| Kottakkal | |
| Other Name: | Land of the Fort |
| Settlement Type: | Municipal town |
| Nickname: | Ayurveda City [1] |
| Pushpin Map: | India Kerala#India#Asia#Earth |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Kottakkal (Kerala) |
| Coordinates: | 10.999°N 75.9918°Whttps://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kottakkal&params=10.9990_N_75.9918_E_type:city(44382)_region:IN-KL |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kerala |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Malappuram |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Leader Title: | Chairperson |
| Leader Name: | Dr.Haneesha |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 20.45 |
| Elevation M: | 84.34 |
| Population Total: | 44,382 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Malayalam, English |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 676503 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | +91483xxxxxxx |
| Registration Plate: | KL-10, KL-55, KL-65 |
Kottakkal (literally-Land of the Fort) is a major municipal town in Malappuram district in Kerala, southern India having 32 wards. it is a part of Malappuram metropolitan area and a growing city in Kerala.[3] [4] The town is best known for the Arya Vaidya Sala, one of the top Ayurvedic health centres of the world.[5] Kottakkal is also a major growing commercial, educational, and healthcare hub in South Malabar.[2] The town lies on Mumbai–Kanyakumari National Highway 66.
Kottakkal is located 12km (07miles) southwest of Malappuram, the district headquarters, and 14.5km (09miles) from Tirur railway station. The National Highway 66 separates the municipality from Edarikode grama panchayat on some parts to the west.[6] However, the fast-developing Kottakkal urban area is now spread up to different parts of neighboring panchayats such as Edarikkode.
Kottakkal town became famous after the establishment of Arya Vaidya Sala in 1902. Adding to the cultural heritage, Kottakkal Pooram, The popular temple festival is celebrated over seven days during March–April.[7]
An Old Malayalam inscription which dates back to 932 CE found from Indianoor in Kottakkal mention the name of Goda Ravi of Chera dynasty.[8]
Kottakkal, formerly known as Sweta Durgam (the White Fort) in Sanskrit, Venkalikotta and Venkita Kotta in Malayalam, was a military base of the Kingdom of Valluvanadu earlier.[9]
Two swords, medieval European in style and finish, were discovered in a well from Kottakkal, in the year 2013.[9] The Zamorin of Calicut invaded the Kingdom of Valluvanad in 14th century CE and seized the fort at Kottakkal.[9] The Zamorin captuted the captaincy of Mamankam festival in the same period. Karuvayoor Moosad, who was the minister of Valluvakonathiri, based at Kottakkal and also the chief marshal and preacher of the Moopil Nairs, changed his seat to Puzhakkattiri when Kottakkal came under Zamorin.[9] It may be the forts and castles constructed by the Karuvayoor Moosad that were the origin of the name "Kottakkal".[10]
The Kizhakke Kovilakam, where the eastern branch of the royal family of Zamorin resided, is located at Kottakkal.Gradually, Kottakkal was annexed to the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut.[11] The Kizhakke Kovilakam, which was the eastern palace of the royal family of the Zamorin of Calicut, is present at Kottakkal.[12]
Arya Vaidya Sala was established in 1902.[5] The suburbs of Kottakkal were known as Changuvettikkadu and Eyyakkadu (now Changuvetti is developing as a twin town to Kottakkal).
The United Democratic Front won the first elections (held in October 2010) to the Kottakkal municipality.[13] K. K. Nazar and Paroli Moosakutty Haji of Indian Union Muslim League were elected as the Chairperson and Vice-Chairman respectively of the municipality.[14] Other major Political representatives in the Municipality include TP Subair and Nani of Left Democratic Front.
| S.No. | Party Name | Party symbol | Number of Councillors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20 | ||
| 02 | Independents | 07 | |
| 03 | 03 | ||
| 04 | 02 | ||
| Area | 20.43km2 | |
| Wards | 32 | |
| Taluk | Tirur | |
| Assembly Constituency | Kottakkal | |
| Loksabha Constituency | Ponnani | |
| Vehicle Registration No. | KL-55, KL-10 & KL-65 | |
| Neighbouring Panchayaths | Edarikode, Parappur, Othukkungal, Ponmala and Marakkara | |
| Post Offices | Kottakkal, Puthoor, Indianoor, Pathayakkallu, Kuttippuram, Pandamangalam, Cherushola, Puthupparamba | |
| Pincodes | 676501, 676503, 676510 |
Kottakkal Municipality is composed of the following 32 wards:[16]
| Ward no. | Name | Ward no. | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Changuvetty Junction | 2 | Choonda | |
| 3 | Kottakkal Town | 4 | Kottakkal Thazhe Angadi | |
| 5 | Palappura | 6 | Mythrinagar | |
| 7 | Nayadippara | 8 | Cheenambuthur | |
| 9 | Kavathikalam West | 10 | Kavathikalam East | |
| 11 | Valiyaparamba | 12 | West Villur | |
| 13 | Pappayi | 14 | East Villur | |
| 15 | Kooriyad | 16 | Panikkarkundu | |
| 17 | Indianoor West | 18 | Indianoor East | |
| 19 | Muliyankootta | 20 | Maravettum | |
| 21 | Kottoor | 22 | Madrasapadi | |
| 23 | Amapara | 24 | Kuttippuram | |
| 25 | Aalinchuvadu | 26 | Poozhikkunnu | |
| 27 | Palathara | 28 | Kottakkulam | |
| 29 | Pulikkode | 30 | Thokkambara | |
| 31 | Changuvettykundu | 32 | Khurbani |