Vatakara is located at 11°36′N 75°35′E / 11.60°N 75.58°E / 11.60; 75.58.[1] It has an average elevation of 15 m (49 ft).
Geographically, Vatakara is situated about 48 km to the north of Kozhikode City, approximately 44 km to the south of Kannur City and it is proximate to Mahe (Mahe district). This is the third largest town of North Malabar. The town lies by the side of a river known by different names as Moorad river, Kuttiadi river or Kotakkal river. Originally known as Vadakkekara (north shore) due to its posit
ion with respect to the Kottakkal puzha, the place came to be called as Vatakara by popular usage later. This city is also known as Badagara. HISTORY :
Vatakara is the capital of old Kurumbranadu, which was inhabited by a tribal folk known as Kurumbrar. The name Kurumbranadu has its origin in the name of this tribe. A Nambiar Lord known as "Vadakara Vazhunnore" was the former ruler of this area. Vadakara is known as the birth place of Thacholi Othenan, the legendary hero of the Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Malabar). These ballads of oral tradition are considered to be of great literary and aesthetic value.[citation needed] Thacholi Tharavadu (the original Thacholi family home) is still preserved and the birth anniversary of Thacholi Othenan is celebrated. Lokanarkavu is one of the famous temples in this area. Also the temple for the memory of legend Thacholi Othenan is located at Vadakara. This temple is named as Thacholi Manikkothu Kavu temple.Vaisakh R Nair(Odusvaisakh) was born here in vatakara. The martial art form Kalarippayattu has the largest number of exponents in Vatakara[citation needed]. In 1934 Mahatma Gandhi visited Vatakara as part of a fund raising trip to North Malabar. DEMOGRAPHICS:
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Vadakara had a population of 75,740. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Vadakara has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 80%. In Vadakara, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. ECONOMY:
Since Vadakara is a coastal town, fishing is one of the main commercial activity. The Moorad River flows into the Arabian Sea at a point close to the town. Sand Banks, a sunset spot and a place of tourist interest are located at the river mouth. Vadakara mainly consists of 2 commercial hubs. The first hub is centering the old bus stand with commercial establishments as old as hundred years. Recently the trend has shifted to the new bus stand area and the road towards Kannur. Many new establishments, hospitals and flats are on the rise along the Nut street to PT Road highway junction, which will be the next commercial hub . Nut Street is the largest market for coconut, areca nut etc. Produce flow to the collection outlets which are dried packed and transported to other states. Hospitals include CO-OP Hospital, Asha Hospital, Janatha Hospital, Ceeyam Hospital and a new specialty hospital at the PT road junction.
