04/02/2014
KOTTAKKAL
Kottakkal (Malayalam: കോട്ടക്കല്, literally Land of the Fort) is a municipal town in Malappuram district in Kerala, southern India having 32 wards. It is located 12 km south-west of Malappuram, the district headquarters, and 12 km from Tirur Railway Station.
The National Highway 66 separates the municipality from Edarikkodu gram panchayat on some parts in the west. However, the fast developing Kottakkal urban area is now spread up to different parts of neighboring panchayats such as Edarikkodu.
Kottakkal is known for its ayurvedic institute, Arya Vaidya Sala Kottakkal, as well as its temple festival, Kottakkal Puram, celebrated over seven days during March–April months.
Medieval period
Kottakkal, formerly known as "Sweta Durgam" (the White Fort) in Sanskrit, "Venkalikotta" and "Venkitta Kotta" in Malayalam, was a military base of the Kingdom of Valluvanadu in the medieval period. It was under the control of the Karuvayoor Moosad, the chief marshal and preacher of the Moopil Nairs. It may be the forts and castles constructed by the Karuvayoor Moosad that were the origin of the name "Kottakkal". The suburbs of Kottakkal were known as Changuvettikkadu and Eyyakkadu (now Changuvetti is developing as a twin town to Kottakkal).
In the first half of 15th century, Karuvayoor Moosad assassinated Thinayancherry Elayath, one of the ministers of the Zamorin of Calicut. Then Moonnarpadu Thampuran, the cousin of the Zamorin, killed Karuvayoor Moosad in combat and occupied the fort. The descendants of Moonnarpadu Thampuran dwelt in Kottakkal thereafter and the area came under the rule of the Zamorin of Calicut.
