Koyilandy | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Koyilandy | |
 Kadaloor Point lighthouse, Koyilandy | |
  Koyilandy Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Koyilandy Koyilandy (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:11°26′20″N75°41′42″E / 11.439°N 75.695°E /11.439; 75.695 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| Region | North Malabar |
| District | Kozhikode |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Body | Koyilandy Municipality |
| Area | |
• Total | 29 km2 (11 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 20 |
| Elevation | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 71,873 |
| • Rank | 20 th |
| Demonym | Koyilandikaran |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 673305 |
| Telephone code | 0496 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-KL |
| Vehicle registration | KL 56 |
| Website | www |
Koyilandy (IPA:[kojilɐːɳɖi];[1][2][3])is a major townmunicipality and ataluk inKozhikode district,Kerala on theMalabar Coast. The historical town is located right in the middle of the coast ofKozhikode district, betweenKozhikode andKannur, onNational Highway 66.
The independence activistK. Kelappan, popularly known asKerala Gandhi, was born in a nearby village,Muchukunnu.[4]
Pandalayani is described by different authors, all the way from Europe to Arabia to China, in different names. According to the Malabar Manual written by William Logan in 1887, Panthalayani was called by the names:
Pliny the Elder describes the place asPatale.[1]
TheOdoric of Pordenone called Pandalayani asFlandarina.[1]
The medieval Moroccan travellerIbn Battuta called itFandaraina.[1]
The Portuguese writers called Pandalayani asPandarani.[1]
The medieval historic chronicleTuhfat Ul Mujahideen written by theZainuddin Makhdoom II ofPonnani calls the port town asFundreeah.[1]
"No one has tried to clear that misconception [that Vasco da Gama landed at Kappad]. The government has even installed a memorial stone at theKappad beach. Actually [Vasco da] Gama landed at Koyilandy in the [Kozhikode] district because there was a port there and Kozhikode did not have one. It does not have a port even now."[5]
Koyilandy, formerly known as Panthalayani Kollam, is one of the oldest ports inSouth India and is often identified with the port ofTyndis by some of the historians, which was a satellite feeding port toMuziris, according to thePeriplus of theErythraean Sea.[2] Tyndis was a major center of trade, next only to Muziris, between the Cheras and theRoman Empire.[6]Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) states that the port ofTyndis was located at the northwestern border ofKeprobotos (Chera dynasty).[7] TheNorth Malabar region, which lies north of the port atTyndis, was ruled by the kingdom ofEzhimala duringSangam period.[2] According to thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea, a region known asLimyrike began atNaura andTyndis. However thePtolemy mentions onlyTyndis as theLimyrike's starting point. The region probably ended atKanyakumari; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-dayMalabar Coast. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000sesterces.[8]Pliny the Elder mentioned thatLimyrike was prone by pirates.[9] TheCosmas Indicopleustes mentioned that theLimyrike was a source of peppers.[10][11] The medievalMoroccan travellerIbn Battuta describes Pandalayani Kollam as "A beautiful and large place, abounding with gardens and markets".[1]
According toKerala Muslim tradition, Koyilandy was home to one of theoldest mosques in theIndian subcontinent. According to theLegend of Cheraman Perumals, the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) ofChera dynasty, who left fromDharmadom toMecca and converted toIslam during the lifetime ofMuhammad (c. 570–632).[12][13][14][15] According to the legend, theMasjid at Pandalayani (Koyilandy) was built byMalik Dinar, and he appointed one of his ten sons as theQuazi in theMasjid.[1] According toQissat Shakarwati Farmad, theMasjids at Kodungallur,Kollam,Madayi,Barkur,Mangalore,Kasaragod,Kannur,Dharmadam, Panthalayani (Koyilandy), andChaliyam, were built during the era ofMalik Dinar, and they are among the oldestMasjids in theIndian subcontinent.[16] It is believed thatMalik Dinar died atThalangara inKasaragod town.[17] The Koyilandy Jumu'ah Mosque contains anOld Malayalam inscription written in a mixture ofVatteluttu andGrantha scripts which dates back to the 10th century CE.[18] It is a rare surviving document recording patronage by aHindu king (Bhaskara Ravi) to theMuslims of Kerala.[18] SeveralOld Malayalam inscriptions, those date back to the 11th century CE, have found from Pandalayani Kollam.[19]
Initially, Koyilandy was an important port town ofKolathunadu (Kingdom ofKannur) in the early medieval period. Later theZamorin ofCalicut annexed the port town to establish supremacy over theNorth Malabar region.[2] The Kollam Raja of Payanad had made his capital at Pandalayani Kollam and theZamorin, his conquerrer, had a palace here.[1] The few remnants of theChinese trade can be seen in and around the present city of Koyilandy. This include a Silk Street, Chinese Fort ("Chinakotta"), Chinese Settlement ("Chinachery" inKappad), and Chinese Mosque ("Chinapalli" in Koyilandy).[20][21][22] The Portuguese navigatorVasco da Gama visited Koyilandy in 1498, opening the sailing route directly fromEurope toSouth Asia, during theAge of Discovery.[23] It eventually led to the European colonisation ofIndian subcontinent.[2] In March 1505, a large Muslim fleet at Koyilandy was destroyed by Portuguese. It had assembled there to take back a large number of Muslims toArabia andEgypt, who were leaving the kingdom ofCalicut disappointed at the trade losses caused to them recently.Duarte de Menezes captured 17 vessels and killed 2,000 men.[24][25]
In February–March 1525, A Portuguese navy led by new ViceroyHenry Menezes raidedPonnani and Koyilandy, and burned both of the towns.[25] Koyilandy was defended by a combined army of 20,000Nairs andMuslims.[25] On reachingCalicut, he earlier found that the place had been attacked by the Calicut forces.[25] TheNairs of the chief ofKurumbranad andCalicut forces invested Fort Calicut (Siege of Calicut).[25][26] They were helped by a band ofMuslims under the command of a European engineer.[26] The Kutti Ali's (Kunjali Marakkar) ships blockaded the port. Captain Lima, with 300 men, defended the fort.[26] In 1550, the Portuguese made descents on the coastal towns ofCalicut, particularly on Koyilandy, destroying mosques and houses, and killing one-third of the inhabitants.[25] According to historian M. G. Raghava Varier, at the peak of their reign, theZamorin ofCalicut ruled over a region fromKollam in south to Koyilandy in north.[27][28][29]
Koyilandy is located at11°26′N75°42′E / 11.43°N 75.70°E /11.43; 75.70[30] at an average elevation of 2 m (6.6 ft).
As of 2011 Indiacensus,[31] Koyilandy had a population of 71,873. Males constitute 46.78% of the population and females 53.22%. Literacy rate of Koyilandy is 95.11% (higher than Kerala average of 94.00%). Male literacy is around 97.38% while female literacy rate is 93.15%. In Koyilandy, around 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.[3] Economy of Koyilandy revolves around fishing, local businesses and remittance from the Persian Gulf. Around 70% of population follows Hinduism, and around 30% follows Islam in Koyilandy.[3]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 69.39% | |||
| Islam | 30.00% | |||
| Christianity | 0.43% | |||
Koyilandy is the largest Taluk inKozhikode district.[32][33] It administers a population of 645,979 within an area of 642 square kilometre, as of the Census 2011.[32][33] The position of the Koyilandy Taluk inKozhikode district is given below:
Koyilandy is the taluk headquarters of 34Revenue Villages. They areArikkulam,Atholy,Avitanallur,Balussery,Chakkittapara,Changaroth,Chemancheri,Chempanode,Chengottukavu,Cheruvannur,Eravattur,Iringal,Kayanna,Keezhariyur,Koorachundu,Koothali,Kottur,Kozhukkallur,Menhaniam,Meppayur,Moodadi,Naduvannur,Nochad,Palery,Panangad, Panthalayani,Payyoli,Perambra, Sivapuram,Thikkodi,Thurayur,Ulliyeri,Unnikulam,Uralloor,Viyyur andMuchukunnu.[33]
Koyilandy has a wide variety of indigenous dishes. The centuries of maritime trade has given the Koyilandy a cosmopolitan cuisine. The cuisine is a blend of traditionalKerala,Persian,Yemenese andArab food culture.[34] One of the main elements of this cuisine isPathiri, a pancake made of rice flour. Variants ofPathiri includeNeypathiri (made with ghee),Poricha Pathiri (fried rather than baked),Meen Pathiri (stuffed with fish), andIrachi Pathiri (stuffed with beef). Spices likeBlack pepper,Cardamom, andClove are widely used in the cuisine of Koyilandy. The main item used in the festivals is the Malabar style ofBiryani.Sadhya is also seen in marriage and festival occasions. Snacks such asArikadukka,Chattipathiri,Muttamala,Pazham Nirachathu, andUnnakkaya have their own style in Koyilandy. Besides these, other common food items ofKerala are also seen in the cuisine of Koyilandy.[35] TheMalabar version ofBiryani, popularly known asKuzhi Mandi inMalayalam is another popular item, which has an influence fromYemen.[34]
The town is administered by Koyilandy Municipality, headed by a chairperson. For administrative purposes, the town is divided into 44wards,[36] from which the members of the municipal council are elected for a term of five years.
The wards are:[37]
| Ward no. | Name | Ward no. | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathirikkad | 2 | Maraloor |
| 3 | Kodakkattu Muri | 4 | Perunkuni |
| 5 | Puliyanchery | 6 | Attavayal |
| 7 | Puliyanchery East | 8 | Kalathil Kadavu |
| 9 | Viyyur | 10 | Pavuvayal |
| 11 | Panthalayani North | 12 | Puthalath Kunnu |
| 13 | Peruvattur | 14 | Panthalayani Central |
| 15 | Panthalayani South | 16 | Peruvattur Central |
| 17 | Kakrattu Kunnu | 18 | Aruvayal |
| 19 | Anela | 20 | Muthambi |
| 21 | Thetti Kunnu | 22 | Kavum Vattam |
| 23 | Moozhikk Meethal | 24 | Marathoor |
| 25 | Anela-Kuruvangad | 26 | Kanayankode |
| 27 | Varakunnu | 28 | Kuruvangad |
| 29 | Manamal | 30 | Komathukara |
| 31 | Kothamangalam | 32 | Nadelakandi |
| 33 | Korayangad | 34 | Chalil Parambu |
| 35 | Cheriyamangad | 36 | Virunnu Kandi |
| 37 | Koyilandy South | 38 | Thazhangadi |
| 39 | Koyilandy Town | 40 | Kasmikandi |
| 41 | Civil Station | 42 | Ooraam Kunnu |
| 43 | Kollam West | 44 | Kaniyamkunnu |
| States/UTs | |
|---|---|
| Districts |
|
| Taluks | |
| Municipal Corporations |
|
| Municipalities |
|
| Other towns |
|
| Historical regions | |
