Edappal is a town in Malappuram district, Kerala state, India. Edappal is at a junction of two roads Thrissur-Kuttippuram and Palakkad-Ponnani state highways located 45 km from Malappuram. Edappal lies in two panchayaths, Vattamkulam, and Edappal. Edappal shares borders with Thuyyam, Polpakkara, Ayilakkadu, Vattamkulam, and Annakampadu. Bijoy P Padmanabhan is the current Edapal Panchayath President elected in November 2015. Edappal is well known in the region for foreign goods and related markets. Like some other main towns of Malappuram and Kozhikode, The economy is mostly a money-order economy with the main source of money from expatriates in the Middle East.
Local administration
Edappal panchayat
Etymology
Edapal got its name from the word "Edappalayam," meaning intermediate camp, because Edapal was the intermediate resting place for the army of Zamorins on their journeys to conquer South Kerala.
Education
The first notable public institution in Edapal was the Government High School. The school was established in 1957 when the first Communist ministry of EMS Namboodiripad had quickly sanctioned 65 high schools in the then educationally backward Malabar region. Though the high school was sanctioned, there was no sufficient fund or infrastructure in order to start the high school. Hence the Namboothiris of Naarayanamangalathu Mana graciously donated the land where the high school now stands. Many of the citizens of Edapal, notably Mathilakathu Unnikrishna Menon, ICS, Unikkat E U Gopi Menon and others made donations of money and materials very generously, and also selfless voluntary works for construction of the first building. The high school had a good band of proficient and efficient teachers at the outset. Head Master was Sri M. T. Govindan Nair, who is the elder brother of famous Gnanapeeth Award winner Sri M T Vasudevan Nair. The other great teacher of the high school was SMT. M Gauribhai Menon, daughter of Mathilakathu Unnikrishna Menon. One more unforgettable teacher was Sri Mezhathur Shekhara Warrier, Malayalam Pandit. The first SSLC batch of 22 boys and 14 girls from the high school appeared in March 1960. Many of the students have become teachers and other office staff. Some had joined the army and air force. Among those who reached the higher peak in their positions are E U Gopinatha Menon, Vijaya Bank Manager, P M Narayanan Namboodiri, State Bank Manager, Pappancheri Narayanan, Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax Mumbai, Dr. K. V. Rajan who retired as Chief general Manager of Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai, etc. With much efforts of People like M/s SMB Pisharody/Pallipad, an English Medium Division from 8th Std. was sanctioned in 1963 However, to day considering the plight towards English Medium it will be unbelievable it has to be surrendered for want of students with 1968 SSLC Batch
Transportation
Today Edapal is connected by road to all important points in and outside the state. There are swanky buses available for journeys to Bangalore, Trivandrum, Kochi, Thrissur etc., The transport facility was given an important face lift when the late Sri Imbichi Bawa became transport minister. He was the person who set up the KSRTC Workshop at Edapal. This workshop was instrumental in expanding the transport network through Edapal.
Places Of Interest
Edapal is also known for the Biyyam Kayal Boat Race. Biyyam Kayal is a green fringed waterway situated near Ponnani in Malappuram District. A boat race held in its extensive stretch of water during Onam draws a large number of people from far and near. Women rowers also participate in the race. Now developed into a tourist center, the lake has a water sports facility set up by the District Tourism Promotion Council.
