Malappuram district was formed in June 1969 amalgamating the distant and backward areas of the erstwhile Kozhikode, Perintalmanna and Ponnani taluks of Palakkad. The Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) of Tamil Nadu in the east and the Arabian sea in the west, provide natural boundaries. In the north, it is bounded by Kozhikode and Waynad Districts and in the south, by Palakkad and Thrissur districts.

The land of great poets and writers, political and religious leaders, this district has carved a place of it's own in the history of Kerala. The Kings of Valluvanad, the Zamorins, the kings of Perumpadappu Swarupam and the Kings of Vettathunadu, were the early rulers. Portughese, Mysore Sultans and the Britishers, had their sway over this place, partly or wholly. But the unique social and cultural heritage is preserved.

The location of Malappuram district is 75o to 77o east longitude and 10o to 12o north latitude, in the geographical map. Like most of the other districts of the state, Malappuram too consists of three natural divisions: lowland, midland and highland. The lowland stretches along the sea coast, the midland in the centre the highland region towards the east and north eastern parts. The topography of the district is highly undulating; starting from the hill tops covered with thick forests on the east along the Nilgiris, it gradually slopes down to the valleys and the small hills, before finally ending on the sandy flat of luxuriant coconut groves in the west.