It serves as the administrative centre for the Perinthalmanna taluk, as well as a revenue division, a community development block, and a police sub-division bearing the same name.

The city is home to several medical institutions and one of the three branches of Aligarh Muslim University in India, which is popularly known as AMU Malappuram Campus.

[5][6][7] Perinthalmanna(peru-major ,thallu-fight or marshal arts manna-area centre) and the neighbouring town of Angadipuram served as the capital of the Valluvanad Swaroopam dynasty.

[8] Valluvanad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Vellodis, similar to the Eradis of neighbouring Eranad and the Nedungadis of Nedunganad.

According to local legends, the last Cheraman Perumal ruler gave a vast expanse of land in South Malabar to one of the Valluvakonathiri before going on pilgrimage to Mecca.

Poonthanam Nambudiri, a prominent 16th century Malayalam poet and the author of Jnanappana, and E. M. S. Namboodiripad, the first Chief Minister of Kerala, were born in Perinthalmanna.

[14] Angadipuram Laterite is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument located about two kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the Perinthalmanna town centre.

[23] The station has the jurisdiction over the revenue villages of Perinthalmanna, Pathaikara, Angadipuram, Elamkulam, Aliparamba, Anamangad, Arakkuparamba, Thazhekode, and parts of Pulamantol and Valambur.

The current MLA, Najeeb Kanthapuram, and MP, Abdussamad Samadani, are from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), respectively.

[5] Additional notable roads in Perinthalmanna include: The town is facilitated by a KSRTC Sub Depot, and three private bus stands.