Come to this enchanting district in northern Kerala and visit stunning bird and wildlife reserves, find inner peace at some of the country’s most important Ayurvedic centres and follow the pilgrims’ trail to ancient temples in the hills.
Many come to Malappuram District solely to visit the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, an Ayurvedic centre in the ancient Muslim town of Kottakkal. Enjoy a relaxing head massage or yoga session with some of the most skilled Ayurvedic practitioners in the country.
Malappuram’s lush vegetation is home to a wide range of wildlife. Visit Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary and look for some of the 100 species of native birds and 60 more species of migratory birds that live here. Elsewhere you can spot elephants, bears, deer and more in the rainforest around Nedumkayam, where there’s also an Elephant Taming Centre built by the British. Visit the world’s tallest teak tree, found in the plantations around Nilambur.
The climate in this part of India is warm year-round, with the humidity especially high during the summer. Cool down by taking a boat ride around the backwaters of Ponnani. If you’re here during the Onam celebrations at the end of summer you can watch the annual boat race when colourful boats compete on the rivers.Several of the district’s sites are still the focus for religious pilgrimages. One of the most sacred among these is the temple at Thirunavaya, which sits on the banks of the river where you enjoy excellent sunset views.
Both British and Portuguese colonialists left their mark on Malappuram District. The town of Tanur, for example, has a distinctly Portuguese feel with several fine colonial buildings.
The district’s main airport is at Karipur, about 27 kilometres (17 miles) north of the capital Malappuram. Kozhikode is the main railway station, while buses link many of the district’s towns and cities with other major centres.