 Tirur was part of the Kingdom of Tanur (Vettattnad) in medieval times and the site of part of the first railroad laid by the British in Kerala.The 16th-century poet Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, who is considered to be the father of the Malayalam language literature, lived in the town.Thunchan Parambu in Tirur is highly venerated and its sand is believed to be sacred.