Nilambur

File:SouthernIndia1b.jpg

Chaliyar river near Nilambur

Nilambur Nilambur
town
Website	http://www.nilambur.com/

Nilambur (Malayalam: നിലമ്പൂര്‍) is one of the biggest town and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to The Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. It is about 40 kilometres from Malappuram town and 24 kilometres from Manjeri town on the Kozhikode - Ooty. Nilambur is also an Assembly Constituency.

The town of Nilambur is famous for the Nilambur Vettekkoru Makan Paattu held every year in the Nilambur Kovilakom Temple. Nilambur is also home to the oldest teak plantation in the world, called Conolly's Plot. It is claimed that the world's tallest or biggest teak tree is in the Nilambur Teak Preserve. Nilambur is also famous for its bamboos. The name "Nilambur" means 'Place of Nilimba' (a Sanskrit word for Bamboo). Some nearby places are Chungathara, Pookkottumpadam and Edakkara. People in here are almost in equal ratio of Hindu, Muslims and Christians. Most people are engaged in agriculture and business.

The Nilgiri

Politics

The Nilambur assembly constituency is part of the Wayanad (Lok Sabha constituency). The current MP is Mr. MI Shanavas, the current MLA is Mr. Aryadan Mohammad. PV Abdul Wahab (Rajyasabha MP) is also from here.

Places of Interest

Teak tree

• Conolly Plot - 2km from Nilambur Town. The plot was named in memory of H.V. Conolly,the then Malabar District Collector.

• The longest Hanging Bridge in Kerala,across river Chaliyar will take one to the Conolly plot,which is just 300 metres off Calicut-Nilambur-Ooty State Highway.

• Giant Teak, as the oldest planted teak is referred to. A part of the oldest teak plantation is retained here.

• The Teak Museum, maintained by the Kerala Forest Research Institute, giving additional information about teak, and the forest produce in general.

• A Bio Resources Park is attached to it. It is situated 4km from Nilambur.

• Banglavu Kunnu (Bungalow Hill) at Nilambur is famous for its winding road where ayurvedic herbs are planted on both the sides of the officers' cottages (which are now used as forest range offices).

• Aruvacode Pottery Village.'Kumbham' and Artist Jinan has made this pottery village famous.

• Adyan Para Waterfalls, situated a few kilometers away on the other side of the Chaliyar River. It is situated 14km from Nilambur.
• Koyippara Waterfall is also popular with visitors. It can be reached by travelling through a side road through Akampadam.

• Nedumkayam in the Nilambur reserve forest, where one can have a close look at the elephant camp run by the forest department. It is 18km from Nilambur.
• Elephant Training Centre, where elephants poached from the forests were trained. Huge wooden cages can still be seen, though poaching has been banned.

• Pullangode is a place near Nilambur where there is Rubber estate and industry.
• Kallamoola 'Vallipoola' is a place situated near Pullangode,here you can see small waterfalls.

• Manjeeri Colony is a colony built by the government for the Cholanaikkan, an indigenous forest-dwelling ethnicity.
• chenappady estate situted near pullangode was the first estate in malappuram district(info provided by shaijal,pullangode)

• T.K. Colony, situated a few kilometers away from Pookkottumpadam. The wild beauty of the Amarambalam Reserve forest.

• Vaniyambalam 12km from Nilambur. Here is a famous temple called Banasura, situated on a huge rock covering 40 acres (160,000 m²) land and with proportional height beside the Shoranur-Nilambur Railway Line.

• Nadukani Churam (Ghat)is situated on the road to Gudalur way just after Vazhikkadavu

Transport and Other Facilities

• Nearest Airport - Calicut International Airport - 45km.
• Nearest Railway station - Nilambur Railway Station - 4km.(Nilambur - Shoranur Railway Line(66 km)
• Town is situated on Calicut - Ooty State Highway.There are plenty of Bus services to Calicut,Ooty,Perinthalmanna,Wayanad,Mysore,Malappuram,Manjeri,Tirur,Areacode..
• A KSRTC Bus Stand is situated here(Aruvacode).
• Private Bus stand is at Chandakunnu.A second Bus stand is proposed at Chettiangadi.

Teak flowers

Approximate distances by road:

• • Ooty - 100km
  • Manjeri - 24km
  • Malappuram - 40km
  • Kozhikode - 72km
  • Thrissur - 120km
  • Kochi - 210km
  • Gudalur - 48km
  • Mysore - 158km
  • Thiruvambady - 50km
  • Thamarassery - 58km

• Kozhikode - Manjeri - Nilambur -Gudalur - Ooty State highway is a main road in here. Nilambur - Perumbilavu SH and Nilambur - Perinthalmanna - Thrissur and Nilambur - Koyilandy SH are the other important roads.

Stay

• Hotel Redfort is a new star hotel. Two more star hotels are coming up.
• Peevees Nilambur Manor has good lodging facility.
• Other lodges are available at moderate rates in the town.

• Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC)run,KTDC Tamarind Easy Hotel is at Nilambur.

• Wood Bine drive In Restaurant,Park Residency(Bar attached) etc are other restaurants.

• SHANTI SAGAR Veg restaurant is on the Palace(Kovilakam) road.There are few other Veg hotels on the same road.

• PWD Rest House,KFRI Guest House,Forest Rest House and Dormitory are also available.

• Theatres in the town - Fairyland,Rajeshwari,Keerthi,Jyothi.
• Green Art,OCK,Aishwarya,Peevees etc are auditoriums available.

Needed Developments

• Calicut - Kondotty - Manjeri - Nilambur - Sulthan Bathery- Nanjangud Rail Line. (It will be the shortest route from Kerala to Bangalore, Hyderabadand North Indian cities. The preliminary survey of this line is completed.)
• Allow Nilambur Muncipality.
• New Private Bus Stand
• Nilambur - Meppadi Hill Highway.
• More parking facilities and development of roads in Nilambur.
• Starting more technical educational institutions.
• Start Sub Rto Office,Fire Station,Flood Light Stadium...
• Eco Tourism Projects.
• Nilambur - Silent Valley - Coimbatore Road.

Educational institutions

A tea plantation estate

• Amal College for Advanced Studies,Myladi,Nilambur.
• Amal Community College,Nilambur.
• Co-Operative College,Nilambur.
• Mar Thoma College Chungathara,Nilambur 04931-230306, 230510
• MES College,Mampad,Nilambur. 04931-200387, 200337
• Indira Gandhi Model Residential School,Veliyanthode,Nilambur.
• Peevees Public School Nilambur 04931-220063, 221990
• Peevees Model School.Nilambur.
• Little Flower School.Nilambur
• Good Hope Nilambur
• Fathimagiri Nilambur.
• Manavedan HSS,Nilambur.04931 - 223140
• NSS Nilambur
• Seventhday Adventist School, Nilambur
• MES School,Nilambur.
• National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT)
• Govt ITI,Nilambur.
• Buds Special School,Nilambur.
• Bethania Special School,Pulikalody,Nilambur.
• MPM Chungathara
• Good Shepard Chungathara
• AUP Nettikulam
• CHSS Pothukallu
• Sree Vivekananda Edakkara.
• Christ King High School,Manimooly.

Hospitals

File:Nelliampathi-Monkey.jpg

Monkey seen in forest

• Govt.Taluk Hospital 04931-220351,223300
• Chaliyar Hospital 04931-220180
• PG Medical Trust Hospital
• Medical & Cardic Care Centre
• Doctors Clinic
• Anugraha Hospital
• BM Hospital
• Devi Hospital
• Elamkulam Hospital
• Prema Gynec Centre
• Nilambur Pain And Paliative Clinic
• NSS Hospital

Nilambur Assembly Constituency

Nilambur Rubber Estate

Under Nilambur Assembly Constituency there are 8 Panchayaths.

• Amarambalam Panchayath
• Chungathara Panchayath
• Edakkara Panchayath
• Karulai Panchayath
• Moothedam Panchayath
• Nilambur Panchayath
• Pothukal Panchayath
• Vazhikkadavu Panchayath

Famous Personalities

PAST:

• Moplah rebellion,raising of Malabar Special Police etc.
• Sir Conolly,(Collector of British Malabar)
• Chathu Menon(Forest Officer,raised Conolly Plot)
• Dawson,British Forest Officer,killed at Nedumkayam.
• Mr.Kunhali,(former CPM MLA)who was shot dead.

PRESENT:

• Aryadan Mohammad (Former Minister and present MLA)
• PV Abdul Wahab (Rajyasabha MP and Business man)
• Aryadan Shoukath(Panchayath President,Literary & Film personality)
• Rahman (actor)
• Nilambur Balan (Actor)
• Nilambur Ayesha (Actress)
• Gopinath Muthukad(Magician)
• Magician Malayath(Magician)
• Nilambur Pradeep Kumar(Magician)
• Nilambur Karthikeyan (Musician)

Unique features

• Oldest Teak plantation and Teak tree.
• Only Teak Museum in India.
• Longest Hanging Bridge in Kerala.
• Chola Naikers,cave dwelling tribes found only in Nilambur Forests.

• First Panchayath with 100% Primary literacy in India.
• Aims to be the first DOWRY FREE Panchayath.Campaign and field work is on.

Economy

The main cash crops are: rubber, paddy, coconut, arecanut, ginger, turmeric, kacholam and pepper.This dreamy land is also called as Malayoram.

See also

• Nilambur - Shoranur Railway Line
• Teak Museum
• Chaliyar River
• Nedumkayam

External links

• Ecological history of Nilambur valley, see chapter 6
• Kerala Tourism page for Nilambur