Chelari
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Copy edit|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chelari
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Mele Chelari
Thazhe Chelari
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Census town
| image_skyline =
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| coordinates = {{coord|11.107720|N|75.890427|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Kerala
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Malappuram
| established_title =
| established_date =
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| government_type =
| governing_body = Gram panchayat
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| population_total = 10483
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = [http://ourvillageindia.org/Place.aspx?PID=268543 Thenhippalam]. OurVillageIndia.org. Retrieved on 2008-08-02.
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Malayalam, English
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 673 637
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = Malappuram
| blank2_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = Vallikkunnu
| website =
| footnotes =
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}}
Chelari also known as Mele Chelari (upper side) and Thazhe Chelari (lower side) is a census town in Tenhipalam panchayat, Tirurangadi taluk in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It has a population of 19,483 as per 2001 census, consisting of 9,586 males and 9,897 females.{{Cite web |title=DISTRICT URBANISATION REPORT MALAPPURAM |url=https://townplanning.kerala.gov.in/town/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dur_malappuram.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422115643/https://townplanning.kerala.gov.in/town/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dur_malappuram.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-22 |website=townplanning.kerala.gov.in}} It formed a portion of the Malappuram metropolitan area as of 2011 Census. Chelari Airport is the first Airport in the Malabar region. It is the main commercial place in Tenhipalam panchayat.
Geography
Chelari Town is situated in the north-west region of Malappuram district, about 35 km away from district headquarters Malappuram and 11 km north of Taluk headquarters Tirurangadi. It shares its borders with Chelembra panchayat in north, Pallikkal and Peruvalloor panchayats in east, Kadalundi River separates Vallikkunnu panchayat in west. In Southern side, it shares border with Mooniyoor panchayat. It is located 24 km south of Kozhikode on the Mangalore–Edapally national highway 66.
==Mele Chelari and Thazhe Chelari ==
Locally, Chelari is divided into two parts is Thazhe Chelari{{Cite web |last=CSCIndia.info |title=Digital Seva CSC - List of Common Service Centres (CSC) in India |url=https://cscindia.info/digital-seva-csc-thazhe-chelari/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Common Service Centres (CSC) in India}} Thrissur side is Mele Chelari (upper side) and Thazhe Chelari (lower side) also known as the (Weast Chelari and East Chelari),{{Cite web |title=Local Self Government Department {{!}} Local Self Government Department |url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/en/lbelection/electdmemberdet/2020/968 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=lsgkerala.gov.in}} the part where the national highway begins and the part where it ends.
Mele Chelari. The road from Mele Chelari goes through Alungal, Chenakkalangadi, Pallippuraya, Nechinathil, Kolathode and terminates at Irumbothingal Kadavu.
Transport
Chelari is well connected with all parts of Kerala by road. National Highway 66 passes through Tenhipalam. All rural localities in the panchayat are well connected to the arterial national highway by good quality roads. Minibuses operate from rural areas to nearest small towns such as Chemmad, Kondotty. Private buses operate between Thrissur and Kozhikode. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, which operate between Kozhikode and various southern towns and cities in Kerala also have stop at the university on route to Tenhipalam. There are seven towns and one corporation in the 35 km circle around Thenhipalam.
The nearest railway stations are Vallikkunnu (station code VLI), Parappanangadi and Feroke, which are located {{cvt|10|km}} west, {{cvt|12|km}} southwest and {{cvt|16|km}} northwest respectively from the centre of Chelari. The major railway station of Kozhikode is located {{cvt|20|km}} away.
Calicut International Airport at Karipur is located {{cvt|10|km}} east of Chelari.
=Chelari Airport=
{{main| Chelari Airport}}
Chelari Airport {{Cite web |last=ഡെസ്ക് |first=വെബ് |date=2020-08-08 |title=1969ലും വിമാനം തകർന്നു; ചേളാരി 'വിമാനത്താവളത്തിൽ'... {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/flight-crash-in-chelari-548599 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}} was an airstrip built in 1962 in Chelari, it was owned by Birla group, they used this airport for traveling to their factory in Calicut, it was located in Chelari.
Education
Chelari is also known for head office of the Samastha Kerala Islam matha Vidyabhysaa Board, which is sometimes called as Chelari Samastha. It has more than 10,000 madrassas throughout the world. St Paul’s English medium Higher Secondary School-Kohinoor also located in Thenhipalam.
The main campus of the University of Calicut is located in near Chelari.{{Cite web |date= |title=University of Calicut |url=http://www.universityofcalicut.info/about/start.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805130553/http://www.universityofcalicut.info/about/start.htm |archive-date=2008-08-05 |access-date= |website=www.universityofcalicut.info}}
Government Model Higher Secondary School is functioning inside Calicut University Campus.
A Government Vocational Higher Secondary School is also functioning at Chelari which imparts vocational education in addition to Higher Secondary Education.
Notable people
- Anees Nadodi Actor.
Notable events
- On 17 January 1969, Plane crash Douglas C-47A VT-DTH (cargo plane) in Chelari Airport. {{Cite web |date=2020-08-08 |title=കരിപ്പൂരിനുമുമ്പ് യന്ത്രപക്ഷികളിറങ്ങിയ ചേളാരി; ചേളാരിയിലെ വിമാനത്താവളവും 1969 ലെ അപകടവും |url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/kerala/facebook-riyas-aboobacker-post-about-chelari-airport-constructed-in-1962-nj-270623.html |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=News18 മലയാളം |language=ml}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=ചേളാരി വിമാനത്താവളവും ചേളാരിയിലെ വിമാന അപകടവും - Boolokam |url=https://boolokam.com/chelari-airport-and-chelari-plane-crash/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |language=en-GB}}