Kottakkal (literally-Land of the Fort) is a major 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.[3][4] The town is best known for the Arya Vaidya Sala, one of the top Ayurvedic health centres of the world.[5] Kottakkal is also a major growing commercial, educational, and healthcare hub in South Malabar.[2] The town lies on Mumbai–Kanyakumari National Highway 66.
Kottakkal Land of the Fort | |
|---|---|
Municipal town | |
 Kottakkal Town rainy day | |
| Nickname: Ayurveda City [1] | |
  Kottakkal Kottakkal (Kerala)  Kottakkal Kottakkal (India)  Kottakkal Kottakkal (Asia) .svg) Kottakkal Kottakkal (Earth) | |
| Coordinates: 10°59′56″N 75°59′30″E / 10.9990°N 75.9918°E[1] | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Malappuram |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Chairperson | Bushra Shabeer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.45 km2 (7.90 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 84.34 m (276.71 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 44,382 |
| • Density | 2,200/km2 (5,600/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 676503 |
| Telephone code | +91483xxxxxxx |
| Vehicle registration | KL-10, KL-55, KL-65 |
| Website | www |
Kottakkal is located 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Malappuram, the district headquarters, and 14.5 km (9.0 mi) from Tirur railway station. The National Highway 66 separates the municipality from Edarikode grama panchayat on some parts to the west.[6] However, the fast-developing Kottakkal urban area is now spread up to different parts of neighboring panchayats such as Edarikode.
Kottakkal town became famous after the establishment of Arya Vaidya Sala in 1902. Adding to the cultural heritage, Kottakkal Pooram, The popular temple festival is celebrated over seven days during March–April.[7]
History edit
An Old Malayalam inscription which dates back to 932 CE found from Indianoor in Kottakkal mention the name of Goda Ravi of Chera dynasty.[8]
Kottakkal, formerly known as Sweta Durgam (the White Fort) in Sanskrit, Venkalikotta and Venkita Kotta in Malayalam, was a military base of the Kingdom of Valluvanadu earlier.[9]
Two swords, medieval European in style and finish, were discovered in a well from Kottakkal, in the year 2013.[9] The Zamorin of Calicut invaded the Kingdom of Valluvanad in 14th century CE and seized the fort at Kottakkal.[9] The Zamorin captuted the captaincy of Mamankam festival in the same period. Karuvayoor Moosad, who was the minister of Valluvakonathiri, based at Kottakkal and also the chief marshal and preacher of the Moopil Nairs, changed his seat to Puzhakkattiri when Kottakkal came under Zamorin.[9] It may be the forts and castles constructed by the Karuvayoor Moosad that were the origin of the name "Kottakkal".[10]
The Kizhakke Kovilakam, where the eastern branch of the royal family of Zamorin resided, is located at Kottakkal.Gradually, Kottakkal was annexed to the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut.[11] The Kizhakke Kovilakam, which was the eastern palace of the royal family of the Zamorin of Calicut, is present at Kottakkal.[12]
Arya Vaidya Sala was established in 1902.[5] The suburbs of Kottakkal were known as Changuvettikkadu and Eyyakkadu (now Changuvetti is developing as a twin town to Kottakkal).
Municipal elections edit
The United Democratic Front won the first elections (held in October 2010) to the Kottakkal municipality.[13] K. K. Nazar and Paroli Moosakutty Haji of Indian Union Muslim League were elected as the Chairperson and Vice-Chairman respectively of the municipality.[14] Other major Political representatives in the Municipality include TP Subair and Nani of Left Democratic Front.
Kottakkal Municipality Election 2020[15] edit
| S.No. | Party Name | Party symbol | Number of Councillors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | UDF |  | 20 |
| 02 | Independents |  | 07 |
| 03 | LDF | _Logo.svg){kind=logo} | 03 |
| 04 | BJP |  | 02 |
Notable people edit
- U. A. Beeran
- Jayasree Kalathil, researcher
- Kottakkal Madhu, Kathakali singer
- Athippatta Moideen Kutty Musliyar, Islamic scholar
- Sangita Madhavan Nair, actress
- V. C. Balakrishna Panicker
- K. C. Manavedan Raja, founder of Raja's High School, Zamorin of Calicut during 1932-1937
- M. P. Abdussamad Samadani, politician, MLA, former Member of Parliament
- Kottakkal Sivaraman, Kathakali artist
- Najma Thabsheera Lawyer and politician
- Manorama Thampuratti, Sanskrit poet
- Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier, founder of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala
- M. K. Vellodi, Indian civil servant, diplomat, former Cabinet Secretary
- P. K. Warrier
- Sachin Warrier, playback singer and composer
Basic information of Kottakkal Municipality edit
| Area | 20.43 km2 (7.89 sq mi) |
| Wards | 32 |
| Taluk | Tirur |
| Assembly Constituency | Kottakkal |
| Loksabha Constituency | Ponnani |
| Vehicle Registration No. | KL-55, KL-10 & KL-65 |
| Neighbouring Panchayaths | Edarikode, Parappur, Othukkungal, Ponmala and Marakkara |
| Post Offices | Kottakkal, Puthoor, Indianoor, Pathayakkallu, Kuttippuram, Pandamangalam, Cherushola |
| Pincodes | 676501, 676503, 676510 |
Wards edit
Kottakkal Municipality is composed of the following 32 wards:[16]
| Ward no. | Name | Ward no. | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Changuvetty Junction | 2 | Choonda |
| 3 | Kottakkal Town | 4 | Kottakkal Thazhe Angadi |
| 5 | Palappura | 6 | Mythrinagar |
| 7 | Nayadippara | 8 | Cheenambuthur |
| 9 | Kavathikalam West | 10 | Kavathikalam East |
| 11 | Valiyaparamba | 12 | West Villur |
| 13 | Pappayi | 14 | East Villur |
| 15 | Kooriyad | 16 | Panikkarkundu |
| 17 | Indianoor West | 18 | Indianoor East |
| 19 | Muliyankootta | 20 | Maravettum |
| 21 | Kottoor | 22 | Madrasapadi |
| 23 | Amapara | 24 | Kuttippuram |
| 25 | Aalinchuvadu | 26 | Poozhikkunnu |
| 27 | Palathara | 28 | Kottakkulam |
| 29 | Pulikkode | 30 | Thokkambara |
| 31 | Changuvettykundu | 32 | Khurbani |
Transportation edit
- Bus services: Kottakkal Bus station at the heart of the town, links to all rural bus services around Kottakkal locality and Long route services connecting nearby towns like Manjeri, Malappuram, Perinthalmanna etc. KSRTC service also available.
- Railway Station: Tirur railway station is one of the major railway stations in the Malabar region. Almost every train stops here, connecting the Malappuram district to the rest of the country. It is located 14 km away from the Kottakkal town. Passengers from Kottakkal can also access Angadippuram railway station which is about 26 km from kottakkal town.
- Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport is approximately 25 kilometres away.
Nearby places edit
- Vengara, Oorakam, Cherukulamba, Puthuparamba and Edarikode
- Indianoor, Kavathikalam, Puthanathani Marakkara, Kalpakanchery, Maravattam, Kadampuzha, Puthur, Padapparamba, Chattiparamba
- Pang, Parappur, Pottippara, Venniyoor and Vettichira
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Kottakkal - the town famous for Arya Vaidya Sala, an Ayurvedic institution, Malappuram".
- ^ a b Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Malappuram (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorateof Census Operations,Kerala. p. 172. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Constituents of Malappuram metropolitan area". kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ K. P. M. Basheer (30 June 2014). "'Kottakkal' aims for expansion in North India". The Hindu Business Line.
- ^ a b Arya Vaidya Sala Kottakkal – Part 1 (Documentary). BBC World – India Business Report. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "A Life of Healing (A Biography of Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier)". www.exoticindiaart.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala". Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 438-42.
- ^ a b c d R. Madhvan Nair (6 June 2013). "Medieval swords found at Kottakkal". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- ^ "Kottakkal PS". Kerala police.
- ^ K. V. Krishna Iyer Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times to AD 1806. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938
- ^ Devassy, M. K. (1965). District Census Handbook (2) - Kozhikode (1961) (PDF). Ernakulam: Government of Kerala.
- ^ "Local Body Elections, Kerala 2010 - National Informatics Centre". Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ The Hindu : Kerala / Malappuram News : Municipalities get new chiefs
- ^ "Kottakkal Municipality election 2020". lbtrend. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Wards of Kottakkal". sec.kerala.gov.in.
External links edit
- Kottakkal in Wikimapia
- Kottakkal Municipality Archived 19 December 2012 at archive.today
- Documentary on Arya Vaidya Sala in Malayalam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuPbz-etmMI
