Nilambur | |
|---|---|
Municipality Taluk | |
 A resort at Nilambur | |
| Nickname: | |
  Nilambur Location in India Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:11°16′37″N76°13′33″E / 11.27694°N 76.22583°E /11.27694; 76.22583 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Malappuram |
| Area | |
• Total | 30.79 km2 (11.89 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
• Total | 46,366 |
| Postal codes | 679329, 679330 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-71 |
| Website | www |
Nilambur (Malayalam:[n̪ilɐmbuːr]) is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in theMalappuram district of the Indian state ofKerala. It is located close to theNilgiris range of theWestern Ghats on the banks of theChaliyar River.[4] This place is also known as 'Teak Town' because of the abundance of Nilambur teaks, which is a variety of a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. Unlike many Municipalities of India; Nilambur is covered with large amounts of vegetation, making it very scenic.
In the British records, Nilambur and its surroundings are collectively described asNilambur Valley.[5] The bank of riverChaliyar at Nilambur region is also known for naturalGold fields.[6] Explorations done at the valley of the riverChaliyar 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.[7] The hilly forested area of NilamburTaluk forms a portion of theNilgiri Biosphere Reserve of rich biodiversity. Nilambur is located about 90 km (56 mi) west ofOoty and 48 km (30 mi) southwest ofGudalur town, and 27 km (17 mi) northeast ofManjeri, onOoty-Gudalur-Nilambur-Calicut road.
The 2,554 m (8,379 ft) m highMukurthi peak, which is situated in the border ofNilambur Taluk andOoty Taluk, and is also the fifth-highest peak inSouth India as well as the third-highest in Kerala afterAnamudi (2,696 m [8,845 ft]) andMeesapulimala (2,651 m [8,698 ft]), is the highest point of elevation in Malappuram district. It is also the highest peak in Kerala outside theIdukki district. The 2,383 m (7,818 ft) highAnginda peak, which is located closer toMalappuram-Palakkad-Nilgiris district border is the second-highest peak.Vavul Mala, a 2,339 m [7,674 ft] high peak situated on the trijunction of Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram,Wayanad, andThamarassery Taluk ofKozhikode districts, is the third-highest point of elevation in the district. The Nilambur Taluk has several small and medium-sized tributaries ofChaliyar river.
UNESCO has included Nilambur in its Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level.[8]
It is believed that Nilambur was derived from Nilambapuri, the old name of Nilambur Kingdom.
The teaks for the construction ofUru, a kind of ships those were used for maritime trade throughBeypore port, were usually taken from Nilambur Teak Forests.[9] The oldest teak plantation of the world in the Conolly's plot is just two km (1.2 mi) from the town. It was named in memory ofHenry Valentine Conolly, the then Malabar district collector.[10]Teak Museum at Nilambur is maintained by theKerala Forest Research Institute which was established for the memory of the oldest known Teak plantation in the world. The town is also famous forNilambur Kovilakam, where theNilambur Rajas resided and ruled the land.[11]Nilambur Rajas were vassals to theZamorins of Calicut, based at Nilambur.
TheNilambur–Shoranur line is among the shortest as well as picturesquebroad gauge railway lines in India.[12] It was laid by the British in colonial era for the transportation ofNilambur Teak logs into United Kingdom throughKozhikode. During British rule, Nilambur's chief importance laid in producing teaks. In the old administrative records of theMadras Presidency, it is recorded that the most remarkable plantation owned by Government in the erstwhileMadras Presidency was the Teak plantation at Nilambur planted in 1844.[13]
Nilambur Teak is the first forest produce to get its ownGI tag.[14]
On 2nd September 2022, Nilambur joined theUNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC).[15]
| S.No.[16] | Party Name | Party symbol | Number of Councillors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Independents |  | 14 |
| 02 | LDF | _Logo.svg){kind=logo} | 09 |
| 03 | UDF |  | 09 |
| 04 | BJP |  | 01 |
Nilambur is well connected to other parts of the Kerala and other parts of the country by road and rail networks. Kozhikode-Nilambur-Gudalur (SH 28) road which is a major interstate highway runs through the heart of Nilambur. Other State highways such asSH 39 (Perumbilavu - Nilambur Road) andSH 73 (Valanchery - Nilambur Road) also serves this town. Construction forHill Highway is ongoing here. There are also wide and good quality direct road towardsKakkadampoyil of Kozhikode district from here. There is a large fleet of government and private buses and other transports serving this town. There is aKSRTC sub depot which serves the area operating both interstate and intrastate Public bus transport. This town is also served by a railway station calledNilambur road which is the terminus ofNilambur–Shoranur railway line. This railway station connects this town to other parts of India as it has regular trains which leads toshoranur junction which is the largest railway station of Kerala state.
TheNilambur–Nanjangud line is a proposed railway line, which connects Nilambur with the districts ofWayanad,Nilgiris, andMysore.[17][18]
The nearest International Airport isCalicut International Airport at Karipur which is 44.50 km from Nilambur.
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Nilambur Taluk, also known asEastern Eranad Taluk, comes underPerinthalmanna revenue division inMalappuram district ofKerala, India.[19] Itsheadquarters is the town of Nilambur.[19] Nilambur Taluk contains Nilambur Municipality and a fewGram panchayats.[19] Most of the administrative offices are located in the Mini-Civil Station at Nilambur. The position of Nilambur Taluk inMalappuram district is shown below:
Nilambur Taluk is the largest Taluk in Kerala. It is composed of 21 villages.[19] Since most of Nilambur is the jungle and hilly area, this Taluk has the least population density in the district.[3] Several tributaries ofChaliyar River flow through Nilambur Taluk. Nilambur,Wandoor,Edakkara,Mambad,Kalikavu, andKaruvarakundu, are some major towns in Nilambur Taluk.[3] Nilambur Taluk is bounded bySilent Valley National Park to south,Nilgiri mountain ranges andPandalur,Gudalur,Ooty, andKundah Taluks ofNilgiris district to east,Wayanad district andThamarassery Taluk ofKozhikode district to north, andEranad andPerinthalmanna Taluks to west.[3] The villages included in the Taluk are:
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The oldest Teak plantation of the world is at Conolly's plot.
TheNilambur–Shoranur line is among the shortest as well as picturesquebroad gauge railway lines in India.[12] The railway line is surrounded by teak trees. It was laid by the British in colonial era for the transportation ofNilambur Teak logs into United Kingdom throughKozhikode.
Silent Valley National Park is located nearKaruvarakundu in Nilambur Taluk. It is located in the rich biodiversity ofNilgiri Biosphere Reserve.Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary,New Amarambalam Reserved Forest, andNedumkayam Rainforest in Nilambur Taluk ofMalappuram district,Attappadi Reserved Forest inMannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, andMukurthi National Park ofNilgiris district, are located around Silent Valley National Park.Mukurthi peak, the fifth-highest peak in South India, andAnginda peak are also located in its vicinity.Bhavani River, a tributary ofKaveri River, andKunthipuzha River, a tributary ofBharathappuzha river, originate in the vicinity of Silent Valley. TheKadalundi River has also its origin in Silent Valley. The waterfalls like Keralamkundu are also located inKaruvarakundu.
AGhat road connects Nilambur withGudalur andOoty of the neighbouringNilgiris district. It is located atVazhikkadavu in the eastern end of Nilambur Taluk and Malappuram district.
Several waterfalls and hillstations are located in theGram panchayats around Vavul Mala (Urangattiri,Edavanna etc.).
