Kelakam is a town and grama panchayat located in the Kannur district of Kerala state, India. Kerala Hill Highway (SH 59) and the proposed Mananthavady Mattanur airport road pass through Kelakam town.

Location Kelakam is located on Hill Highway of about east of district headquarters Kannur, north east of Thalassery, south east of taluk headquarters Iritty and east of Peravoor. The prominent Kottiyoor Temple is just away from here.

Demographics As of 2011 Census, Kelakam had a population of 16,211 of which 7,979 are males and 8,232 are females. Kelakam village spreads over an area of with 4,026 families residing in it. The sex ratio of Kelakam was 1,032 lower than state average of 1,084. Population of children in the age group 0-6 was 1,610 (9.9%) where 823 are males and 787 are females. Kelakam had an overall literacy of 94.6% higher than state average of 94%. The male literacy stands at 95.7% and female literacy was 93.6%.

Administration Kelakam Grama Panchayat consists of 14 wards. The current ruling party is UDF. Kelakam panchayat is part of Peravoor Block Panchayat and politically a part of Peravoor Assembly constituency under Kannur Lok Sabha constituency.

Law and Order The Panchayat comes under the jurisdiction of Kelakam police station, established on 01-04-1972. The station started as an outpost under Peravoor police station on 16 december 1960 before being upgraded to a full fledged station on 1972. This station is the border station of Kannur and Wayanad districts. The station is part of Peravoor subdivision under Kannur rural police district.

Geography It is a small town located in hilly regions of the western slope of western ghats. The Bavali River runs through the town, and the Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Temple is seven kilometers away. It is situated near Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary which is ten kilometers away.

Etymology Kelakam got its name from words "kela" "kam" meaning resting place of "bullock" referring to resting place of the bullock of Lord Shiva. It is in the Christian migration belt but different religious groups live harmoniously. The town is known for its hill produce including pepper, rubber, tapioca, and coconut. The land around Kelakam is fertile and is preferred for farming. The town is a centre for textiles and jewelry shops.

Tourism Kelakam has been growing in population since the migration of people from the Travancore (South) side of Kerala 60-70 years ago. It is a centre of Hill-produce, Textiles shops, and Jewellery shops. There are many Christian churches of various denominations in the area. Father Vadakkan, a Christian priest from Kerala, observed fasting for farmers in Kelakam.

Transportation Kerala State Hill highway (SH 59) passes through Kelakam town. The National Highway (NH 66) passes through Thalassery town on the west. Mangalore and Mumbai can be accessed on the northern side and Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram can be accessed on the southern side. The road to the east of Kelakam connects to Mysore and Bangalore through Mananthavadi route. The nearest railway station is Thalassery on Mangalore-Palakkad line. The nearest airport is Kannur International Airport which is away from Kelakam.

The proposed Mananthavady Mattannur airport four lane road passes through Kelakam where a bypass is being built for the town. It will give easy access for the people from south eastern parts of Kannur district and northern parts of Wayanad districts towards the airport.

Educational institutions St.Thomas higher secondary school, Kelakam Little flower English high School, Kelakam MGM(Mar Gregorio's Memorial) high school, Kelakam St.Joseph's high school, Adakathode Manjalampuram UP school Govt.UP school, Chettiyamparamba Providence LP school, Velloonni St. Mark LP school, Chungakkunnu Govt.UP school, Adakkathode Govt.UP school, Chungakkunnu Govt.LP school, Shantigiri

Religious places

St. Thomas Orthodox Salem Church Kelakam

San Jos Syro Malabar church kelakam (St.Joseph's church) Sree Murchilakattu Maha Devi temple Kelakam St. George Orthodox Valiyapalli kelakam Little Flower Malankara Catholic Church Kelakam Immanuel Marthoma Church Kelakam Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Kelakam Assemblies of God church(Pentecostal church), Kanichar The Pentecostal Mission Church, Kelakam St. Mary's & St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Sunoro Church Kelakam St. Joseph's church Adakkathode St. George Malankara catholic church Adakkathode Sree Palliyara mahadevi temple Adakkathode St. Mary's Orthodox Church Chettiyamparamba St. John the Baptist's Church Chettiyamparamba Providence church velloonny St. Antony's Church Manjalampuram Fathima Matha Forane church Chungakkunnu

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References