Nilambur
Nilambur (नीलाम्बुर) is a major town and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala.
Location
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 in this area; 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 close to nature and hence make it very scenic and inspiring.
In the British records, Nilambur and its surroundings are collectively described as Nilambur Valley
Origin
Nilambur gets name from Sanskrit word निलिम्ब (Nilimba) which means bamboo, due to abundance of bamboo forests in the area.
History
The oldest teak plantation of the world in the Conolly's plot is just 2 km from the town. It was named in memory of Henry Valentine Conolly, the then Malabar district collector.[1] Teak Museum at Nilambur is maintained by the Kerala Forest Research Institute which was established for the memory of the oldest known Teak plantation in the world. The town is also famous for Kovilakams where the Nilambur Rajas resided and ruled the land.[2] Nilambur Rajas were vassals to the Zamorins of Calicut, based at Nilambur.