Kattippara
Grama Panchayat

Kattippara Grama Panchayat

History

The hilly and mountainous northeastern regions of the panchayat were once vast forests where wild animals roamed freely. Settlers arriving from the erstwhile Travancore region—even before the formation of Kerala—cleared these forests to establish settlements. It is said that settlers who arrived in Kattippara—one of these northern areas—half a century ago used a large rock as a bed to sleep on at night; the name 'Kattippara' is believed to have evolved from this 'Kattilpara' (meaning 'bed-rock'). This rock can still be seen there today. In 1879, a Mr. Ferguson initiated a rubber plantation by planting rubber saplings. This estate—the first rubber estate in Kerala—later became the Kalpetta Estates, owned by A.V. Thomas & Company. An area within this vast estate where rubber trees were felled and cleared is known as 'Vettiozhinja Thottam' (Cleared Plantation). Much of the land in this panchayat originally belonged to the Kottayam royal dynasty of Pazhassi Raja, who attained martyrdom while leading a struggle against the British. When a severe food shortage occurred in 1945, rationing for rice and cloth was introduced in Malabar. During the Malabar Rebellion, this region stood as an excellent example of religious harmony. Although the riots did not directly affect this area, many frightened Hindus left their homes, entrusting their houses and properties to their Muslim brethren for safekeeping; upon their return, they found all their belongings intact.

Traditional cottage industries in Thamarassery once included the manufacture of items such as mats, *thalakkuda* (traditional palm-leaf umbrellas), and various types of baskets. Activities like processing coconuts into copra and areca nuts into *kali-adakka* (dried areca nuts) were common, and a unit for extracting coconut oil using a traditional wooden press also operated here. Even before the advent of formal education systems, the ancestors of this village panchayat acquired knowledge through *ezhuthu pallikoodams* (traditional writing schools), *ashan kalaris*, and the *Gurukula* system of education. People used to transport agricultural produce in bulk—carrying loads on their heads or using convoys of bullock carts—to Valiyangadi in Kozhikode, located nineteen miles away. During that era, timber felled in the forests was transported as *thirappa* (logs lashed together) via the Poonoor and Koodathayi rivers to Kallai, a place renowned for its timber industry. Although there is no railway line within the panchayat itself, residents rely on the railway stations at Kozhikode and Koyilandy—both situated about 30 km away—for long-distance travel. In those days, it was customary to issue bus tickets in advance; the fare to Kozhikode was five *annas*. Marakkar Haji's lorry was the first vehicle used for goods transport in the area. Kattippara is situated in the hilly region of the erstwhile Malabar—a landscape immortalized in the verses of the *Vadakkan Pattu* (Northern Ballads).

Kattippara Grama Panchayat

The Kattippara Grama Panchayat was formed on October 1, 2005. It is located in the Koduvally Block of Kozhikode Taluk, within the Kozhikode district. Spanning an area of ​​28 square kilometers, the panchayat is bordered by Thamarassery, Omassery, and Kodanchery panchayats to the east; Unnikulam and Kizhakkoth panchayats to the west; Koduvally and Omassery panchayats to the south; and Thamarassery panchayat to the north. Geographically situated in the *Malanad* (hilly) region, the panchayat's primary crops include rubber, coconut, arecanut, and ginger. The Irunnullu River flows along the eastern boundary, while the Poonoor River flows along the western side. As a hilly rural area, Kattippara features over 25 hillocks, including Amarad Mala, Menonpara, and Kakkanamcheri Mala, located along its northern border. Forest areas account for 23 percent of the total land area.

Key tourist attractions in the panchayat include Thavakkoli, Kakkanamcheri, Kolamala, and Amarad Mala. National Highway 212 passes through this panchayat. The Thalayad-Malappuram and Poonoor-Kattippara roads are the major thoroughfares here. Road transport within the panchayat is centered around the Thamarassery bus stand. Commercial activities are concentrated in areas such as Ambayathode, Kattippara, Chama, Kallullathode, and Kolikkal. Various places of worship are located throughout the panchayat, including Hindu temples like Kadavathukavu, Venakkavu, Muthottickal Mahadeva, Karappatta, and Sreekrishna; Christian churches such as St. George and Holy Family; and over seven Muslim places of worship, including Vettiozhichathottam Juma Masjid, Kallullathode Muslim Mosque, and Kolikkal Sunni Mosque. Festivals and celebrations associated with these places of worship—such as *Thira*, temple festivals, and *Perunnal*—reflect the panchayat's cultural heritage. Sports clubs like "Shakthi" Arts and Sports Club, along with "Chetana," "Challenge," and "Nehru," also play an active role in the community. The Government Homoeo Dispensary at Kallullathode serves as a healthcare facility in the panchayat. A government facility for animal husbandry is located at Kattippara.