Nilambur

Nilambur (Malayalam: [n̪ilɐmbuːr]) is a major town, a municipality and a taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is also known as 'Teak Town' because of the abundance of Nilambur teaks, which is a variety of a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. Unlike many municipalities of India, Nilambur is covered with large amounts of vegetation, making it very scenic. In the British records, Nilambur and its surroundings are collectively described as Nilambur Valley. The bank of river Chaliyar at Nilambur region is also known for natural gold fields. Explorations done at the valley of the river Chaliyar in Nilambur has shown reserves of the order of 2.5 million cubic meters of placers with 0.1 gram per cubic meter of gold. The hilly forested area of Nilambur Taluk forms a portion of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of rich biodiversity. Nilambur is located about 90 km (56 mi) west of Ooty and 48 km (30 mi) southwest of Gudalur town, and 27 km (17 mi) northeast of Manjeri, on Ooty-Gudalur-Nilambur-Calicut road. The 2,554 m (8,379 ft) m high Mukurthi peak, which is situated in the border of Nilambur Taluk and Ooty Taluk, and is also the fifth-highest peak in South India as well as the third-highest in Kerala after Anamudi (2,696 m [8,845 ft]) and Meesapulimala (2,651 m [8,698 ft]), is the highest point of elevation in Malappuram district. It is also the highest peak in Kerala outside the Idukki district. The 2,383 m (7,818 ft) high Anginda peak, which is located closer to Malappuram-Palakkad-Nilgiris district border is the second-highest peak. Vavul Mala, a 2,339 m [7,674 ft] high peak situated on the...