Eranad also known as Ernad refers to the erstwhile province in the midland area of Malabar, consisting of
Malappuram
Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of including the surrounding suburban areas. The first municipality in the district formed in 1970, Malappuram serves as the administrative headquarter ...
and nearby regions such as Anakkayam, Manjeri, Kondotty,
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
, etc. Currently
Eranad Taluk
Eranad Taluk comes under Perinthalmanna revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the city of Manjeri. Eranad Taluk contains two municipalities - Manjeri and Malappuram. Most of the administrative offices ...
is a
Taluk
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
in
Malappuram district
Malappuram (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . 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 196 ...
. 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.
Ernad had two capitals during various times,
Nediyiruppu
Nediyiruppu is a region of the Kondotty municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is situated from Malappuram, the district headquarters. Important places in Nediyiruppu village are Musliyarangadi, Colony Road Junction (previously ...
, in
Kondotty
Kondotty is a developing town, municipality, and aerotropolis in the Malappuram district state of Kerala, India which is located near Calicut International Airport, 24 km from Malappuram. It is the headquarters of Kondotty Taluk, which ...
under Chera rule,
[K. V. Krishna Iyer, ''Zamorins of Calicut: From the earliest times to AD 1806''. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938.] and Kottappadi, in
Malappuram
Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of including the surrounding suburban areas. The first municipality in the district formed in 1970, Malappuram serves as the administrative headquarter ...
under Zamorin rule. Present-day Ernad taluk headquarters is at
Manjeri
Manjeri () is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is the fourth-most populous municipality in state. It is situated southeast to Karipur International Airport and northeast to Malappuram, the district he ...
. The Ernad Taluk under British
Malabar District
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 (19 ...
was the land between two rivers,
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
and
Kadalundi River
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed river is long and ...
.
On west it was bound by the
Nilgiri Mountains
The Nilgiri Mountains form part of the Western Ghats in northwestern Tamil Nadu, Southern Karnataka, and eastern Kerala in India. They are located at the trijunction of three states and connect the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats. At le ...
. It was the largest Taluk in
Malabar District
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 (19 ...
.
It had included the whole of present-day
Eranad Taluk
Eranad Taluk comes under Perinthalmanna revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the city of Manjeri. Eranad Taluk contains two municipalities - Manjeri and Malappuram. Most of the administrative offices ...
,
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
Taluk,
Kondotty Taluk
Kondotty Taluk, otherwise called Western Eranad Taluk, comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the town of Kondotty. Kondotty Taluk contains Kondotty municipality and a few Gram panchayat ...
,
Tirurangadi Taluk
Tirurangadi is a municipal town in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It is a historic town famed for its active participation in the freedom struggle, especially those dating back to the 1920s. It serves as a local taluk and is locat ...
, and two villages in
Tirur Taluk
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 offi ...
(
Kottakkal
Kottakkal (literally-''Land of the Fort'') 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 Vaidy ...
and
Ponmala
Ponmala is a village and suburb of Malappuram.
Demographics
India census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in con ...
), and three villages in present-day
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
Taluk, (
Feroke
Feroke (), is a Municipality and a part of Kozhikode metropolitan area under Kozhikode Development Authority (K.D.A) in the Kozhikode district of the Indian state of Kerala.
Feroke municipality shares the border with Kozhikode corporation, Ra ...
,
Ramanattukara
Ramanattukara is a municipality census town in Kozhikode district in the Indian state of Kerala. This town was formerly called Kadungan Chira village. Ramanattukara is located 14 km away from Kozhikode city.
Developing as a suburb of K ...
, and
Kadalundi
Kadalundi is a village in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal village close to the Arabian Sea. Kadalundi is famous for its bird sanctuary, which is home to various migratory birds during certain seasons and has been recently decla ...
).
History
The
Zamorin
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
was actually known as ''
Eradi'' (Ruler of Eranadu) before he shifted his headquarters from
Nediyiruppu
Nediyiruppu is a region of the Kondotty municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is situated from Malappuram, the district headquarters. Important places in Nediyiruppu village are Musliyarangadi, Colony Road Junction (previously ...
to
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
.
The ancient port of
Tyndis
Tyndis ( grc, Τύνδις) was an ancient Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,'' Tyndis was located north of port Muziris in the country of the Cerobothra (presen ...
which was located on the northern side of
Muziris
Muziris ( grc, Μουζιρίς, Old Malayalam: ''Muciri'' or ''Muciripattanam'' possibly identical with the medieval ''Muyirikode'') was an ancient harbour and an urban centre on the Malabar Coast. Muziris found mention in the ''Periplus o ...
, as mentioned in the ''
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
The ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' ( grc, Περίπλους τῆς Ἐρυθρᾶς Θαλάσσης, ', modern Greek '), also known by its Latin name as the , is a Greco-Roman periplus written in Koine Greek that describes navigation and ...
'', was somewhere around Eranadu.
Its exact location is a matter of dispute.
The suggested locations are
Ponnani
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 (Riv ...
,
Tanur,
Beypore
Beypore or Beypur (formerly Beypoor) is an ancient port town and a locality town in Kozhikode district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located opposite to Chaliyam, the estuary where the river Chaliyar empties into Arabian Sea. Beypore i ...
-
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the eas ...
-
Kadalundi
Kadalundi is a village in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal village close to the Arabian Sea. Kadalundi is famous for its bird sanctuary, which is home to various migratory birds during certain seasons and has been recently decla ...
-
Vallikkunnu
Vallikkunnu is a village in Tirurangadi Taluk of Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India with an area of 25 km2. It is located 5 km north of Parappanangadi town and comes under the jurisdiction of Parappanangadi Police Sta ...
, and
Koyilandy
A Survey of Kerala History, A. Shreedhara Menon ar, Fundriya pt, Pandarani
, settlement_type = MunicipalityTaluk
, image_skyline = KadaloorPointLight 01.jpg
, image_alt =
, image_caption ...
.
Note that all the above regions excluding
Koyilandy
A Survey of Kerala History, A. Shreedhara Menon ar, Fundriya pt, Pandarani
, settlement_type = MunicipalityTaluk
, image_skyline = KadaloorPointLight 01.jpg
, image_alt =
, image_caption ...
are located in or around Eranadu. Tyndis was a major center of trade, next only to
Muziris
Muziris ( grc, Μουζιρίς, Old Malayalam: ''Muciri'' or ''Muciripattanam'' possibly identical with the medieval ''Muyirikode'') was an ancient harbour and an urban centre on the Malabar Coast. Muziris found mention in the ''Periplus o ...
, between the Cheras and the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post- Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Medite ...
.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ...
(1st century CE) states that the port of ''
Tyndis
Tyndis ( grc, Τύνδις) was an ancient Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,'' Tyndis was located north of port Muziris in the country of the Cerobothra (presen ...
'' was located at the northwestern border of ''Keprobotos'' (
Chera dynasty).
[Gurukkal, R., & Whittaker, D. (2001). In search of Muziris. ''Journal of Roman Archaeology,'' ''14'', 334-350.] The
North Malabar
North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and th ...
region, which lies north of the port at ''
Tyndis
Tyndis ( grc, Τύνδις) was an ancient Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,'' Tyndis was located north of port Muziris in the country of the Cerobothra (presen ...
'', was ruled by the kingdom of
Ezhimala
Ezhimala, a hill reaching a height of , is located near Payyanur, in Kannur district of Kerala, south India. It is a part of a conspicuous and isolated cluster of hills, forming a promontory, north of Kannur (Cannanore). The Indian Naval Ac ...
during
Sangam period
The Sangam period or age (, ), particularly referring to the third Sangam period, is the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka (then known as Tamilakam) spanning from c. 6th century BCE to c. 3rd century CE. ...
.
[A. Shreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History] According to the ''
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
The ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' ( grc, Περίπλους τῆς Ἐρυθρᾶς Θαλάσσης, ', modern Greek '), also known by its Latin name as the , is a Greco-Roman periplus written in Koine Greek that describes navigation and ...
'', a region known as ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27), ...
'' began at ''
Naura'' and ''
Tyndis
Tyndis ( grc, Τύνδις) was an ancient Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,'' Tyndis was located north of port Muziris in the country of the Cerobothra (presen ...
''. However the
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of import ...
mentions only ''
Tyndis
Tyndis ( grc, Τύνδις) was an ancient Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,'' Tyndis was located north of port Muziris in the country of the Cerobothra (presen ...
'' as the ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27), ...
s starting point. The region probably ended at
Kanyakumari
Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland I ...
; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing ...
. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000
sesterces
The ''sestertius'' (plural ''sestertii''), or sesterce (plural sesterces), was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin.
The na ...
.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ...
mentioned that ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27), ...
'' was prone by pirates. The
Cosmas Indicopleustes
Cosmas Indicopleustes ( grc-x-koine, Κοσμᾶς Ἰνδικοπλεύστης, lit=Cosmas who sailed to India; also known as Cosmas the Monk) was a Greek merchant and later hermit from Alexandria of Egypt. He was a 6th-century traveller who ma ...
mentioned that the ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27), ...
'' was a source of peppers.
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the eas ...
in the northwestern end of Eranadu is also home to one of the oldest mosques in
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
. According to the
Legend of Cheraman Perumals
The legend of Cheraman Perumals is the medieval tradition associated with the Cheraman Perumals (Chera kings) of Kerala.Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 31-32. The sources of the legend include p ...
, the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at
Kodungallur
Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in ...
with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of
Chera dynasty, who converted to Islam during the lifetime of
Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...
(c. 570–632).
According to ''
Qissat Shakarwati Farmad
''Qissat Shakarwati Farmad'' (alternatively ''Qissat Shakruti Firmad'', literally ''"Tale of the Great Chera Ruler"'') is an Arabic manuscript of anonymous authorship, apparently written in Malabar Coast, south India.O. Loth, ''Arabic Manuscripts ...
'', the
''Masjids'' at
Kodungallur
Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in ...
,
Kollam
Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The ci ...
, Madayi,
Barkur
Barkur (also spelt Barcoor) is an area in the Brahmavara taluk, Udupi district of Karnataka state in India, comprising three villages, Hosala, Hanehalli, and Kachoor. The area is located on the bank of River Seetha. It is also referred to as ...
,
Mangalore
Mangalore (), officially known as Mangaluru, is a major port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bangalore, the state capital, 20 km north of Karnataka– ...
,
Kasaragod
Kasaragod () is a municipal town and administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1966, Kasaragod was the first municipal town in the district. It is the northernmost district of Kerala an ...
,
Kannur
Kannur (), formerly known in English as Cannanore, is a Cities in India, city and a municipal corporation in the state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur district and situated north of the major port city a ...
,
Dharmadam
Dharmadom or Dharmadam is a census town in Thalassery taluk of Kannur district in the state of Kerala, India. This town is located in between Anjarakandi River and Ummanchira river, and Palayad town and Arabian sea. It is known for the 100-ye ...
,
Panthalayini, and Chaliyam, were built during the era of
Malik Dinar
Malik Dinar ( ar-at, مالك دينار, Mālik b. Dīnār, Malayalam: മാലിക് ദീനാര്) (died 748 CE)Al-Hujwiri, "Kashf al-Mahjoob", 89 was a Muslim scholar and traveller. He was one of the first known Muslims to have co ...
, and they are among the oldest ''Masjid''s in the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India ...
. It is believed that
Malik Dinar
Malik Dinar ( ar-at, مالك دينار, Mālik b. Dīnār, Malayalam: മാലിക് ദീനാര്) (died 748 CE)Al-Hujwiri, "Kashf al-Mahjoob", 89 was a Muslim scholar and traveller. He was one of the first known Muslims to have co ...
died at
Thalangara
Thalangara is a part of Kasaragod Town, the district headquarters of the Kasaragod district in the South Indian state of Kerala. Malik Deenar Jama Masjid and Dargah is located here. Its economy is dependent on remittance from expatriate workers ...
in
Kasaragod
Kasaragod () is a municipal town and administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1966, Kasaragod was the first municipal town in the district. It is the northernmost district of Kerala an ...
town.
[Pg 58, Cultural heritage of ]Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
: an introduction, A. Sreedhara Menon, East-West Publications, 1978
Eranad (from "Erala-nadu", the Land of the Cattle, according to
William Logan), was originally a province in the
Chera Kingdom (9th-12th century CE) ruled by a clan known as the Eradis.
Their provincial capital was at
Nediyiruppu
Nediyiruppu is a region of the Kondotty municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is situated from Malappuram, the district headquarters. Important places in Nediyiruppu village are Musliyarangadi, Colony Road Junction (previously ...
, near present-day
Kondotty
Kondotty is a developing town, municipality, and aerotropolis in the Malappuram district state of Kerala, India which is located near Calicut International Airport, 24 km from Malappuram. It is the headquarters of Kondotty Taluk, which ...
.
The ruler of the Eralanadu was known as the Eralanadu Utaiyavar, Elar-thiri or Nediyiruppu Mooppan or Mooppil Nayar.
Manavepala Manaviyan, a governor of the Eralanadu, signs himself in the famous
Jewish Copper Plate
Jewish copper plates of Cochin (Malayalam: ജൂതശാസനം), also known as Cochin plates of Bhaskara Ravi-varman, is a royal charter issued by the Chera Perumal king of Kerala, south India to Joseph Rabban, a Jewish merchant magnate of ...
(1000 CE).
The Viraraghava Copper Plate (1225 CE) is also signed by the Eralanadu ruler.
After the fall of the Cheras, the region became an independent political entity.
Later, the Eradis expanded their kingdom to the west and moved their capital to
Calicut
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second la ...
while setting up a regional capital at Kottappadi,
Malappuram
Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of including the surrounding suburban areas. The first municipality in the district formed in 1970, Malappuram serves as the administrative headquarter ...
with Paranambi as the chieftain.
The Eradis came to be known as the "Kings of the Oceans" (
Samoothiri/Zamorin) in later times.
The Ernad taluk existed during British Colonial rule in India was under
Malappuram
Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of including the surrounding suburban areas. The first municipality in the district formed in 1970, Malappuram serves as the administrative headquarter ...
Revenue Division, along with the neighbouring
Valluvanad Taluk, a part of
Malabar District
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 (19 ...
within the
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision (presidency) of British India. At its greatest extent, the presidency included most of southern India, including th ...
.
The oldest teak plantation of the world at
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
, and the first tile-manufacturing industry of India at
Feroke
Feroke (), is a Municipality and a part of Kozhikode metropolitan area under Kozhikode Development Authority (K.D.A) in the Kozhikode district of the Indian state of Kerala.
Feroke municipality shares the border with Kozhikode corporation, Ra ...
, were in Eranad.
In the first decade after Independence, large-scale changes in the territorial jurisdiction of this region took place with the formation of new taluks.
On 1 January 1957
Tirur Taluk
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 offi ...
was formed, by absorbing portions of Eranad and
Ponnani taluks.
Three more taluks, namely
Tirurangadi taluk
Tirurangadi is a municipal town in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It is a historic town famed for its active participation in the freedom struggle, especially those dating back to the 1920s. It serves as a local taluk and is locat ...
and
Nilambur taluk
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
, and
Kondotty Taluk
Kondotty Taluk, otherwise called Western Eranad Taluk, comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the town of Kondotty. Kondotty Taluk contains Kondotty municipality and a few Gram panchayat ...
, were formed later by bifurcating Tirur Taluk and Eranad taluk.
Geography
William Logan, the author of Malabar Manual and a former District Collector of Malabar, described Eranad as the most typical Taluk of erstwhile
Malabar District
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 (19 ...
, having many smaller hills, valleys, Conolly Canal, long rivers and their tributaries (
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
and
Kadalundi River
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed river is long and ...
), various plantations, paddy fields etc.
The highest peaks in the erstwhile
Malabar District
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 (19 ...
was located in
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
region of Eranad (Eastern Eranad) on the vicinity of
Nilgiri Mountains
The Nilgiri Mountains form part of the Western Ghats in northwestern Tamil Nadu, Southern Karnataka, and eastern Kerala in India. They are located at the trijunction of three states and connect the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats. At le ...
.
The 2,554 m high
Mukurthi
Mukurthi Peak is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats, situated on the border of Udagamandalam taluk, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Nilambur taluk, Malappuram, and Kerala in India. It reaches an altitude of 2,554 m (8,379ft), and is the fif ...
peak, which is situated in the border of modern-day
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
Taluk and
Ooty
Ooty (), officially known as Udhagamandalam (also known as Ootacamund (); abbreviated as Udhagai), is a city and a municipality in the Nilgiris district of the South Indian States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu. It is located ...
Taluk, and is also the fifth-highest peak in
South India
South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the States and union territories of India, Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and T ...
as well as the third-highest in Kerala after
Anamudi
Anamudi is a mountain located in Ernakulam district and Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and in South India, at an elevation of and a topographic prominence of . The name Anamudi lit ...
(2,696 m) and
Meesapulimala (2,651 m), was the highest point of elevation in Malabar district. It is also the highest peak in Kerala outside the
Idukki district. The 2,383 high
Anginda peak
Anginda peak (അങ്ങിണ്ട മുടി) is a mountain in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats on the border of the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and Palakkad district of Kerala. It has an elevation of and is the highest peak ...
, which is located closer to Malappuram-
Palakkad
Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipal ...
-
Nilgiris
The Nilgiri Mountains form part of the Western Ghats in northwestern Tamil Nadu, Southern Karnataka, and eastern Kerala in India. They are located at the trijunction of three states and connect the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats. At le ...
district border is the second-highest peak.
Vavul Mala
Vavul Mala is a peak in the Western Ghats in the Vellarimala range of Kerala, India. It is situated at the trijunction of the districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad in Kerala. Vavulmala resembles a "Camel Hump". Situated at a height ...
, a 2,339 m high peak situated on the trijunction of Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram,
Wayanad
Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of Indian state Kerala with administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, the sout ...
, and
Thamarassery
Thamarassery, formerly known as Thazhmalachery, it is one of the taluk in Kozhikode district and major hill town in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, India, 30 km north-east of Kozhikode (Calicut) City and 29 km east of Koyilandy. It li ...
Taluk of
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
districts, was the third-highest point of elevation in the district.
Apart from the main continuous range of Western Ghats, there were many small undulating hills in the lowland of the district.
In the British records, Eastern Eranad region was collectively described as ''Nilambur Valley''.
The bank of river
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
at Nilambur region is also known for natural
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...
fields. Explorations done at the valley of the river
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
in Nilambur has shown reserves of the order of 2.5 million cubic meters of placers with 0.1 gram per cubic meter of gold.
Eranad is blessed with several tributaries of
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
river and
Kadalundi river
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed river is long and ...
.
Malabar Rebellion
The region was the centre of the
Malabar Rebellion of 1921. This armed uprising against British and feudal lords was put down by the Colonial government.
Eranad, the name also used by
* Eranad Cement Private Limited
* Ernad Engineering Enterprises Private Limited
* Eranad Express
* Eranad Township Complex Private Limited
* Eranad Hallmarking Centre Private Limited
* Eranad Knowledge City
* Eranad Estates Private Limited
* Eranad Travel And Tourism
* Eranad Beverages Private Limited
* Eranad Properties Private Limited
* Eranad Hospital,
Manjeri
Manjeri () is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is the fourth-most populous municipality in state. It is situated southeast to Karipur International Airport and northeast to Malappuram, the district he ...
* Eranad Floorings LLP
Eranad Taluk under British Rule

The ''Amsoms'' included in Ernad Taluk was classified into four divisions- ''Parappur (Southern Parappanad)'', ''Ramanad'', ''Cheranad'', and ''Eranad''. There were 52 ''Amsoms'' in the Taluk.
(A part of Cheranad division was under Ponnani Taluk). The British Eranad Taluk was created in 1860-61by merging the erstwhile British Taluks of Southern Parappanad, Ramanad, Cheranad, and Eranad, which were vested between River
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, P ...
and
Kadalundi River
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed river is long and ...
.
1. ''Parappur (Southern Parappanad)''
Southern
Parappanad
Parappanad was a former feudal city-state in Malabar, India. The headquarters of Parappanad Royal family was at the town Parappanangadi in present-day Malappuram district. In 1425, the country divided into Northern Parappanad (Beypore kingdom) a ...
was a vassal of the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
.
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi, , is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian sea. Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ker ...
, the headquarters of Parappanad royal family, was at Southern Parappanad.
It consisted of the following 7 ''Amsoms'':
*
Pazhanchannur
*
Mannur
*
Tenhipalam
Thenhipalam (also spelt Tenhipalam and Thenjipalam) is a census town and a panchayat in Tirurangadi taluk in Malappuram district of Kerala, India, with a population of 27,273 as per 2001 census, consisting of 13,293 males and 13,980 femal ...
*
Neduva
*
Vallikunnu
Vallikkunnu is a village in Tirurangadi Taluk of Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India with an area of 25 km2. It is located 5 km north of Parappanangadi town and comes under the jurisdiction of Parappanangadi Police Sta ...
*
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi, , is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian sea. Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ker ...
*
Nannambra
2. ''Ramanad''
''Ramanad'' was directly ruled by the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
.
It consisted of the following 7 ''Amsoms'':
*
Nallur
*
Azhinjilam
*
Cherukavu
Cherukavu is a census town in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India.
Transportation
Some parts of Cherukavu panchayath lie on the National Highway 966 between Ramanattukara and Kondotty. Most parts of Pulikkal town comes under ...
*
Karad
Karad is a city in Satara district of Indian state of Maharashtra and it is 320 km (180.19 miles) from Mumbai and 159 km from Pune. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River known as the "Priti sangam". ...
*
Karumarakkad
*
Karippur
Karipur (also spelt Karippur) is a locality in the Kondotty taluk of the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, 25 km (16 mi) from the city of Malappuram. It is best known as the site of Karipur International Airport, serving travellers ...
*
Chelembra
Idimuzhikkal or Chelembra is a town in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. Chelembra is the Panchayath (One of the elementary governmental ruling systems in India) and Idimuzhikal is the capital of this Panchayath. Chelembra grama panchayat ...
3. ''Cheranad''
''Cheranad'' was also directly ruled by the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
.
''Cheranad'' was scattered in Eranad and Ponnani Taluks. The headquarters of Cheranad was
Tirurangadi
Tirurangadi is a municipal town in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It is a historic town famed for its active participation in the freedom struggle, especially those dating back to the 1920s. It serves as a local taluk and is located, ...
. It consisted of the following 17 ''Amsoms'':
''Eranad Taluk''
* Olakara
* Trikkulam
*
Koduvayur Koduvayur may refer to:
* Koduvayur-II, a village in Palakkad district, Kerala, India
* Koduvayur (gram panchayat)
Koduvayur is a fast developing town and a major commercial area in Koduvayur gram panchayat of Kollengode Block Panchayat in Pa ...
*
Vengara
* Kannamangalam
*
Oorakam-Melmuri
* Puthur
*
Kottakkal
Kottakkal (literally-''Land of the Fort'') 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 Vaidy ...
* Indiannur
* Valakkulam
*
Vadakkumpuram
''Ponnani Taluk''
*
Valiyakunnu
Valiyakunnu is a town located in Malappuram district, Kerala, India.
Demographics
At the 2011 India census, Valanchery/ Kattipparuthi had a population of 35,795. Males constituted 48.86% (17,490) and females 51.13% (18,305). The number of ho ...
*
Kattipparuthi
Kattipparuthi is a census town in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India. It is a part of Valanchery municipality.
Demographics
India census, Kattipparuthi had a population of 35795 with 17490 males and 18305 females.
Transpo ...
*
Athavanad
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 ...
*
Ummathoor
Ummathoor is a village near Civil Station in the state of Kerala, India.
Description
Ummathoor takes its name from a small bushy plant called Ummathunkaya that grows in the area.
The village is near the Anankkadavu palam bridge. People of U ...
*
Irimbiliyam
Irimbiliyam is a census town near valanchery in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India. There is lot of small villages Like Mankery, AngadiMOSCOW Shapumpadi, and Also palli padi, thirunilam
Demographics
India census, Irimbiliyam ...
*
Parudur
Parudur is a village and gram panchayat in Pattambi taluk, Palakkad district in the state of Kerala, India. Parudur was originally a part of Kuttippuram Block Panchayat in Tirur Taluk of erstwhile Kozhikode district, before the formation of M ...
4. ''Eranad''
''Eranad'' was the original headquarters of the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
. It was later changed to
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
with the conquest of ''Polanad''. It also was under the direct rule of the Zamorin.
It consisted of the following 26 ''Amsoms'':
* Mappram
*
Cheekkode
Cheekkode is a village in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India.
Demographics
India census, Cheekkode had a population of 19375 with 9731 males and 9644 females.
Transportation
Cheekode village connects to other parts of India t ...
*
Urangattiri
Urangattiri is a village in Malappuram district
Malappuram (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . It is the most populous dis ...
*
Mampad
Mampad is a growing town in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. located about 08 km east of Nilambur city. Nearby places include Edavanna, Areacode, Manjeri, Wandoor and Pandikkad. It is under the Wandoor Assembly Constituency. Kozhik ...
*
Nilambur
Nilambur is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak ...
*
Porur
Porur () is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India. It is situated in the Maduravoyal taluk of Chennai district in the southern part of the city. Since 2011, it has been a part of the Chennai Corporation and included in zone number 11.
The earlies ...
*
Wandoor
Wandoor is a town in Malappuram district of Kerala, India at . It is located 13 km away from Nilambur.
Notable people
* The renowned ''Mappila Paattu'' poet Pulikkottil Hyder was born here.
* T. K. Hamza, former minister of Kerala and ...
*
Thiruvali
Thiruvali is a village in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India.
Location
Thiruvali is located between Edavanna and Wandoor in Malappuram District, and Near Pathiriyal, Kerala.
Demographics
At the 2001 India census
A census ...
*
Trikkalangode
*
Karakunnu
*
Iruvetti
*
Kavanoor
Kavanoor is a Town near Areacode in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala.
Name
The name of the town is spelled in English either Kavanoor or Kavanur or even Kavannur. Kavanur is the first high tech village office in Kerala.The ori ...
* Chengara
* Puliyakode
*
Kuzhimanna
Kuzhimanna Gramapanchayat is a Gramapanchayat located in Areecode Block Panchayat in Kondotty Taluk, The area of Kuzhimanna Gramapanchayat is 20.05 square kilometer. There is 18 wards in this panchayat. This panchayat was formed in 1961. Kizhiss ...
* Kolathur
*
Nediyiruppu
Nediyiruppu is a region of the Kondotty municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is situated from Malappuram, the district headquarters. Important places in Nediyiruppu village are Musliyarangadi, Colony Road Junction (previously ...
* Keezhmuri
*
Melmuri
Melmuri or Melmuri Junction is a town in Malappuram city in the state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combini ...
*
Arimbra
Arimbra Hills or Mini Ooty is a tourist spot between Malappuram and Kondotty in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is at a height of 445 meter above sea level. The place attracts large number of visitors for its rolling hills and scenic view ...
*
Valluvambram
*
Irumbuzhi
Irumbuzhi is a village situated adjacent to Malappuram Municipality. It is part of Anakkayam panchayath, Malappuram district, Kerala state, India.
It is on the banks of the Kadalundi River.
Culture
Irumbuzhi village is a predominantly Muslim ...
*
Manjeri
Manjeri () is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is the fourth-most populous municipality in state. It is situated southeast to Karipur International Airport and northeast to Malappuram, the district he ...
*
Payyanad
Payyanad is a place located in Manjeri municipality of Malappuram district of Kerala. Payyanad football stadium located in Payyanad
Sports complex
The Malappuram District Sports Complex is located at Payyanad. A football stadium of 25,000 se ...
*
Elankur
*
Ponmala
Ponmala is a village and suburb of Malappuram.
Demographics
India census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in con ...
Transportation
The Ernad area connects with other parts of India through highway NH966. Multiple state highways connect the region with other parts of the district as well as the rest of the state. The nearest airport is at
Karipur. The nearest major railway station is at
Tirur
Tirur is a Municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala spread over an area of . It is one of the business centers of Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozhikode, on the Shoranur–Mang ...
, which is also the oldest Railway Station in the state of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
.
See also
*
Eranad Taluk
Eranad Taluk comes under Perinthalmanna revenue division in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. Its headquarters is the city of Manjeri. Eranad Taluk contains two municipalities - Manjeri and Malappuram. Most of the administrative offices ...
*
Zamorin
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...
*
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
References
Further reading
*
{{Malabar
Manjeri
Kondotty area