Malappuram translates to Hilltop. The city is situated in the midlands of the Malappuram District, characterized by mountains, forests and fresh water streams. The population of the city is 1.6 million and it functions as the administrative headquarters of the Malappuram district. Majority of the population here speaks Malayalam. According to the 2011 census, the district population is 4.1 million out of which 26 percent constitutes the working age population. 17 percent of them are engaged in the agriculture sector, 2 percent in the household industry and the bulk 82 percent in services, trade, commerce and industries such as hotels, bakery, tourism and transportation. Malappuram district came into existence on June 16, 1969 as a combination of a portion of the erstwhile Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.
