19 Facts About North Malabar

North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and the entire Mahe Sub-Division of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Traditionally North Malabar is defined as the northern portion of erstwhile Malabar District which lies between Chandragiri River and Korapuzha River.

North Malabar region is bounded by Dakshina Kannada to north, the hilly regions of Kodagu and Mysore Plateau to east, South Malabar to south, and Arabian Sea to west.

The greater part of North Malabar remained as one of the two administrative divisions of the Malabar District until 1947 and later became part of India's Madras State until 1956.

North Malabar begins at Korapuzha in the south and ends at Manjeshwaram in the north of Kerala and traditionally comprises the erstwhile princely principalities and chiefdoms of Kolathu Nadu, Kingdom of Kottayam, Kadathanadu and southern part of Tulu Nadu.

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North Malabar is home to several forts which include Arikady fort, Bekal Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Hosdurg Fort, St Angelo Fort, and Tellicherry Fort.

Until the arrival of British, the term North Malabar was used in foreign trade circles as a general name for Kerala.

Still the term North Malabar is often used to denote the entire southwestern coast of India.

North Malabar is reminiscent of the word Malanad which means the land of hills.

North Malabar was a hub of Indian Ocean trade during the era.

The people of North Malabar have striven to preserve their distinct and unique identity and heritage since ancient times, through colonial times into modern political India.

Traditionally North Malabar has remained the source of an erstwhile aristocracy for many of the southern territories of Kerala through displacement and adoptions including the Travancore Royal Family.

North Malabar cuisine is noted for its variety of dishes including chutneys, pancakes, steamed cakes and various dishes such as kalathappam, kinnathappam, uruttu chammanthi, poduthol, pathiri, chatti pathiri and moodakadamban.

North Malabar represents one of the earliest and largest pockets of exposure to other cultures in Kerala through Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Tuluvas, Rashtrakutas, Kodavas, Tulus, Arabs, Persians, Portuguese, Dutch, French, British, and through early employment and migrations in government and military services from the time of its incorporation into the Madras Presidency.

However, the majority of the young-adult Keralites from other provinces who are ignorant of the rich melting-pot culture of North Malabar dialects are uncomfortable with these forms of Malayalam.

Historically, the North Malabar landlords were the largest land-holders in Kerala, but the introduction of the Kerala Land Reforms Bill in 1957 resulted in their panic selling of farm and forest land.

North Malabar has a rich history of folk-art, culture and tradition.

Kalaripayattu is a martial art that originated in North Malabar and was developed between the 9th and 12th centuries.

North Malabar cuisine is a blend of traditional Kerala, Persian, Yemenese and Arab food culture.