Nilambur

Enjoy the best of nature and wild life that Nilambur has in store for the tourist and manifested in a variety of ways in its extensive forests teeming with bamboos, teak, rosewood, venteak, choropin, mahagoni, etc. This beautiful town on the bank of the Chaliyar River is at a distance of 70 km from Calicut , 100 km from Ooty (Uddagamandalam) and 40 km from Malappuram town. Located in the eastern side of Malappuram district, Kerala, this small sleepy town has a surprise in store for its visitors. Renowned for the oldest teak plantation in the world -'The Conolly's Plot'- is just 2 km from Nilambur town. The place is noted for its tribal settlements, the world's first Teak Museum, vast rain forests, waterfalls and ancient residences of maharajas called as kovilakoms.

The teak plantation - Conolly's Plot The plantation is named in honor of H.V. Conolly, the then Collector of Malabar during the British rule who was instrumental in planting teak in the entire Nilambur area with the help of Shri Chanthu Menon ,a forest officer under him. The plot extends across 2.31 hectares beside the Chaliyar river at Aruvakode, where a country boat ferries visitors across. This plantation was done about 150 years ago ie. around the year 1842 -1844 and was thus known as the world's first teak plantation.

The Oldest Tree in the conolly's plot The plot has also been acclaimed for having the oldest living teak tree (girth 420 cms & height 46.5 meters) and Shri Chanthu Menon, was laid to rest in this very teak garden , Conolly's plot, as a mark of honour.

The Biggest Living Teak: Kannimara teak It is the biggest living teak tree not only in India but also in the world, located in Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary in the district of Palghat, Kerala. It is 47.5 m tall with a girth of 642 cm. It is located at a distance of 80kms from Nilambur.

Valamthode Waterfalls Beyond Chaliyar river, 27 Km from Nilambur, is Valamthode, a hill top where a perennial waterfall attracts people. This too is a tribal settlement. Road accessibility is through Kozhikode district by Areekode-Mukkam Road.

The Elembalai hill This hill is situated on the border of Kerala and Tamilnadu from where the river Chaliyar originates and is clothed in dense forests and bamboo woods that add beauty to the place. The region is a beloved homestead of innumerable birds and animals. For a lover of nature, a botanist or a naturalist, this region offers every charm in its forests, mountains ,valleys and cultivated plains. Elephants, bisons, deers, tigers, blue monkeys, bears, rabbits, wild cats and dogs are found in the forest along with an innumerable variety of birds and reptiles.

The Teak Museum Four kilometres away from the town, on the Nilambur - Gudallur roadside stands the world's first Teak Museum. In the Teak Museum, a visitor can have a first hand information on all aspects of teak. Established by the Kerala Forest Research Institute in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Department, it is thematic museum housing historical, cultural and aesthetic and scientific aspects of teak, all under one roof, arranged in the two storied building. A collection of bamboo trees on the way to the museum imparts a special beauty to the place.