141-459: Malabar District , also known as British Malabar or simply Malabar was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792–1800), Madras Presidency (1800–1937), Madras Province (1937–1950) and finally, Madras State (1950–1956) in India. It was the most populous and the third-largest district in the erstwhile Madras State . The historic town of Kozhikode
282-514: A 2010 report, following is the distribution of faunal species in the Western Ghats apart from more than 6,000 insect species. The Western Ghats region has one of the highest tiger population, estimated at 985 in 2022. The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild, with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations. Other mammals include endangered and vulnerable species such as
423-408: A 2014 report, at least 227 species of reptiles are found in the Western Ghats. The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region. Several endemic reptile genera and species occur here, with the region having a significant population of mugger crocodiles . The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with a high proportion of species being endemic to
564-524: A 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by emperor Ashoka of Magadha . It was mentioned as one of four independent kingdoms in southern India during Ashoka's time, the others being the Cholas , Pandyas and Satyaputras . The Cheras transformed Kerala into an international trade centre by establishing trade relations across the Arabian Sea with all major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well those of
705-623: A battle, according to the Sangam works . Ezhimala kingdom was succeeded by Mushika dynasty in the early medieval period, most possibly due to the migration of Tuluva Brahmins from Tulu Nadu . The Indian anthropologist Ayinapalli Aiyappan states that a powerful and warlike clan of the Bunt community of Tulu Nadu was called Kola Bari and the Kolathiri Raja of Kolathunadu was a descendant of this clan. The Kolathunadu ( Kannur ) Kingdom at
846-625: A copper slab within the Madayi Mosque in Kannur records its foundation year as 1124 CE. In his book on travels ( Il Milione ), Marco Polo recounts his visit to the area in the mid 1290s. Other visitors included Faxian , the Buddhist pilgrim and Ibn Batuta , writer and historian of Tangiers . Until the 16th century CE, the Kasargod town was known by the name Kanhirakode (may be by
987-610: A distinct dialect of Malayalam, was spoken in the Laccadive Islands . Malabar District merged with the erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin (1950–1956) to form Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 . On the same day, the present Kasaragod district of South Canara District was also attached to Malabar, and the Laccadive and Minicoy Islands of Malabar were reorganised to form
1128-440: A mixed lineage of Malayali Nairs and Tuluva Brahmins . They also claimed their origin from Cheraman Perumals of Kerala. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton states that the customs of Kumbla dynasty were similar to those of the contemporary Malayali kings, though Kumbla was considered as the southernmost region of Tulu Nadu . Just like other contemporary kings of Kerala in the medieval period, The powerful Kolathu Raja also came under
1269-405: A new Union Territory. Malabar was trifurcated to form the districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , and Palakkad , on 1 January 1957. The city of Kozhikode was the capital of Malabar. Malabar was divided into North Malabar and South Malabar in 1793 for administrative convenience, with their regional headquarters at Thalassery and Cherpulassery (Later changed to Ottapalam ) respectively. During
1410-489: A number of important mathematics concepts, including series expansion for trigonometric functions. The Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics was based at Vettathunadu ( Tirur region ) of South Malabar. Kozhikode , Tanur , and Ponnani were the three major port cities in South Malabar region, while the minor trading ports included Beypore , Parappanangadi , and Chaliyam . The coastal Kingdom of Tanur ,
1551-562: A series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf . As per linguist Thomas Burrow , the word Ghat was derived from similar words used in various Dravidian languages such as kattu (mountain side, ridge, or dam) in Tamil , katte (dam), gatta (mountain), and gattu (bank or shore) in Kannada , and katta (dam), and gatte (shore or embankment) in Telugu . The ancient name for
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#17327733478291692-678: A special regiment centered at Thalassery called as The Thiyyar Regiment in 1904. The oldest railway lines of Kerala lie in Malabar District which was laid in the late 19th century for the transportation of good and services; the line laid from Tirur to Beypore in 1861 being the first among them. According to William Logan , the Taluks of Malabar could be subdivided on the basis of the feudal lords who ruled them before as given below: The Amsoms included in Chirakkal Taluk
1833-464: A unique type of stunted tropical montane forest found in the valleys between the mountains. Earlier sources indicated about four to five thousand vascular plant species of which nearly one-third was endemic to the region. Later studies and publications have recorded 7,402 species of flowering plants occurring in the Western Ghats of which 5,588 were described as indigenous, 376 are naturalized exotics, and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted. Among
1974-522: Is South Malabar aka Kozhikode it's included present kozhikode and Thamarassery taluk , south wayanad it's included present kalpetta and sulthan battery places, Eranad Taluk which comes under present Malappuram District, Palakkad District and Chavakkad taluk of Thrissur district. During the British rule , the Malabar's chief importance laid in producing pepper , tiles , and Coconut. In
2115-730: Is also the point of highest altitude in India outside the Himalayas , lies parallel to the Malabar Coast on the Western Ghats . The region parallel to the Malabar Coast gently slopes from the eastern highland of Western Ghats ranges to the western coastal lowland. The moisture-laden winds of the Southwest monsoon, on reaching the southernmost point of the Indian subcontinent , because of its topography, divide into two branches;
2256-480: Is also used by ecologists to refer to the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of southwestern India (present-day Kerala). Geographically, the Malabar Coast can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands; rugged and cool mountainous terrain, the central mid-lands; rolling hills, and the western lowlands; coastal plains. The Western Ghats mountain range lie parallel to
2397-450: Is often used to denote the entire southwestern coast of India. Additionally, European traders and scholars referred to Tamils of Sri Lanka as Malabars . In the 18th century, J. P. Fabricius described his Tamil-English Dictionary as the "Dictionary of Malabar and English". The term Malabar Coast , in historical contexts, refers to India's southwestern coast, which lies on the narrow coastal plain of Karnataka and Kerala between
2538-537: Is over 845 km (525 mi) long and stretches from the coast of southwestern Maharashtra , along the region of Goa, through the entire western coast of Karnataka and Kerala, and up to Kanyakumari . It is flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. The southern part of this narrow coast is referred to as the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests . Malabar
2679-628: The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , a region known as Limyrike began at Naura and Tyndis . However the Ptolemy mentions only Tyndis as the Limyrike ' s starting point. The region probably ended at Kanyakumari ; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast . The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000 sesterces . Pliny
2820-446: The Arabian Sea on the west, South Canara District on the north, the Western Ghats (the princely states of Coorg and Mysore , and Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts) to the east, and the princely state of Cochin to the south. The district covered an area of 15,027 square kilometres (5,802 sq mi), and extended 233 km (145 mi) along the coast and 40–120 kilometers (25–75 miles) inland. The name Mala-bar means
2961-716: The Battle of Thrissur in 1763. Despite fierce resistance, the Zamorin's troops retreated, leading to their eventual evacuation from Cochin Territory. In pursuit of peace, the Zamorin agreed to indemnify Travancore for war expenses and vowed perpetual friendship, marking a triumph of strategy and valor led by Pillai. After the Dutch were defeated by Travancore king Marthanda Varma , the British crown gained control over Kerala through
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#17327733478293102-553: The British rule , Malabar's chief importance lay in its production of Malabar pepper , coconut , and tiles . In the old administrative records of the Madras Presidency , it is recorded that the most remarkable plantation owned by Government in the erstwhile Madras Presidency was the Teak plantation at Nilambur planted in 1844. The District of Malabar and the ports at Beypore and Fort Kochi had some sort of importance in
3243-624: The Cyprinids (72 species), hillstream loaches (34 species; including stone loaches , now regarded a separate family), Bagrid catfishes (19 species), and Sisorid catfishes (12 species). The region is home to several ornamental fishes like the Denison (or red line torpedo) barb , melon barb , several species of Dawkinsia barbs, zebra loach , Horabagrus catfish, dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish . The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri , and larger species such as
3384-471: The Dravidian word Mala ('hill'). Al-Biruni (AD 973 – 1048) must have been the first writer to call this state Malabar . Authors such as Ibn Khordadbeh and Al-Baladhuri mention Malabar ports in their works. The Arab writers had called this place Malibar , Manibar , Mulibar , and Munibar . Malabar is reminiscent of the word Malanad which means the land of hills . According to William Logan ,
3525-727: The Dutch , French and the British East India companies took centre stage during the colonial wars in India. Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755. Paliath Achan of Cochin and Travancore united to expel the Zamorin of Calicut from Kochi territories. Under Martanda Pillai's leadership, Travancore's Nair forces , with General de Lannoy's guidance, successfully captured Thrissur in
3666-711: The Dutch East India Company , who during the conflicts between the Kozhikode and the Kochi , gained control of the trade. In 1757, to check the invasion of the Zamorin of Calicut , the Palakkad Raja sought the help of Hyder Ali of Mysore. In 1766, Haider Ali of Mysore defeated the Samoothiri of Kozhikode – an East India Company ally at the time – and absorbed Kozhikode to his state. After
3807-484: The Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south. The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak. The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial rivers. These major river systems drain almost 40% of the land area of the country. The major river systems originating in
3948-698: The Edakkal Caves , in Wayanad date back to the Neolithic era around 6000 BCE. The Malabar Coast has been a major spice exporter since 3000 BCE, according to Sumerian records and it is still referred to as the "Garden of Spices" or as the "Spice Garden of India". Kerala 's spices attracted ancient Arabs , Babylonians , Assyrians and Egyptians to the Malabar Coast in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. Phoenicians established trade with Malabar during this period. Arabs and Phoenicians were
4089-518: The Far East . The dominion of Cheras was located in one of the key routes of the ancient Indian Ocean trade . The early Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Cholas and Rashtrakutas . During the early Middle Ages , Namboodiri Brahmin immigrants arrived in Kerala and shaped the society on the lines of the caste system . In the 8th century, Adi Shankara was born at Kalady in central Kerala. He travelled extensively across
4230-496: The Indian subcontinent founding institutions of the widely influential philosophy of Advaita Vedanta . The Cheras regained control over Kerala in the 9th century until the kingdom was dissolved in the 12th century, after which small autonomous chiefdoms, most notably the Kingdom of Kozhikode , arose. The 13th century Venetian explorer, Marco Polo , would visit and write of his stay in the province. The port at Kozhikode acted as
4371-467: The Indomalayan realm , with the northern portion of the range generally drier than the southern portion. These include the following: Other types of ecosystems include dry deciduous forests on the leeward rain shadow region, scrub forests at the foothills, peat bogs , and swamps . Montane grasslands are found in high altitude locations in the south Western Ghats interspersed with sholas ,
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4512-515: The Kingdom of Valluvanad in inland, and Palakkad in the hilly region formed other major kingdoms in South Malabar region in the medieval period. Marthanda Varma , the founder of Travancore , belongs to Parappanad royal family. In 1664, the municipality of Fort Kochi was established by Dutch Malabar , making it the first municipality in Indian subcontinent , which got dissolved when
4653-529: The Lakshadweep Islands , and a major portion of the Nilgiris district in modern-day Tamil Nadu . The detached settlements of Tangasseri and Anchuthengu , which were British colonies within the kingdom of Travancore in southern Kerala, also formed part of Malabar District until 1927. Malayalam was the administrative as well as the most spoken lingua franca of Malabar district. Jeseri ,
4794-667: The Malabar snakehead , and Malabar mahseer . A few are adapted to an underground life, including some Rakthamichthys swamp eels, and the catfish Horaglanis and Kryptoglanis . 97 freshwater fish species were considered threatened in 2011, including 12 critically endangered, 54 endangered, and 31 vulnerable. The reservoirs in the region are important for their commercial and sport fisheries of rainbow trout , mahseer , and common carp . There are more than 200 freshwater fish species including 35 also known from brackish or marine water. Several new species have been described from
4935-511: The Persian / Arabic word Barr (country/continent). The first element of the name is first attested in the Topography written by Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE), which indicates that Arab sailors call Kerala Male already at that time. The Topography mentions a pepper emporium called Male , which clearly gave its name to Malabar ('the country of Male'). The second part of
5076-698: The Taluk . It was a part of the ancient Kolathunadu . Later it became a part of the Arakkal kingdom and Kingdom of Mysore . The island of Dharmapattanam was claimed by all of the Kolattu Rajas , Kottayam Rajas , and Arakkal Bibi . The English had settled here and started a factory here. It consisted of the following 4 Amsoms : It was also under the Kolathunadu earlier. When the English factory
5217-492: The Taluk . Wynad was a separate Revenue Division within Malabar District until 1924. Wynad was ruled by various kingdoms including Kutumbiyas , Kadambas , Western Chalukyas , Hoysalas , Vijayanagaras , and the Kingdom of Mysore , in various periods. Wynad was home to many tribes. Wynad has relations with the Kingdom of Kottayam and Kurumbranad . Some parts were ruled by the Kottayam dynasty. It consisted of
5358-579: The Tanur forces under the king fought for the Zamorin of Calicut in the Battle of Cochin (1504) . However, the allegiance of the Mappila merchants in Tanur region still stayed under the Zamorin of Calicut . The Portuguese took advantage of the rivalry between the Zamorin and the King of Kochi allied with Kochi. When Francisco de Almeida was appointed as Viceroy of Portuguese India in 1505, his headquarters
5499-490: The Third Mysore War (1790–1792), Malabar was placed under the control of the company. Eventually, the status of the Samoothiri was reduced to that of a pensioner of the company (1806). When Wayanad was under Hyder Ali 's rule, the ghat road from Vythiri to Thamarassery was constructed. Then the British rulers developed this route to Carter road. His son and successor, Tipu Sultan , launched campaigns against
5640-461: The Vellodis of neighbouring Valluvanad and Nedungadis of Nedunganad . The rulers of Valluvanad were known by the title Eralppad / Eradi . It was the ruler of Eranad who later became the Zamorin of Calicut by annexing the port town of Calicut from Polanad , which was vassal to Kolathunadu . The ruler of Kingdom of Cochin also traces back to Ponnani in South Malabar . South Malabar
5781-532: The Western Ghats range and the Arabian Sea . The coast runs from south of Goa to Kanyakumari on India's southern tip. India's southeastern coast is called the Coromandel Coast . In ancient times the term Malabar was used to denote the entire south-western coast of the Indian peninsula. The region formed part of the ancient kingdom of Chera until the early 12th century. Following the breakup of
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5922-431: The Zamorin of Calicut , in the early medieval period. Kannur was an important trading centre in the 12th century, with active business connections with Persia and Arabia . It served as the British military headquarters on India's west coast until 1887. Kannur Cantonment is the only cantonment board in Kerala. Kannur was the capital city of Kolathunadu , one of the four powerful kingdoms who ruled Kerala during
6063-448: The crimson-backed sunbird . There is a higher fish species richness in the southern part of the Western Ghats. There are 13 genera entirely restricted to the Western Ghats ( Betadevario , Dayella , Haludaria , Horabagrus , Horalabiosa , Hypselobarbus , Indoreonectes , Lepidopygopsis , Longischistura , Mesonoemacheilus , Parapsilorhynchus , Rohtee , and Travancoria ). The most species-rich families are
6204-431: The lion-tailed macaque , Nilgiri tahr , leopard , Nilgiri langur , dhole , and gaur . The endemic Nilgiri tahr, which was on the brink of extinction, has recovered and had an estimated 3,122 individuals in 2015. Smaller endemic species include the Malabar large-spotted civet , Nilgiri marten , brown palm civet , stripe-necked mongoose , Indian brown mongoose , small Indian civet , and leopard cat . As per
6345-607: The states of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , and Tamil Nadu . The range forms an almost continuous chain of mountains along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau , from the Tapti River to Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. The Western Ghats meet with the Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south. Geologic evidence indicates that
6486-447: The tropical rainforests of India . New frog species have continued to be discovered in the 21st century. Frogs of the genera Micrixalus , Indirana , and Nyctibatrachus , toads like Pedostibes , Ghatophryne , and Xanthophryne , arboreal frogs like Ghatixalus , Mercurana , and Beddomixalus , and microhylids like Melanobatrachus are endemic to this region. There are at least 19 species of birds endemic to
6627-464: The " Arabian Sea Branch" and the " Bay of Bengal Branch". The "Arabian Sea Branch" of the Southwest monsoon first hits the Western Ghats, making Kerala the first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest monsoon. The Malabar Coast is a source of biodiversity in India. According to William Logan , the word Malabar comes from a combination of the Dravidian word Mala (mountain) and
6768-547: The "hillside slopes". All the major pre-independence political parties of Kerala such as the INC and CPI started their functioning in Kerala at Malabar District as a part of the freedom struggle. KPCC was formed in 1921 at Ottapalam , on the bank of river Bharathappuzha . In July 1937, a clandestine meeting of the CSP , which was the political party formed by socialists of Congress,
6909-481: The 10th century CE, have found from Sukapuram near Edappal , which was one of the 64 old Nambudiri villages of Kerala. Descriptions about the rulers of Eranad and Valluvanad regions can be seen in the Jewish copper plates of Bhaskara Ravi Varman (around 1000 CE) and Viraraghava copper plates of Veera Raghava Chakravarthy (around 1225 CE). Eranad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Eradis , similar to
7050-418: The 15th century Kalaripayattu was important in the history of Malabar, where some warriors lived, most notably puthooram veettil Aromal Chekavar and his sister Unniyarcha , chieftains of martial arts. Kozhikode was the largest city in the Indian state of Kerala under the rule of Zamorin of Calicut , an independent kingdom based at Kozhikode. It remained so until the 18th century CE. The port at Kozhikode
7191-590: The 19th century, British established their army stations at Kannur , Malappuram , and Calicut . Malappuram which was one of the European military stations in Madras presidency since 1852, also became the special police force headquarters of Malabar District, with the establishment of the Malabar Special Police in 1885. British in Malabar also converted Thiyyar army , called as Thiyya pattalam into
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#17327733478297332-503: The 334 Western Ghats butterfly species, 316 species have been reported to occur in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . The Western Ghats are home to 174 species of odonates (107 dragonflies and 67 damselflies ), including 69 endemics. Most of the endemic odonate are closely associated with rivers and streams, while the non-endemics are typically generalists . There are several species of leeches found all along
7473-481: The Arabian Sea is known as the Western Coastal Plains . The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting from the south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats meet with
7614-520: The Arabian Sea, resulting in rainfall along the western coast. By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, forming a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of the Deccan plateau. The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot . It contains a large number of different species of flora and fauna, most of which are endemic to this region. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in
7755-557: The British captured Mahé , and the settlement was handed over to the ruler of Kadathanadu . The British restored Mahé to the French as a part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris. In 1779, the Anglo-French war broke out, resulting in the French loss of Mahé . In 1783, the British agreed to restore to the French their settlements in India, and Mahé was handed over to the French in 1785. In conjunction with her sister city, Thalassery , it
7896-531: The Chera Kingdom, the chieftains of the region proclaimed their independence. Notable among these were the Zamorins of Kozhikode , Kolathunadu , Perumbadappu Swaroopam , Venad , Kingdom of Valluvanad of Kingdom of Valluvanad . The name Malabar Coast is sometimes used as an all-encompassing term for the entire Indian coast from Konkan to the tip of the subcontinent at Kanyakumari. This coast
8037-416: The Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. North Malabar was the seat of powerful kingdom based at Ezhimala in the Sangam period (1st–5th century CE). The ancient port of Naura , which is mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as a port somewhere north of Muziris is identified with Kannur . The kingdom of Ezhimala had jurisdiction over two Nadu s - The coastal Poozhinadu and
8178-569: The Elder mentioned that Limyrike was prone by pirates. The Cosmas Indicopleustes mentioned that the Limyrike was a source of Malabar peppers . In the last centuries BCE the coast became important to the Greeks and Romans for its spices, especially Malabar pepper. The Cheras had trading links with China , West Asia , Egypt , Greece , and the Roman Empire . In foreign-trade circles
8319-470: The Elder mentioned that Limyrike was prone by pirates. The Cosmas Indicopleustes mentioned that the Limyrike was a source of peppers. Three inscriptions those date back to 932 CE, those were found from Triprangode (near Tirunavaya ), Kottakkal , and Chaliyar , mention the name of Goda Ravi of Chera dynasty . The Triprangode inscription states about the agreement of Thavanur . Several inscriptions written in Old Malayalam those date back to
8460-425: The English company settled at Thalassery , Kadathanad was under the ancestors of the Kadathanad Rajas , who was then called Bavnores of Badagara . It consisted of the following 31 Amsoms : It was under the control of the Nairs of Payyormala (Paleri, Avinyat, and Kutali Nairs). They were independent chieftains with some theoretical dependence on both the Kurumbranad and the Zamorin of Calicut . It consisted of
8601-442: The European Age of Discovery . After Vasco Da Gama 's arrival in Kappad Kozhikode in 1498, the Portuguese began to dominate eastern shipping, and the spice-trade in particular. The Zamorin of Kozhikode permitted the new visitors to trade with his subjects such that Portuguese trade in Kozhikode prospered with the establishment of a factory and a fort. However, Portuguese attacks on Arab properties in his jurisdiction provoked
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#17327733478298742-399: The Himalaya mountains. Malabar's western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries , and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters . The Kuttanad region, also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala , has the lowest altitude in India . The country's longest lake Vembanad , dominates
8883-435: The Malabar Coast including the western coastal lowlands and the plains of the midland may have been under the sea in ancient times. Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery , thus supporting the hypothesis. Pre-historical archaeological findings include dolmens of the Neolithic era in the Marayur area of the Idukki district , which lie on the eastern highland made by Western Ghats . Rock engravings in
9024-428: The Phoenicians. According to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , a region known as Limyrike began at Naura and Tyndis . However, the Ptolemy mentions only Tyndis as the Limyrike ' s starting point. The region probably ended at Kanyakumari ; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at 50,000,000 sesterces . Pliny
9165-468: The Western Ghats are the Godavari , Kaveri , and Krishna . Most rivers flow eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal owing to the steeper gradient moving from east to west, and many smaller streams drain the region, often carrying a large volume of water during the monsoon months. The streams and rivers give rise to numerous waterfalls in the region. The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes, with major reservoirs spread across
9306-510: The Western Ghats including the endangered rufous-breasted laughingthrush , the vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon , white-bellied shortwing , and broad-tailed grassbird , the near threatened grey-breasted laughingthrush , black-and-rufous flycatcher , Nilgiri flycatcher , and Nilgiri pipit , and the least concern Malabar (blue-winged) parakeet , Malabar grey hornbill , white-bellied treepie , grey-headed bulbul , rufous babbler , Wayanad laughingthrush , white-bellied blue-flycatcher , and
9447-852: The Western Ghats were severely fragmented due to clear-felling for plantations. The introduction of non-native species threatened the rare endemic species and habitat specialists, which depleted faster than other species. Complex and species-rich habitats like the tropical rainforests are much more adversely affected than other habitats. The primary threats to fauna were not only from habitat loss , but also from overexploitation , illicit grazing , mining , poaching , and introduced species . The Government of India has established many protected areas , including two biosphere reserves , 13 national parks to restrict human access, several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species, and many reserve forests . The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , comprising 5,500 km (2,100 sq mi) of
9588-512: The Western Ghats, but the actual number is likely higher. This includes 28 endemics. Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussel species Pseudomulleria dalyi , which is a Gondwanan relict, and the snail Cremnoconchus , which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls. According to the IUCN, four species of freshwater molluscs are considered endangered and three are vulnerable. An additional 19 species are considered data deficient. There are roughly 6,000 insect species. Of
9729-443: The Western Ghats. Historically, the Western Ghats were covered in dense forests. which formed the natural habitat for wildlife along with the native tribal people . Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements. After the establishment of British colonial rule in the region, large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber. The forests in
9870-403: The Western Ghats. The region was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. The name Western Ghats derives from the word ghat and the cardinal direction in which it is located with respect to the Indian mainland. Ghat , a term used in the Indian subcontinent , depending on the context, could either refer to a range of stepped hills such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats, or
10011-418: The Western Malabar Coast, thus accessing the marine route through Arabian Sea . The first railway line of Kerala from Tirur to Beypore in 1861 was laid for it. With India's independence, Madras presidency became Madras State , which was divided along linguistic lines on 1 November 1956, whereupon Kasaragod region was merged with the Malabar immediately to the north and the state of Travancore-Cochin to
10152-526: The Zamorin and led to conflicts between them. The ruler of the Kingdom of Tanur , who was a vassal to the Zamorin of Calicut , sided with the Portuguese, against his overlord at Kozhikode . As a result, the Kingdom of Tanur ( Vettathunadu ) became one of the earliest Portuguese Colonies in India. The ruler of Tanur also sided with Cochin . Many of the members of the royal family of Cochin in 16th and 17th members were selected from Vettom . However,
10293-514: The Zamorins shifted their headquarters from Nediyiruppu in Eranad to Kozhikode . It became the capital of the Zamorins. It consisted of the following 22 Amsoms : Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent . It generally refers to the western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari . Geographically, it comprises one of
10434-404: The arrival of British, the term Malabar was used in foreign trade circles as a general name for Kerala . Earlier, the term Malabar had also been used to denote Tulu Nadu and Kanyakumari which lie contiguous to Kerala in the southwestern coast of India, in addition to the modern state of Kerala. The people of Malabar were known as Malabars . Still the term Malabar is often used to denote
10575-427: The backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi and is about 200 km (77 sq mi) in area. Around eight percent of India's waterways are found in Kerala. The term Malabar Coast is sometimes used as an all-encompassing term for the entire Indian coast from the western coast of Konkan to the tip of the subcontinent at Cape Comorin . It is over 525 miles or 845 kilometers long. It spans from
10716-526: The city of Kozhikode six times, gives the earliest glimpses of life in the city. He describes Kozhikode as "one of the great ports of the district of Malabar" where "merchants of all parts of the world are found". The king of this place, he says, "shaves his chin just as the Haidari Fakeers of Rome do... The greater part of the Muslim merchants of this place are so wealthy that one of them can purchase
10857-429: The coast on the eastern highland and separate the plains from the Deccan Plateau . These mountains recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and is listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The peak of Anamudi in Kerala is the highest peak in India outside the Himalayas , is at an elevation of 2,695 m (8,842 ft). The chain's forests are considered to be older than
10998-604: The creation of the Malabar District in northern Kerala and by allying with the newly created princely state of Travancore in the southern part of the state until India was declared independent in 1947. The state of Kerala was created in 1956 from the former state of Travancore-Cochin , the Malabar district and the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara District of Madras state . After the Anglo-Mysore wars,
11139-472: The entire southwestern coast of India. From the time of Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE) itself, the Arab sailors used to call Kerala as Male . The first element of the name, however, is attested already in the Topography written by Cosmas Indicopleustes . This mentions a pepper emporium called Male , which clearly gave its name to Malabar ('the country of Male'). The name Male is thought to come from
11280-458: The equator receive lower annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year. The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot . It consists of nearly 30% of all the species of flora and fauna found in India, most of which are endemic to this region. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats consist of four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf terrestrial ecoregions of
11421-545: The erstwhile Madras Presidency as it was one of the two districts of the Presidency that lies on the Western Malabar Coast , thus accessing the marine route through Arabian Sea . The first railway line of Kerala from Tirur to Beypore in 1861 was laid for it. The work Malabar Manual (1887) authored by William Logan in two volumes explains the characteristics of Malabar. The district lay between
11562-475: The expanding British East India Company , resulting in two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars . Tipu ultimately ceded the Malabar district and South Kanara to the company in the 1790s; both were initially annexed to the Bombay Presidency of British India . After the Anglo-Mysore wars, the parts of Malabar Coast , those became British colonies, were organized into a district of British India . Later
11703-474: The first Portuguese Viceroy of India. The Dutch captured the fort from the Portuguese in 1663. They modernized the fort and built the bastions Hollandia, Zeelandia, and Frieslandia that are the major features of the present structure. The original Portuguese fort was pulled down later. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it can be seen in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam . The Dutch sold
11844-647: The first to enter the Malabar Coast to trade Spices . The Arabs on the coasts of Yemen , Oman , and the Persian Gulf , must have made the first long voyage to Malabar and other eastern countries . They must have brought the Cinnamon of Malabar to the Middle East . The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BCE) records that in his time the cinnamon spice industry was monopolized by the Egyptians and
11985-582: The following 7 Amsoms : It consisted of the following 6 Amsoms : It was the regions included in the Gudalur and Pandalur Taluks of present Nilgiris district . Southeast Wynad was a part of Malabar District until 31 March 1877, when it was transferred to the neighbouring Nilgiris district due to the heavy population of Malabar and the small area of Nilgiris. It consisted of the following 3 Amsoms . The Amsoms included in Kurumbranad Taluk
12126-711: The following 7 Amsoms : It was dependent on the Zamorin of Calicut . It consisted of the following 9 Amsoms : It was subjected to the Kurumbranad family, which was connected with the Kingdom of Kottayam . It consisted of the following 9 Amsoms in Kurumbranad and Kozhikode Taluks: It was also subjected to the Kottayam Rajas . It consisted of the following 9 Amsoms in Kurumbranad and Kozhikode Taluks: The Amsoms included in Kozhikode Taluk
12267-525: The following two Amsoms . It was also earlier a part of Kolathunadu . The Kottayam Rajas (also known as Puranattu Rajas in the meaning of foreign Kshatriya caste) received their territory from the Kolattu Rajas . Pazhassi Raja was a Kottayam Raja . It consisted of the following 16 Amsoms . The Amsoms included in Wynad Taluk was classified into three divisions- North Wynad , South Wynad , and Southeast Wynad . There were 16 Amsoms in
12408-659: The forests, forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats. In August 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to assess the biodiversity and environmental issues of the Western Ghats, designated the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions. Subsequent committees formed have recommended various suggestions to protect
12549-604: The fort to the king Ali Raja of Arakkal in 1772. The British conquered it in 1790 and used it as one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast . During the 17th century, Kannur was the capital city of the only Muslim Sultanate in the Malabar region – Arakkal . The Ali Rajas of Arakkal kingdom , near Kannur , who were the vassals of the Kolathiri , ruled over the Lakshadweep islands. In 1761,
12690-640: The gateway to medieval South Indian coast for the Chinese , the Arabs , the Portuguese , the Dutch , and finally the British . In 1498, Vasco Da Gama established a sea route to Kozhikode during the Age of Discovery , which was also the first modern sea route from Europe to South Asia , and raised Portuguese settlements, which marked the beginning of the colonial era of India. European trading interests of
12831-435: The hilly eastern Karkanadu . According to the works of Sangam literature , Poozhinadu consisted much of the coastal belt between Mangalore and Kozhikode . Karkanadu consisted of Wayanad - Gudalur hilly region with parts of Kodagu (Coorg). It is said that Nannan, the most renowned ruler of Ezhimala dynasty, took refuge at Wayanad hills in the 5th century CE when he was lost to Cheras , just before his execution in
12972-555: The indigenous species, 2,253 species are endemic to India and of them, 1,273 species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. 645 tree species were recorded with a high endemic ratio of 56%. There are 850 – 1000 species of bryophytes including 682 species of mosses (28% endemic) and 280 species of liverworts (43% endemic), 277 species of pteridophytes and 949 species of lichens (26.7% endemic). The Western Ghats are home to thousands of species of fauna, including at least 325 globally threatened species . As per
13113-482: The influence of Zamorin later. The Kolathunadu in the late medieval period emerged into independent 10 principalities i.e., Kadathanadu ( Vadakara ), Randathara or Poyanad ( Dharmadom ), Kottayam ( Thalassery ), Nileshwaram , Iruvazhinadu ( Panoor , Kurumbranad etc., under separate royal chieftains due to the outcome of internal dissensions. The Nileshwaram dynasty on the northernmost part of Kolathiri dominion, were relatives to both Kolathunadu as well as
13254-451: The land area of the country. Because of the higher elevation of the Deccan plateau on the west, most rivers flow from eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal , resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing the Arabian Sea . The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. It blocks the rain-bearing monsoon winds flowing eastward from
13395-558: The leadership of Kozhikode admirals known as Kunjali Marakkars , which compelled them to seek a treaty. The Kunjali Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast. An insurrection at the Port of Quilon between the Arabs and the Portuguese led to the end of the Portuguese era in Quilon . In 1571, the Portuguese were defeated by the Zamorin forces in the battle at Chaliyam Fort . The Portuguese were ousted by
13536-544: The majority of the rainfall to the plains up north. Climate in the mountains shows variations with altitude across the range. Due to its physical proximity to the equator and the Arabian Sea, the region experiences a warm and humid tropical climate throughout the year. Mean temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in the south to 24 °C (75 °F) in the north. Subtropical or temperate climates, and occasional near-zero temperatures during winter are experienced in regions with higher elevations. The coldest period in
13677-521: The meaning, 'The land of Kanhira Trees') in Malayalam . The Kumbla dynasty, who swayed over the land of southern Tulu Nadu wedged between Chandragiri River and Netravati River (including present-day Taluks of Manjeshwar and Kasaragod ) from Maipady Palace at Kumbla , had also been vassals to the Kolathunadu , before the Carnatic conquests of Vijayanagara Empire . The Kumbla dynasty had
13818-567: The medieval period, and have served as centers of the Indian Ocean trade for millennia. Because of their orientation to the sea and to maritime commerce, the Malabar coast cities feel very cosmopolitan , and have been home to some of the first groups of Jews (known today as Cochin Jews ), Syrian Christians (known as Saint Thomas Christians ), Muslims (presently known as Mappilas ), and Anglo-Indians in India. A substantial portion of
13959-431: The medieval period. Arakkal Kingdom and Chirakkal kingdom were two vassal kingdoms based in the city of Kannur. The port at Kozhikode held the superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur , Kollam , and Kochi , were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather. St. Angelo Fort was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida ,
14100-497: The medieval period. Being home to the prominent figures like Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan , Poonthanam Nambudiri , Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri , Kunchan Nambiar , and Zainuddin Makhdoom II , South Malabar was the cultural capital of medieval Kerala. The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries. In attempting to solve astronomical problems, the Kerala school independently created
14241-470: The merchants using their fingers and toes (followed to this day), and the matrilineal system of succession. Abdur Razzak (1442–43), Niccolò de' Conti (1445), Afanasy Nikitin (1468–74), Ludovico di Varthema (1503–1508), and Duarte Barbosa witnessed the city as one of the major trading centres in the Indian subcontinent where traders from different parts of the world could be seen. The Kingdom of Cochin used to adopt members from Kingdom of Tanur in
14382-467: The mountain range is Sahyadri , derived from Sanskrit , meaning benevolent or tolerant mountain. The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted , and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau . Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the super-continent of Gondwana . After the break-up, the Deccan plateau was formed by basalt rocks, which caused the western side to rise at an elevation. Geophysical evidence indicates that
14523-492: The mountains came along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from the African continent. Several faults triggered the formation of Western Ghats, then interspersed with valleys and river gorges. Because of the elevation of the Deccan plateau on the west, most rivers flow from west to east, resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing
14664-426: The mountains were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana . The mountains came along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from the African continent. The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting from
14805-458: The name is thought by scholars to be the Arabic word barr ('continent') or its Persian relative bar ('country'). Al-Biruni (AD 973 - 1048) is the first known writer to use the name Malabar . Authors such as Ibn Khordadbeh and Al-Baladhuri mention Malabar ports in their works. The Arab writers had called this place Malibar , Manibar , Mulibar , and Munibar . Malabar is reminiscent of
14946-419: The old administrative records of the Madras Presidency , it is recorded that the most remarkable plantation owned by Government in the erstwhile Madras Presidency was the Teak plantation at Nilambur planted in 1844. The District of Malabar and the ports at Beypore and Fort Kochi had some sort of importance in the erstwhile Madras Presidency as it was one of the two districts of the Presidency that lies on
15087-504: The parts of the Malabar Coast, those became British colonies, were organized into a district of British India . The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , Wayanad , Malappuram , much of Palakkad (Excluding Chittur taluk), some parts of Thrissur ( Chavakkad Taluk), and the Fort Kochi region of Ernakulam district , besides the isolated islands of Lakshadweep . The administrative headquarters
15228-654: The patronage of Ptolemy VIII , king of the Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Roman establishments in the port cities of the region, such as a temple of Augustus and barracks for garrisoned Roman soldiers, are marked in the Tabula Peutingeriana , the only surviving map of the Roman cursus publicus . The term Kerala was first epigraphically recorded as Ketalaputo ( Cheras ) in
15369-566: The peak of its power, reportedly extended from Netravati River ( Mangalore ) in the north to Korapuzha ( Kozhikode ) in the south with Arabian Sea on the west and Kodagu hills on the eastern boundary, also including the isolated islands of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea . An Old Malayalam inscription ( Ramanthali inscriptions ), dated to 1075 CE, mentioning king Kunda Alupa, the ruler of Alupa dynasty of Mangalore , can be found at Ezhimala (the former headquarters of Mushika dynasty ) near Cannanore , Kerala. The Arabic inscription on
15510-508: The peak of their reign, the Zamorins of Kozhikode ruled over a region from Kollam ( Quilon ) in the south to Panthalayini Kollam ( Koyilandy ) in the north. They were the most powerful rulers on Malabar Coast and Kozhikode was the largest city of Kerala until the Portuguese era. The Zamorin of Calicut , who was originally the ruler of Eranad based at Nediyiruppu , developed the port at Kozhikode and changed his headquarters to there for maritime trade. Ibn Battuta (1342–1347), who visited
15651-400: The presence of Palakkad Gap which connected the Malabar coast with Coromandel coast through inland. Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) states that the port of Tyndis was located at the northwestern border of Keprobotos ( Chera dynasty ). The North Malabar region, which lies north of the port at Tyndis , was ruled by the kingdom of Ezhimala during Sangam period . According to
15792-409: The region are the wettest monsoon period in the southern part of the mountain range. Annual rainfall in this region averages 100 cm (39 in) to 900 cm (350 in), with an average rainfall of 250 cm (98 in). The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area; areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to
15933-428: The region since the last decade (e.g., Dario urops and S. sharavathiensis ). Seasonal rainfall patterns in the Western Ghats necessitate a period of dormancy for its land snails , resulting in their high abundance and diversity, including at least 258 species of gastropods from 57 genera and 24 families. A total of 77 species of freshwater molluscs (52 gastropods and 25 bivalves ) have been recorded from
16074-419: The region was known as Male or Malabar . Muziris , Tyndis , Naura (near Kannur ), and Nelcynda were among the principal ports at that time. Contemporary Sangam literature describes Roman ships coming to Muziris in Kerala, laden with gold to exchange for Malabar pepper . One of the earliest western traders to use the monsoon winds to reach Kerala was Eudoxus of Cyzicus , around 118 or 166 BCE, under
16215-594: The region was transferred into the Madras Presidency in 1800. The administrative headquarters were at Calicut ( Kozhikode ). Local affairs were managed by the District Board at Calicut along with Taluk Boards located at Malappuram , Thalassery , Palakkad and Mananthavady . Initially the British had to suffer local resistance against their rule under the leadership of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja , who had popular support in Thalassery - Wayanad region. During
16356-416: The region. The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. During the dry summer months of April – May, heat builds up on the land, which draws air from the sea. The air, which picks up moisture along the way and flows eastward from the Arabian Sea, is blocked by the Western Ghats. The rising air cools and brings about orographic precipitation along
16497-680: The sea. The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range south of the Tapti River in the north and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, where it ends at the Marunthuvazh Malai at Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district . It covers an area of 160,000 km (62,000 sq mi), traversing across the Indian states of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , and Tamil Nadu . The Western Ghats form an almost continuous chain of mountains running parallel to
16638-446: The seize of Tirunavaya region from Valluvanad , which were under the control of the king of Perumbadappu Swaroopam (Cochin). The ruler of Perumpadappu was forced to shift his capital (c. CE 1405) further south from Kodungallur to Kochi . In the 15th century, the status of Cochin was reduced to a vassal state of Kozhikode, thus leading to the emergence of Kozhikode as the most powerful kingdom in medieval Malabar Coast . During
16779-479: The south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats have several peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak. The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft). The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial river systems that drain almost 40% of
16920-514: The south to form the state of Kerala. Before that, Kasaragod was a part of South Canara district of Madras Presidency . Lakshadweep Islands were separated to form a new union territory. Western Ghats The Western Ghats , also known as the Sahyadri , is a mountain range that stretches 1,600 km (990 mi) along the western coast of the Indian peninsula . Covering an area of 160,000 km (62,000 sq mi), it traverses
17061-448: The south-western coast of Maharashtra and goes along the coastal region of Goa , through the entire western coast of Karnataka and Kerala and reaches till Kanyakumari . It is flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. The Southern part of this narrow coast is the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests . Climate-wise, the Malabar Coast, especially on its westward-facing mountain slopes, comprises
17202-642: The superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur , Kollam , and Kochi , were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather. The Portuguese arrived at Kappad Kozhikode in 1498 during the Age of Discovery , thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to South Asia. Kallingal Madathil Rarichan Moopan and Pullambil Moopan and Vamala Moopan families were very prominent among those who said that two centuries ago, some Jenmis in Kozhikode were engaged in sea trade and shipping. At
17343-399: The western coast of India along the Arabian Sea . The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft). There are three gaps in the mountain range: the northernmost Goa Gap , formed 65–80 million years ago (Mya), the oldest and widest Palghat Gap , formed 500 Mya, and the southernmost, narrowest Shencottah Gap . The narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and
17484-514: The western coast. This signifies the onset of the monsoon season in June. By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, resulting in a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of the Deccan plateau. The monsoon winds rounding up the peninsula and moving from the east from the Bay of Bengal pass over the Eastern Ghats and bring
17625-594: The wettest region of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden Southwest monsoon rains. The Malabar rainforests include these ecoregions recognized by biogeographers : The Monsooned Malabar coffee bean comes from this area. The Malabar Coast featured (and in some instances still does) several historic port cities. Notable among these were/are Naura , Vizhinjam , Muziris , Nelcynda , Beypore and Thundi (near Ponnani or Kadalundi ) during ancient times, and Kozhikode (Calicut), Kollam , Ponnani , Kannur (Cannanore), and Cochin in
17766-464: The wettest regions of the subcontinent, which includes the Kanara region of Karnataka , all of Kerala and Kanyakumari region of Tamil Nadu . Kuttanad , which is the point of the lowest altitude in India , lies on the Malabar Coast. Kuttanad, also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala , is among the few places in the world where cultivation takes place below sea level. The peak of Anamudi , which
17907-576: The whole freightage of such vessels put here and fit-out others like them". Ma Huan (1403 AD), the Chinese sailor part of the Imperial Chinese fleet under Cheng Ho ( Zheng He ) states the city as a great emporium of trade frequented by merchants from around the world. He makes note of the 20 or 30 mosques built to cater to the religious needs of the Muslims, the unique system of calculation by
18048-577: The word Malabar comes from a combination of the Dravidian word Mala (hill) and the Persian / Arabic word Barr (country/continent). The ancient maritime port of Tyndis , which was then a centre of trade with Ancient Rome , is roughly identified with Ponnani , Tanur , and Kadalundi - Vallikkunnu . Tyndis was a major center of trade, next only to Muziris, between the Cheras and the Roman Empire . The River Bharathappuzha (River Ponnani) had importance since Sangam period (1st–4th century CE), due to
18189-450: The word Malanad which means the land of mountains . Until the arrival of the British , the term Malabar was used in foreign trade circles as a general name for Kerala . Earlier, the term Malabar had also been used to denote Tulu Nadu and Kanyakumari , which lie contiguous to Kerala in the southwestern coast of India, in addition to the modern state of Kerala. The people of Malabar were known as Malabars . The term Malabar
18330-639: Was also called Poyanadu due to the belief that it was the place from where the Cheraman Perumal took his final departure on the journey to Mecca . It was originally a part of Kolathunadu , but was treated as a different Nadu . It consisted of the following 7 Amsoms : The Amsoms included in Kottayam Taluk was classified into four divisions- The English Settlement at Tellicherry and Dharmapattanam Islands , Iruvazhinadu , Kurangott Nayar Nadu , and Kottayam . There were 28 Amsoms in
18471-492: Was also the seat of the kingdoms of Parappanad , Vettathunadu , Valluvanadu , Nedungadis , and Palakkad . Parappanad royal family is a cousin dynasty of the Travancore royal family . The Azhvanchery Thamprakkal were the feudal lords of Athavanad . Tirunavaya , the seat of Mamankam festival , lies on the bank of the river Bharathappuzha . In the 14th century, Kozhikode conquered larger parts of central Kerala after
18612-631: Was at Kozhikode . Malabar District , a part of the ancient Malabar (or Malabar Coast) was a part of the British East India Company -controlled state. It included the northern half of the state of Kerala and the islands of Lakshadweep . Kozhikode is considered as the capital of Malabar. The area was divided into two categories as North and South. North Malabar comprises present Kasaragod and Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad District and Vatakara and Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode District. The left-over area
18753-652: Was classified into five divisions- Kadathanad , Payyormala , Payanad , Kurumbranad , and Thamarassery (Some Amsoms of Kurumbranad and Thamarassery were included in the Kozhikode Taluk). There were 57 Amsoms in the Taluk. It was also part of the Kolathunadu earlier. It formed a major portion of the Thekkalankur (Southern Regent), or the second headquarters of the Kolattiri Rajas . When
18894-478: Was classified into three divisions- Polanad , Beypore (Northern Parappanad) , and Puzhavayi . There were 41 Amsoms in the Taluk. (As stated earlier, a part of Kurumbranad and Thamarasseri historical divisions of Kurumbranad Taluk was also included in the Kozhikode Taluk.) Polanad was ruled by the Porlathiri Rajas before the conquest of Kozhikode by the Zamorin of Calicut . After the conquest,
19035-428: Was classified into two divisions of Kolathunadu and Randathara (also called Poyanadu ). There were 44 Amsoms in the Taluk . Kolathunadu was the land where Kolattiri Rajas (Chirakkal family) were historically considered as the main authority. It was ruled by Kolattiri Raja , Mannanars , Arakkal Kingdom , and Kingdom of Mysore in various periods. It consisted of the following 36 Amsoms : Randathara
19176-476: Was established at Fort Kochi ( Fort Emmanuel ) rather than in Kozhikode. During his reign, the Portuguese managed to dominate relations with Kochi and established a few fortresses on the Malabar Coast. Fort St Angelo or St. Angelo Fort was built at Kannur in 1505 and Fort St Thomas was built at Kollam (Quilon) in 1518 by the Portuguese. However, the Portuguese suffered setbacks from attacks by Zamorin forces in Malabar region; especially from naval attacks under
19317-424: Was established at Thalassery , Iruvazhinadu was held by six families of Nambiars – Kunnummal, Chandroth, Kizhakkedath, Kampurath, Narangozhi, and Kariyad Nambiars. Kurangott Nayar' s possession also probably formed part of the original territory of Iruvazhinadu . It consisted of the following 6 Amsoms : It laid between the English settlement at Thalassery and the French settlement at Mahe . It consisted of
19458-520: Was held at Calicut . The CPI in Kerala was formed on 31 December 1939 with the Pinarayi Conference, held near Thalassery . It was the erstwhile leaders of Congress Socialist Party, such as P. Krishna Pillai , K. Damodaran , E. M. S. Namboodiripad , who formed the CPI branch in Kerala. The Indian Union Muslim League was also formed in the 1930s, on a meeting held at Thalassery . Until
19599-408: Was the administrative headquarters of this district. The district included the present-day districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , Wayanad , Malappuram , Palakkad (excluding Chittur taluk ), Chavakad Taluk and parts of Kodungallur Taluk of Thrissur district (former part of Ponnani Taluk ), and Fort Kochi area of Ernakulam district in the northern and central parts of present Kerala state,
19740-456: Was the gateway to South Indian coast for the Arabs , the Portuguese , the Dutch , and finally the British . The Kunjali Marakkars , who were the naval chief of the Zamorin of Kozhikode , are credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast. Under British Raj , Kozhikode became the headquarters of Malabar District, one of the two districts in the western coast of erstwhile Madras Presidency . The port at Kozhikode held
19881-639: Was the third-largest city on the western coast of British India in the 18th century after Bombay and Karachi . Vatakara and Koyilandy were two major coastal towns in North Malabar region besides Kannur and Thalassery. The maritime spice trade monopoly in the Indian Ocean stayed with the Arabs during the High and Late Middle Ages . However, the dominance of Middle East traders was challenged in
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