Ponnani (formerly Ponani and Paniyani) is municipality in Ponnani Taluk, Malappuram District, in the state of Kerala. It serves the administrative center of the Taluk and Block Panchayath of the same name. It is situated at the mouth of Bharathappuzha (Nila River) and is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west. The tidal port is an important fishing center in the region