Para Nambi, governed the area from Downhill (Kottappadi). Old records from 1000 AD and 1225 AD mention the ancestors of the Zamorins.
British Era in Malappuram
During the time of British rule, Malappuram was a key base for European and British soldiers. It later became the main office for the Malabar Special Police (M.S.P), which started in 1885. The British built the Haigh Barracks on a hill by the Kadalundi river. This was where Tipu Sultan once had a fort. Today, the main barracks building is used as the Civil Station, which houses district government offices.
Malappuram was one of five important revenue divisions in the old Malabar district. The Malappuram Taluk Board was also set up to manage local affairs. You can still see an inscription from the Malappuram Taluk Board on a well built in 1916.
Kottakkunnu Hill Station
Kottakkunnu Hill station is right in the middle of Malappuram city. It's often called "The Hill station of Malappuram." It has many fun places like an art gallery, an amusement park, and a children's park.
The name Kottakunnu comes from a fort built here long ago. This fort was built when the area was a military base for the rulers of Calicut, the Zamorins. Because of its important location, the fort, known as Malappuram Fort, was built here, and the city of Malappuram grew around it.
Malappuram's Landscape and Weather
Nature's Beauty
Malappuram is in the middle part of Kerala. As its name suggests, it's covered with small, green mountains. Many fresh water streams flow through the city. The Kadalundi Puzha, a big river in Kerala, also flows near the city.
Malappuram is known for being a very clean city. It has won awards for keeping the city clean and healthy. The city is an important hub for travel, connecting different parts of the district.
Climate Conditions
Malappuram has a tropical monsoon climate, similar to other parts of Kerala. It's generally hot and humid. The South West Monsoon brings very heavy rains. The best time to visit Malappuram is from September to March, when the weather is pleasant.
Malappuram also has very clean air. In 2010, a study found that Malappuram was one of only two cities in India with very low levels of air pollution.
| Climate data for Malappuram, Kerala | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.0 (89.6) |
32.9 (91.2) |
34.0 (93.2) |
33.8 (92.8) |
32.7 (90.9) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.3 (86.5) |
31.1 (88.0) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.2 (88.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21.8 (71.2) |
22.8 (73.0) |
24.4 (75.9) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.1 (77.2) |
23.5 (74.3) |
22.8 (73.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
21.9 (71.4) |
23.4 (74.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 1 (0.0) |
9 (0.4) |
16 (0.6) |
101 (4.0) |
253 (10.0) |
666 (26.2) |
830 (32.7) |
398 (15.7) |
233 (9.2) |
281 (11.1) |
140 (5.5) |
24 (0.9) |
2,952 (116.3) |
Who Lives in Malappuram?
In 2011, the city had a population of 101,386 people. There were slightly more females than males. About 14,629 children were aged 0 to 6 years. Most of the town's population (74.83%) are Muslims, while Hindus and Christians make up the rest.
How Malappuram is Governed
As the main city of the district, Malappuram has many important government offices. These include the District Collectorate and the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
The city is managed by the Malappuram Municipality. It is led by a Municipal Chairman. The city is divided into 40 wards, and people from each ward elect members to the municipal council for five years. The current Chairperson is Mujeeb Kaderi.
Future Plans for Malappuram
Malappuram is a large urban area, but it's not yet a Municipal Corporation. There are plans to make it one by including nearby areas. This would create a "Greater Malappuram Municipal Corporation."
The proposed corporation would include:
- Malappuram Municipality
- Manjeri Municipality
- Several nearby village councils (panchayats) like Anakkayam and Pookkottur.
Learning and Education
Malappuram has many schools and colleges. Some well-known schools include Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malappuram and Malabar Special Police HSS. For higher education, there's Government College, Malappuram, which is the oldest college in the district. There's also the College of Applied Science Malappuram.
The district is very important for higher education in Kerala. It has two major universities: the University of Calicut and the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. There are also off-campus centers for Aligarh Muslim University and the English and Foreign Languages University.
Malappuram district has the most schools and students in Kerala. In 2019–2020, there were 898 Lower Primary schools and 363 Upper Primary schools. It also has many CBSE and ICSE schools.
News and Entertainment
Many Malayalam newspapers, like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi, have printing centers here. The Hindu newspaper also has an edition and printing press in Malappuram. There are also local TV channels.
The Malappuram Press Club is located near the Municipal Town Hall. Doordarshan, a national TV broadcaster, has a major relay station here. The government's Prasar Bharati also has an FM radio station broadcasting on 102.7 Mhtz. Even without many private FM stations, Malappuram is one of the top ten towns in India for radio listening. The city has a multiplex and several cinema halls that show movies in different languages.
Sports in Malappuram
Like in many parts of Kerala, football is the most popular sport in Malappuram. The Kottappadi Football Stadium is right in the city center. The Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium is located in Payyanad, Manjeri.
This stadium has hosted important football events, including parts of the 2013–14 Indian Federation Cup and the 2023 Indian Super Cup. The Malabar Special Police HSS (Higher Secondary School) is known for its achievements in inter-school football tournaments. They were runners-up in the 53rd and 55th Subroto Cup international football tournaments held in Delhi.
Notable People from Malappuram
Many famous people come from Malappuram district. Here are a few:
- E. M. S. Namboodiripad - The first Chief Minister of Kerala.
- M. T. Vasudevan Nair - A famous Malayalam author and film director.
- Kamala Surayya - A well-known writer of Malayalam literature.
- P. K. Warrier - A famous Ayurvedic physician.
- Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan - Often called the "Father of Malayalam language."
- Raja Ravi Varma - A celebrated Indian painter and artist.
- Prithviraj Sukumaran - A popular actor, director, and producer.
- Anas Edathodika - An Indian professional footballer.
- Devdutt Padikkal - An Indian cricketer.
Images for kids
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Malappuram Down Hill
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Vaidyar Smarakam
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River view Chaliyar
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Passport office
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The headquarters of Kerala Gramin Bank
See also
In Spanish: Malappuram para niños
