Kottakkal

Kottakkal (literally-Land of the Fort) is a major municipal town in Malappuram district in Kerala, having 32 wards. It is one of the four municipalities in Tirur Taluk, besides Tirur, Valanchery, and Tanur. It is a part of the Malappuram metropolitan area and a growing city in Kerala. The town is best known for the Arya Vaidya Sala, one of the top Ayurvedic health centres in the world. Kottakkal is also a major growing commercial, educational, and healthcare hub in South Malabar. The town lies on the Mumbai–Kanyakumari National Highway 66.

Kottakkal is located 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Malappuram, the district headquarters, and 14.5 km (9.0 mi) from Tirur railway station.The National Highway 66 separates the municipality from Edarikode grama panchayat on some parts to the west. 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.

An Old Malayalam inscription which dates back to 932 CE found from Indianoor in Kottakkal mention the name of Goda Ravi of Chera dynasty.

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.

Two swords, medieval European in style and finish, were discovered in a well from Kottakkal, in the year 2013. The Zamorin of Calicut invaded the Kingdom of Valluvanad in 14th century CE and seized the fort at Kottakkal. 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. It may be the forts and castles constructed by the Karuvayoor Moosad that were the origin of the name "Kottakkal".

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. The Kizhakke Kovilakam, which was the eastern palace of the royal family of the Zamorin of Calicut, is present at Kottakkal.

Arya Vaidya Sala was established in 1902. The suburbs of Kottakkal were known as Changuvettikkadu and Eyyakkadu (now Changuvetti is developing as a twin town to Kottakkal).