Kuttiady

Kuttiady
village
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kozhikode
Government
• Type	India
Population  (2001)
• Total	18,550
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code	+91-496
Vehicle registration	KL-18
Nearest city	Kozhikode
[Loksabha] constituency	Vatakara
Website	www.kuttiadyonline.com

Kuttiady (or Kuttiadi) is a town in the northern part of Kozhikode district in Kerala state, India. It is 24 km from Vatakara.

History

Kuttiadi acknowledged the supremacy of the Kottayam Raja, whose fortified palace stands on a hill. During the Pazhassi rebellion, Kuttiadi, which commanded one of the chief passes to Wayanad was of great strategic importance. In 1957, the shafts of two golden swords supposed to have been used by Pazhassi Raja were unearthed. Overlooking Kuttiadi and other regions is the 1758 m. height Banasura peak, named after the giant demon Banasura, who is supposed to have built a fort on the summit. Now the name of Kuttiadi connected with the hydroelectric project in Kuttiadi river basin. Kuttiady has a Hydroelectric power plant that supplies much of Kerala's electric power. Actually, Kuttiyadi Dam is 25 km from Kuttiyadi town. It also serves as an irrigation project. The place was originally a forest owned by the Vengalil family but was nationalized following the accession of a communist administration in Kerala. During ancient Chera regime, the region was an important military strategic pass. Valayannur Chira is famous for its natural beauty. Kuttiyadi is also famous for high yielding coconut trees. coconuts and coconut oil from kuttiyadi is supplied all over kerala as seed, in government initiative.

Kuttyadi town is 50 km from Kozhikode City, The nearest railway station is Vatakara (25 km) and airport is at Karipur. Perambra (12 km) and Nadapuram (13 km) are the other major towns nearby.

Kuttiady River (Kuttiady Puzha)

The Kuttiadi River:- Rising from the Narikota Ranges on the western slopes of the Wynad Hills a part of Western Ghats at an elevation of 1220 m M.S.L. of the Kuttiyadi River flows through Vatakara, Koyilandy and Kozhikode Taluks. The river is also known as the Murat River. This river has a length of 74 km. It falls into the Arabin Sea at Moorad about 6 km from Vatakara and along with its tributaries it drains in area of 583 km².

The major tributaries of the river are the Onipuzha, the Thottilpalampuzha the Kadiyangad puzha thevannathilpuzha and the Madappallipuzha. The river passes through Oorakuzhi Kuttiadi. Traveler, Muyippoth, Maniyur and Karuvacheri. The historical Kottakkal Forest is situated at the mouth of the river.

Kuttiady Dam (Peruvannamoozhi Dam)

Kakkayam valley

Significance of Kuttiady Dam

Kuttiady Peruvannamuzhi Dam is one of the most beautiful dams in Kerala. Being situated in a small village, its beauty gets added up. It is approximately 60 km from Kozhikode. You could reach by a two-hour journey. It is situated in the north- East direction of Calicut city. There are many private bus services to this place. There is an artificial lake in Peruvannamuzhi. You can enjoy boating in Peruvannamuzhi artificial lake. While riding through the artificial lake, there you can see 'Smaraka Thottam', a garden made in the memory of great leaders of freedom struggle. The garden also offers a great enjoyment to you. It also gives you happiness, joy and refreshment.

Animal Sanctuaries

There is also a crocodile farm and a bird sanctuary situated here at Peruvannamuzhi. There are more than twenty crocodiles here in different pools. The bird sanctuary also offers you with birds of varieties more than 90 species. The Peacocks of Peruvannamuzhi is famous. But it is now considered as vulnerable species. The Peruvannamuzhi dam belongs to the Kuttiady irrigation project. The water stored here is used for the production of electricity as well as for irrigation. This Peruvannamuzhi Dam is used for providing water to three main districts- Kozhikode, Malapuram and Kannur.

Peruvannamuzhi Dam also serves water for the famous Japan Govt. Aided Drinking Water Project. Long tunnels runs from here for the purpose of provide drinking water to secluded villages of Kozhikode district.

There is also an institution running here Indian Institution for Spice Research. They were responsible for the production of varies varieties of seeds and saplings here. Kuttiady Agricultural farm is also located at Peruvannamuzhi. The tourists can also visit one of the old churches of Kozhikode district, Fathima Matha Catholic Church. The headquarters of Shalom, a popular television channel is also located at Peruvannamuzhi. Location of Peruvannamuzhi Dam-The Peruvannamuzhi Dam is 60 km from the Kozhikode city. You could reach here by private bus or by taxi.

The Peruvannamuzhi Dam is also close on national holidays and Sundays.

How to reach Peruvannamuzhi Dam

1) By Road: The Peruvannamuzhi Dam can be reached by road within two hours from Kozhikode city.

2) By Rail : The nearby railway station is Kozhikode Railway Station.

3) By Air : The nearby airport is Karipur International Airport

Suburbs of Kuttiady

• Kallod, Koothaly, Moorikuthi and Koothaly
• Kadinyangad, MahimaNagar, Sooppikkada and Panthirikkara
• Pattanippara, Chakkittappara, Kuvvapoyil and Peruvannamoozhi
• Chembanoda and Poozhithode.

Temples, Kuttiady

There are number of temples in kutiady. "Natol thira" and associated carnival along with "thira" is famous. Kutiady carnival is also called " Kannukali chanda" a place where people exchange or buy cow, bull, goat etc. The carnival is happening every year first week of January. One temple is recently identified near kuttiady during an excavation, which was buried during Tipu Sultan's invasion in Malabar.

Kutiady has many God siva's temples, god subramanyan temple, god Vishnu temple etc.

Paduvileri tharavad, one of the oldest Nair families in the area, still conducts an annual thira (which is fully privately managed) at a place called Mangott about 2 km from Kuttiady.

In the history of temple nittoor has a main role.

Echo tourism Project

Kutiady echo tourism project is based on the sound natural wealth of Janaki Kadu forest at Panthirikkara. The Janaki kadu is 10 km from Peruvannamuzhi dam.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kuttiady had a population of 18550 with 9000 males and 9550 females.In Kuttiady, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transportation

Kuttiady connects to other parts of India through Vatakara town on the west and Thottilpalam town on the east. National highway No.66 passes through Vatakara and the northern stretch connects to Goa and Mumbai. The southern stretch connects to Cochin and Trivandrum. The eastern National Highway No.54 going through Kuttiady connects to Mananthavady, Mysore and Bangalore. The nearest airports are at Kannur and Kozhikode. The nearest railway station is at Vatakara.

Political Tensions

Kuttiady among many other eastern regions of the Vatakara taluk had been witnessing political tensions. Few of these tension accompanied with violent vandalism and communal clashes ends up in political killing. Recently Muslim youth league worker Muhammed Aslam was murdered in nearby town Nadapuram, which is believed as retaliation to murder of Tuneri Shibin, 19, a CPI (M) activist. Another Muslim youth league worker was hacked to death allegedly by an SDPI workers this July. It's been regarded as happening out of continuity and transformation of incidents and tensions having existed for a long time, which made this part into a violative region. Police had to enforce prohibitory orders including 144 IPC during violent tensions in regions like Nadapuram, Valayam, Kuttiady and Edachery, often accused of being unable to control situations.