Athavanad

Athavanad  is a village and Gram Panchayath in the Tirur Taluk, in the Malappuram District of the state of Kerala, India. The town lies on the National Highway 17, between Puthanathani and Valanchery. Puthanathani is the main town of the Athavanad village and the village office is located in Athavanad Para & Kurumbathoor. Nearby towns include Valanchery, Tavanur, Tirunavaya, Kuttippuram, Irimbiliyam, and Edayur.

Etymology
In Malayalam, "Athavanad" is an abbreviation of " A zhvanchery Tha mbrakkal Va zhunna Nadu ". The region was under the rule of the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal feudal lords in ancient times. Azhvanchery Thamprakkal were usually present at the Ariyittu Vazhchaof a new Zamorin of Calicut. The original headquarters of Palakkad Rajas were also at Athavanad.

Industries
Athavanad has some industries. Athavanad is home to several public enterprises in the textile industry.
 * The MALCOTEX (Malabar Co-operative Textiles Limited) is headquartered at Athavanad.
 * KELTEX (Kerala Hi-Tech Textile Cooperative Limited) is also located here.

Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Athavanad had a population of 18,283. 8,612 (47%) are men, and around 9671(53%) are women. The population density is approximately 1,524 people per square kilometer. Children under the age of six make up 14% of Athavanad's population.

Malayalam is the most spoken language.

Religion
Athavanad is predominantly Hindu and Muslim; Duff Muttu, Kolkali, and Aravanamuttu are local traditions.

Events
The Kerala Cattle Race (known as Kalappoottu and Maramadi) is a traditional event. It was banned in 2014 by a court ruling, as it was deemed to violate a 1960 law pertaining to preventing animal cruelty.

Attractions

 * Ayyapanov Waterfall is situated in Athavanad Kattilangadi.

Education
Athavanad is a major educational hub. It has several educational institutions ranging from primary to post-secondary. It also has several libraries and a literacy rate of over 90%. The majority of books are written Malayalam, English, and Sanskrit. Some are written in Arabi-Malayalam, a version of the Malayalam language written in the Arabic script.

Educational institutions

 * Athavanad Parithi High school
 * Athavanad Mattummal Higher Secondary School
 * Markazu Tharbiyathul Islam Higher Secondary School
 * Markaz Residential School
 * Markazu Tharbiyathul Teachers Training Center
 * Markazu Tharbiyathul Islam
 * Markazu Tharbiyathul Islam B-Ed
 * Badariyya Arabic College, Palathani
 * PMSA Orphanage Hospital, Athavanad Kattilangadi
 * Markaz Arts and Science College
 * KMCT Polytechnic College
 * KMCT Law College
 * Z.M.H.S Poolamangalam
 * Majmau Orphanage
 * Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal Memorial Arts And Science College
 * Majmau Higher Secondary School
 * Majmau Thazkiyath Islamiya

Road

 * Athavanad is connected to other parts of India through Kottakkal.
 * National highway No.66 passes through Tanur and the northern stretch connects to Goa and Mumbai. The southern stretch connects to Cochin and Trivandrum.
 * State Highway No.28 starts from Nilambur and connects to Ooty, Mysore and Bangalore through Highways.12,29 and 181.
 * National Highway No.966 connects to Palakkad and Coimbatore.

Air

 * The nearest airport is at Karipur International Airport.

Rail

 * Kuttippuram railway station is major railway station 10 km from Athavanad
 * Tirunnavaya railway station
 * Perashshannur railway station
 * Tirur railway station

Bus

 * Puthanathani Bus Station
 * Bus lines from Kuttippuram

Notable people

 * Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri
 * Mohsin Peramban