Nilambur malappuram - Location : 40 km from Malappuram town, Malappuram
district, north Kerala.
Nilambur is renowned for the oldest teak plantation in the world,
the Conolly's Plot, just 2 km from town. The place is also noted for
its tribal settlements, the world's first Teak Museum, vast rain forests,
waterfalls and ancient kovilakoms - residences of maharajas.
The teak plantation is named after H.V. Conolly, the Malabar District
Collector during the British rule, who was instrumental in planting
teak in the entire Nilambur area. Chathu Menon, a forest officer under
Conolly, organised the hectic task of planting the saplings. Chathu
Menon was laid to rest in the teak garden in Conolly's Plot.
The oldest teak tree, Kannimari, is a rare attraction at the Conolly
Plot. The plot extends across 2.31 hectares beside the Chaliyar river
at Aruvakode, where a country boat ferries visitors across.
Four kilometres away from the town, on the Nilambur - Gudallur road,
stands the world's first Teak Museum. The museum is a sub-centre of
the Kerala Forest Research Institute. Arranged in the two storeyed
building are exhibits, articles and details of historic, aesthetic
and scientific value, which give information on all aspects of the
teak to visitors.
Nedumkayam, just 18 km from Nilambur town, is noted for its rich
rain forests. From the wooden rest house built here by the British,
elephants and deer can be seen. One has to get permission from the
Forest Department to enter the forest zone. Heavy restrictions are
imposed in a measure to save the existing forest land. A half hour
journey from here, through the dense forests, by jeep takes one to
Mancheri, the home of the Cholai Naikars, a primitive tribe.
Yet another tribal settlement of this region is on the hilltops of
Valamthode which can be reached only from Kozhikode through the Areekode
- Mukkam road. Valamthode is about 27 km from Nilambur, beyond the
Chaliyar river.
Nilambur town is also famous for a cluster of kovilakoms the residences
of the local rajas or rulers of earlier days. These structures, are
famous for their beautiful frescoes and artworks in wood. The Nilambur
Pattu an ancient festival which is noted for its Kalampattu or ritual
powder drawing on floor falls in the month of February.
Nilambur malappuram - Getting there:
Nilambur malappuram - Nearest railway station: Nilambur is the terminus
of the Shornur - Nilambur railway line.
Nilambur malappuram - Nearest airport : Kozhikode, about 26 km from
Malappuram town.
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