Tirur, Kerala, India

🇮🇳 Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 16.55 square km (6.39 sq mi).

It is one of the major business centres in Malappuram district and is situated 26 km (16 mi) west of Malappuram and 52.5 km (32.6 mi) south of Kozhikode, on the Shoranur–Mangalore section under Southern Railway.

Tirur is a major trading centre for electronic devices and seafood in Northern Kerala and has an average elevation of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) above the sea level.

History The medieval Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics was mainly centred in and around present-day Tirur Taluk. Puthiyangadi region in Tirur served as the headquarters of the medieval feudal principality of Tanur, who were allied on various occasions to the Zamorins of Calicut, prior to the East India Company rule in the region (1792–1858) and subsequent British Raj (1858–1947). Tirur railway station, built in 1861, is the oldest railway station in Kerala.

Demographics As of 2001 India census, Tirur had a population of 53,650, of which 48% are male and 52% female. Tirur has an average literacy rate of 95%, higher than the national average of 71.0%: male literacy is 96%, and female literacy is 94%. In Tirur, 13% of the population is under six years of age. Tirur Assembly constituency is part of Ponnani (Lok Sabha constituency).

Transport • Railway station: Tirur railway station is one of the major railway stations in northern Kerala. Almost every train stops here, connecting the district to the rest of the country. Tirur railway station is also the oldest railway station in the state. The first railway line in Kerala was set in 1861 from Beypore to Tirur. It is 19 mile-long (30.5 Km) which was commissioned by the South- West line of Madras railway company. • Road: Tirur is well connected to the other cities by road, even though no National Highway passes through the town. The Chamravattom bridge connects Kochi with Kozhikode. There are regular buses plying between Tirur and nearby major towns and cities like Malappuram, Ponnani, Manjeri, Puthanathani, Valanchery, Kuttippuram, Kottakkal, Tanur, Parappanangadi, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kochi, Trivandrum, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Coimbatore, Bangalore and all major cities. There are a few private buses offering overnight journeys to Bangalore. • Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport is approximately 35 km (22 mi) away.

Education There are many educational institutions in Tirur region: Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Thunchan Parambu Tirur; Thunchan Memorial Government College, Vakkad; Cochin College of Engineering and Technology, Athippatta-Valanchery; MES College of Engineering, Kuttippuram Professional; Ansar Arabic College (AAC), Valavannur Post Grad.; SSUS Regional Centre Tirur, Thazhethara Post-grad.; Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON) Knowledge Centre, Naduvilangadi; Seethi Sahib Memorial Polytechnic College, Tirur; Food Craft Institute; MDPS; IHRD Extension Centre; MES Central School, Tirur; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan English School, Tirunavaya; MET High School, Alathiyur; English School, Tirur; TIC Secondary School; Fathima Matha English School; JMHSS Tirur; K.H.M.H.S.S Alathiyur; MET Tirur Central School; Bafakhy YatheemKhana Vocational Higher Secondary School, Valavannur, Kadungathukund; MSM Higher Secondary School, Kallingaparamba; Govt. HSS, Cheriyamundam; Govt. Girls HSS, B. P. Angadi; Govt. Boys HSS; Govt. HSS, Ezhur; Govt. HSS, Niramaruthur; NMHSS, Thirunavaya; GVHSS, Paravanna; Vallathol AUP School, Mangalam; A.M.U.P School, Areekkad.

Villages Tirur taluk contains 30 villages.: 1 Ananthavoor; 2 Athavanad; 3 Cheriyamundam; 4 Edayur; 5 Irimbiliyam; 6 Kalpakanchery; 7 Kattiparuthy; 8 Kottakkal; 9 Kurumbathur; 10 Kuttippuram; 11 Mangalam; 12 Marakkara; 13 Melmuri; 14 Naduvattom; 15 Niramaruthur; 16 Ozhur; 17 Pariyapuram; 18 Perumanna; 19 Ponmala; 20 Ponmundam; 21 Purathur; 22 Tanalur; 23 Tanur; 24 Thalakkad; 25 Tirunavaya; 26 Tirur; 27 Trikkandiyur; 28 Triprangode; 29 Valavannur; 30 Vettom.