Formed in 1969, 3,550 sq km and one perennial river: how Malappuram district is placed

Background

Malappuram district is in the news this week with the Jal Jeevan Mission water tank under construction at Melattur. The district was formed on 16 June 1969. It covers 3,550 square kilometres, about 9.13 per cent of Kerala's area, which ranks it third in the State. The Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu lie to its east and the Arabian Sea to its west. The Chaliyar, 169 km long, is the only perennial river in the district. The Kadalundippuzha runs about 130 km along its winding course and the Tirurpuzha 48 km. The Bharathapuzha, Kerala's second longest river, forms the district's southern border. The district is remembered for the Khilafath movement and the Mappila revolts against British authority, and in ancient times it was the military headquarters of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.