Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology campus is located in Thavanur village on the southern bank of Bharathapuzha.

According to popular belief, the name Tapassanoor is derived from the legend that centuries ago sages performed penance on the shore.

The village was located at the southern tip of the medieval Vettathunadu, a vassal kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut, which had ruled parts of present-day Tirurangadi, Tirur, and Ponnani Taluks in Malappuram District.

The freedom struggle intensified here in 1942 with the Indian National Congress meeting held at Pappinikavu Maidanam in Thavanur.

Thavanur was also the working platform of Kozhipurath Madhava Menon and A V Kuttimalu Amma who reached at higher position of the national movement.

Formal education began here in the early 20th century with the establishment of the Malabar Board School at Thrikkanapuram.