Ponnani is an important Fishing Center in Malappuram and it is one of the oldest port in Kerala.

Ponnani is a tidal port in Bharathappuzha. Ponnani fishing center is connected by road. National Highway 17 passes through Ponnani Town and Ponnani have a railway station for Indian railway which is connected Kozhikode and Ernakulam. Ponnani is divided by the Canolly Canal.

Ponnani have milestone in Islamic History, Ponnani is a town of mosques. There are nearly more than 50 mosques. The first Islamic missionary (Malik Ibnu Dinar) was believed to have visited Ponnani. The biggest mosque in the town is The Huma Ath mosque and it was built by Sheikh Zainuddin Makhodum in the 16th Century. Zainuddin was proficient in Arabic and Arabic writer.

Trikavu, which was one of the seats of the Zamorin, is in Ponnani. The famous Trikavu Durga temple is famous for celebration of Navarathri festival, is also in Ponnani. And 10km South-East of Ponnani, is the Mookuthala Bhagavathi Temple, one of the ancient Durga temples of Kerala. It is believed that Sankaracharya is associated with founding of the temple. The Karthika Mahotsav, celebrated in Vrischikam (November-December) attracts thousands of devotees. The Mookkuthala stone, believed to be growing from below the idol every day, is considered sacred. Biyyam Kayal is beautiful scenery of backwaters near Ponnani town, where a boat race is conducted annually during Onam celebrations.