Thiruvambady

Thiruvambady is a historic hill town in Kozhikode district in Kerala, India. Thiruvambady is a Panchayat headquarters, and a legislative assembly constituency, situated 35 km from west of Kozhikode.

Geography
Thiruvambady is 35 km towards east from Calicut city and is on the banks of the Iruvanjippuzha River. Thiruvambady is on the footage of Western Ghats and Wyanad forrest which is close to major waterfalls, such as Thusharagiri Falls, Aripara Falls and Kozhippara Waterfalls Kakkadampoyil.

History
Thiruvambady was established in 1805 (British Rule). Earlier Thiruvambady was a forest area and belonged to East India Company. During that time the land where people settled in Thiruvambady was given to Kottayam King Kalppakassery Karnoru and forest area's domain of land was given to Manniledathu Nair Tharavadu. Old name of Thiruvambady was Nayarukolli and town was situated at Thazhe Thiruvambady. Nair and Exhava people was majority around 1900's. Later in the year 1944, Christians migrated from Pala and Kottayam to this town and settled permanently engaged in agriculture. They built School, Hospital and Church and town relocated to current place. Construction of bridges at Thottathin Kadavu and Agastianmuzhi (Mukkam) gives better access to Thiruvambady. Later a new Bus Stand was built on upper side of Thiruvambady and town gradually moved to current location. As it was Malabar region, Muslims also migrated from other Malabar region to Thiruvambady and engaged in business. Earlier agriculture was the main economy, early from 2000's agricultural economy decline and majority of people engaged in job and business. Due to urban sprawl of Kozhikode city, Thiruvambady became a major town.

Economy
Earlier Thiruvambady was an agricultural town, now due to urban sprawl majority of people engaged in job and business. Still people from hilly area like Anakkampoyil, Kakkadampoyil,  Punnackal and Poovaranthodu live on agriculture economy and depends Thiruvambady for their day-to-day life. Many people migrated to overseas as well.

Now Thiruvambady is a major town with all facilities including Schools, Hospitals, Banks, Supermarkets, Hotel, Accommodation, ATM, Fuel Stations, Colleges and shopping centres. There is a Private Bus Station and KSRTC Bus Station with regular access to major towns.

Administration
Thiruvambady Gramapanchayath was established on 1 January 1962 and consists of 17 wards covering an area of 83.96 sqkm, which includes 9000 acre of forest. Thiruvambady is under Koduvally Block Panchayat and Thamarassery Taluk.

Thiruvambady is part of the Wayanad parliamentary constituency. The current MP is Rahul Gandhi.

In 1977, the Thiruvambady assembly constituency of the Kerala Legislative Assembly was established, consisting of 7 Panchayats. The current MLA is Linto Joseph.

Road
Thiruvambady is well connected by road to nearby places. State Highway 83 passes through Thiruvambady town. It can be reached by the following routes:
 * Thiruvananthapuram - Kochi - Guruvayoor/Thrissur - Pattambi - Perinthalmanna - Manjeri - Areekode - Mukkam - Thiruvambady
 * Kozhikode - Kunnamangalam - REC (NIT) - Mukkam (Agastiamuzhi) - Thiruvambady
 * Kannur - Koyilandy - Thamarassery - Omassery - Thiruvambady
 * Wayanad - Kalpetta - Adivaram - Kaithapoyil - Kodenchery - Thiruvambady
 * Nilambur - Akambadam - Kakkadampoyil - Koombara - Koodaranhi - Thiruvambady
 * Koduvally - Omassery - Thiruvambady - Pulloorampara - Anakkampoyil

Buses
A KSRTC bus operating centre is in town, as well as a private bus stand. There are buses to nearby places such as Kozhikode, Mukkam, Omassery, Thamarassery, Koduvally, Pulloorampara, Anakkampoyil, Poovaranthode, Koodaranji, and Kodenchery; and KSRTC operates many inter-district routes.

KSRTC buses operates many inter district services from here.

Rail
The nearest railway station is Kozhikode Railway Station, 35 km distant.

Air
The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport, 43 km distant.

There was a proposal to built Thiruvambady International Airport for Calicut City, later the plan cancelled. Restrictions on larger aircraft landing at the existing airport for safety considerations has been reported as one rationale for building a new airport.

Distance chart
The Kilometer chart from Thiruvambady is given below:

Notable people from Thiruvambady

 * Mathai Chacko – Late former MLA and communist leader
 * Jacob Thoomkuzhy – Former metropolitan archbishop
 * Noufal PN footballer