The name Melattur came from the Malayalam words 'Mele' (above), 'Aaru' (river) and 'Ooru' (place); i.e., 'place near upstream'.

On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea at Ponnani and on the east by the Attapadi Hills.

A government aided high school is situated in Melattur town, with secondary Educational facility.

From Melattur Panchayat bus stand, buses are available to Perinthalmanna, Pandikkad, Manjeri, Kozhikode, Mannarkkad, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Thuvvur, Edayattur, Karuvarakundu, Kalikavu, Nilambur, Edathanattukara, Moonadi, Kalpetta, Thamarassery, Pattambi, Vytilla Hub, Guruvayur, Thrissur and Kanjirappalli.

Rail Melattur Railway Station is a minor Railway Station on the Nilambur - Shornur Line, trains are available from here to Nilambur, Shornur, Palakkad, Kottayam and Kochuveli.