The 74 km long Murad River also known as kuttiadypuzha comprise a total area of 583 sq.kms along with its tributaries. Onipuzha, Thottilpalam puzha, Vamathil puzha and the Mandapalli puzha are the main tributaries of the river. Murad river originates from the Narikkotta ranges on the Western slops of Wayanad hills, a part of Western Ghat and flows through Vadakara, Koyilandi and Kozhikode taluks. It merges into the Arabian Sea at the historical Kottakal Fort which is about 7 km south of Vadakara.