Ernakulam

History ;----

Old name- Hrishinagakulam.
Kochi kings called 'Madabhupathy'.
Perumpadappu was the centre of Kochi kingdom.
Sakthan Thampuran(Rajarama Varma)- the founder of modern Kochi.
Rani Gangadhara Laxmi (Kochi queen) was the 1st woman ruler in Kerala history.
Kerala Varma was the kochi king in 1947.
Thiru-Kochi coalition (1949).
Then king was Parikshith thampuran.
Then Kochi PM was Ekanda varrior.
Kochi PMs were called 'Paliyath Achanmar'.
Cochin SE; 1st stock exchange of Kerala formed in 1978.
The periyar flood of 1341 prompted the construction of Cochin port.
Kochi called the queen of Arabian sea by RK Shunmukam Chetty.
Dutch Palace at Mattanchery built by the Portuguese (1555).
Bolghatty palace built by the Dutch(1744). It was the summer residence of the Dutch Governor.

Peculiarities ;----
The most urbanized district in Kerala. District with highest Christian & Jewish population.
The largest archeological museum in Kerala is at Hill Palace Tripunitura.
1st Rubber park of India at Kochi. Amrutha IMS- did 1st liver transplant surgery in Kerala.
World's 1st complete solar powered airport-Cochin International Airport (CIAL).
Kochi musiris binale- India's 1st binale.

Important Places ;----
Nedumbassery- 1st child friendly Panchayat in Kerala.
Fisheries University- Panagad.
Wood industry- Perumbavoor.
Bamboo corporation- Angamaly.

Institutions ;-----
Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi.
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi.

Kannur

History ;----
Formed on 1957 January 1.
Ancient name - Naura.
The kingdom which made Ezhimala it's headquarters - Mooshaka Rajavamsham.
Marco polo visited Kannur in 1293 A.D.
Ezhimala- Marco polo called it 'elinad', Ebinbatuta called it 'Hili'.
Father of Thalassery- Edward Brunnen.
College of his name is at Dharmadam, Thalassery.
Ellikunnu bungalow- house of Dr. Herman Gundert.
Important hill station - Pythal mala.
Aaralam farm.
Perambadi Pass connect Kannur to Coorg.

Peculiarities ;----
1st district to achieve 100% primary education in Kerala.
Karivellur- 1st Panchayat in Kerala to get 100% literacy in Aksharakeralam programme.
1st zero landless district in India.
District with longest coastline.
Largest area under mangrove forest are found.
Kannur is the last formed Municipal Cooperation in Kerala.

Important Places ;----
Ancharakandy- Largest Cinnamon estate in the world.
Thalassery- Taluk with maximum villages.
Valapattanam - Smallest Panchayat in Kerala.

Major institutions ;----
Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation.
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Thaliparamba.
Kerala Folklore Academy at Chirakkal.
Rubco
Kerala Coastguard Academy at Azhikkal.
Central State farm at Aralam.
Malabar Cancer Centre at Kodiyeri.
Kannur University at Thavakkara.
Pepper Research Institute at Panniyur.

Malappuram

History ;----
The district was formed on 1969 June 16.
Tunchen memorial at Thirur.

Peculiarities ;----
1st complete clean Panchayat of Kerala- Pothukal.
District with highest Muslim population, most no. of grama panchayats/LSG bodies.
Highest no.of Govt schools.

Important Places ;----
Thavanoorr- Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering Technology.

Wayanad

History ;----

Formed on 1980 November 1st, spreading over 2131 sqkm.
It has 3 municipalities- Kalpetta(Capital), Mananthavaady, Sultan Bathery (old Ganapathivattom).
1812 Kurichyar revolt- led by Kurichyar & Kurumbar against decision of British to collect taxes in the form of money than products.
'Gadhika'- ritual among Adiya community to cast away devils & demons.

Peculiarities ;----
The district with minimum population, least no. of Taluks, Block Panchayats, Grama Panchayats.
Wayanad is the district of least industrialization.
The district with highest no. of scheduled tribes.
District with highest Jain population in kerala.

Tourism Spots;----
Chembra peak, a tourist centre.
Meenmutti waterfalls.
Pazashi tomb at Mananthavaady.

Important Places;----
Lakkidi- gateway of Wayanad.
Sultan Bathery taluk shares boundary with 2 states.
Ambala Vayal- 1st fully completed AADHAR registered Panchayat.
Kuruva Island- biggest river island in Kerala at Kabani river.
Kabani(Kapila) river originates in Wayanad, flows through Karnataka(East).
Pookode lake- smallest freshwater lake in Kerala.
Edakkal caves at Ambukuthi hills discovered by Fred Faw Cett( A British officer). It's the oldest historical monument Kerala.
Meenangadi- 1st Grama Panchayat in Kerala which started biodiversity census.
Thirunelli Temple called 'Dakshina Kasi' lies in Brahmagiri Valley.
Banasurasagar dam- biggest earth dam in India.

Kasaragod

Kasaragod 1984 May 24(last state formed).

District called the 'Land of Gods'.
State bears largest number of rivers- 12.
Language- Thulu, Byari, Konkani, Urdu, Kannada, Malayalam & English.
Bekal fort (tourist centre)-built by Sivappa naiker.
Maipady Palace
Endosulphan
Central Plantation Crops Research Centre.
Karimforest park is the only man-made forest in Kerala.

The largest number of indigenous languages.
Mallikarjuna temple.
Only district were 'Thulu' is spoken.
India's 1st complete blood donated panchayat- Madikye(Kazarkode).
1st district in India to start Tele Medicine system.
Largest producers of arecanut.
Folk art form of Kasaragod- Yakshaganam(Bayalata).
Chandragiripuzha- longest river in the district surrounds it in 'U' shape.
Neeleswaram- largest bauxite deposit in Kerala.

Kozhikode

History ;-----
Zamorins crowning ceremony is called 'Ariyittuvazhcha'.
In 1498 May 20, Vasco da Gama landed at Kapad beach at the time of Zamorins. They attacked & looted zamorin palace in 1504. The navy men headed by Kunjali Marakkar defended Kozhikode at the time.
In 1615 the English, in 1698 the French, in 1752 the Dutch reached Kozhikode.
In 1766 Haider Ali, the Mysore sultan attacked Kozhikode.
The district formed on 1957 January 1st, spread over 2344 sqkm.

Peculiarities ;-----
1st city in Kerala declared as 'Shilpanagari' (City of Sculpture)(2012).
Frontrunners in coconut production on Kerala- Kozhikode.
Loganarkaavu temple.
The district with maximum iron deposit.
1st plastic free district.
1st E-toilet in India was installed.
Student police cadet 1st started in Kozhikode city.
Mananchira maidan.
1st ISO certified police station in Kerala- Kozhikode Town police station.
1st woman police station in India(1973).

Important Places ;----
Koolimadu- 1st tobacco free village.
1st Cola free district of Kerala.
Iringal- Handicraft village.
Kunnamangalam- 1st Gram Panchayat in India to start watercard to ensure quality of water.
Feroke- famed for tile industries.
Kallayi- famed for wood industries.
Perumanna- 1st grama Panchayat in Kerala to declare comprehensive water policy.
Kuthali- Gram Panchayat in Kerala started a Health project for the prevention of AIDS called 'Ayurdalam'.
Cherukulathur- 1st total Organ & Eye donating village of Kerala.
Olavanna- 1st Grama Panchayat to implement people participated drinking water policy. (Olavanna model)
Vadakara- 1st anti-narcotic trial court started.
Koilandy- 1st mangrove forest museum in Kerala.
Kadalundi-Vallikunnu is the first community reserve in Kerala.
Kadalundi bird sanctuary called 'Paradise of Migrating Birds'.

Institutions ;-----
National Institute of Technology(former REC), Chathamangalam.

Personalities ;-----
K Kelappan :-

Called Kerala Gandhi.

Born in 1889, Muchukunnu, Kozhikode.
He led Salt Satyagraha(1930) in Kerala.
Was the founder president of NSS.
1st president of United Kerala committee.
Later worked for Kisan Mazdur Praja party.

SK Pottekad :-
Born in 1913 called as the storyteller of Kozhikode.

He won jnanapeeda in 1980.

Man stood for travelwritings.

Palakkad

Largest district of Kerala.
In 1957 January the first, Malabar district divided to form Kozhikode, Kannur & Palakkad.
The district which produces maximum Groundnut(nilakadala) .
District with highest no. of scheduled castes in Kerala.
Parambikulam (Hq at Tunikadavu, Palakkad) is the 2nd tiger reserve in Kerala.

Silent Valley ;-------
Explored by botanist Robert Wright(1834).
Silent Valley declared national park by Indira Gandhi(1984) & inaugurated by RajivGandhi(1985). It's located at Mannarkad Taluk.
Endangered Lion tailed Macaque found here due to the tree 'Vediplavu'.
The name 'Silent Valley' is due to the absence of Cicadas.
Its the largest rainforest in the state.
Thoothapuzha originates here.
Kunthi River flow through the Npark.

Rivers of Kerala

Study of rivers called Potamology.
River- A stream longer than 15km.
There are 44 rivers in Kerala.
There're 34 lakes in Kerala.

Periyar ;------------
The longest is the river Periyar (244 km), [Choorni, Poorna, Aluvapuzha, Kaladipuzha]- called the lifeline of Kerala. The river originates from Sivagiri hills, (Sahya mountains) flows through Idduki & Ernakulam districts.
The River bears maximum no of dams & hydroelectric projects.

Muthira puzha- largest tributary of Periyar. The 1st hydroelectric project Pallivazal is in Muthira puzha.
Mullayar- 1st tributary to join Periyar.
Mullaperiyar dam- 1st dam in Kerala built at Thekkadi, Idduki.
It is built at the joining of Periyar & 1st tributary Mullayar.
Dam construction started in 1887,(Made with Surki) commissioned in 1895.
Chief Architect-John Pennycuick.
John Pennycuick memorial at Theni(TN).
Periyar lease agreement signed by- V Ramayyankar(Divan of Travancore) & JC Hanington(State Secretary of Madras).
The Agreement renewed in 1970 by C Achuthamenon Ministry.

Mattupetty Dam- 1st concrete dam of Kerala across Periyar.
Malayattoor church sits near Periyar.
Periyar divides as 2 at Aluva - Mangala puzha & Marthandan puzha.
Periyar supplemented by muthira puzha, mullayar, cheruthony arr, perumthurarr, perinchan kuttiyarr.

Idduki project comprises 3 dams- Idduki, Kulamavu & Cheruthoni.
Idduki dam built b/w granite hills Kuravan & Kurathimala. Tribal leader Chemban Karuvellayan Kolumban suggested the spot. His memorial is at Cheruthoni.
Cheruthoni- largest & highest gravity dam in Kerala.
Moolamattom-biggest underground power station in India.

Bharatapuzha (Nila);-----------
2nd longest (209km) sourced at Anamala,T.Nadu.
Called 'the Nile of Kerala'.
Flows through Palakkad, Thrissur, Malappuram.
Mini Pamba project.
Ezuthacahan called her 'Sokanashini'.
Thootha puzha- main tributary. Other tributaries are Gayathri, Kalpathi, Kannadi rivers.
Dams at Bharata puzha- Malampuzha dam(biggest in Kerala), Valayar dam, Mangalam dam, Pothundi dam.
Malampuzha- longest reservoir in Kerala & 1st rock garden at Kerala (Architect- Neck Chand).
Kanayi Kunjiraman's Yakshi at Malampuzha garden(Kerala 'Vrindhavan')

River Pamba ;--------------
Old name 'Baris'. Pamba river joins Vembanatu kayal.
Sabarimala situatedon its banks.
Maramath convention is conducted on pamba outsands.
Aranmula boat race.
Main tributaries are Manimalayar & Achankovilar.
Poonthenaruvi waterfalls (pathanamthitta), the only one in pamba river.
Dams on pamba- Sabarigiri, Kakkad, Kakki dams.

English channel of Kerala- Mayyazhi river.
Kottayam situated on the banks of Meenachilarr.
Largest lake in Kerala- Vembanatu kayal.
Largest freshwater lake in Kerala- Sasthamkota lake.
River flowing East- Pampar

Chalakudypuzha ;-----------
The tourist attraction are Athirappilly, Vazhachal waterfalls.
The most biologically diverse river in Kerala.
Dams in the river - Sholayar, Thuvallakadavu, Peringalkuthu.
River flows through Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary.

Kalladayar;-------------
The river bears Kerala's biggest irrigation project.
Tourist attraction, Palaruvi.
Hanging bridge at Punalur.

River Kabani ;----------
Originates at Thondarrmudy, Wayanad.
Nagarhol national garden situated on its banks.

Chaliyar ;--------
Originates at Nilagiri hills.