More Villages in Palakkad
Thrithala: Thrithala is situated 75 km from Palakkad town. The wealth of Thrithala is its monuments and historic ruins. Remains of a mud fort and a small granite stat;ue of Buddha in the Kattilmadom temple are of much archaeological value. A Shiva temple is also a great attraction here.
Dhoni: Dhoni is located 15 km from Palakkad town. Dhoni is a trekking paradise. A 3-hour trek from the base of Dhoni hills land one in the reserve forest nature-blessed with tiny beautiful waterfalls and greenery.
Meenkara: Meenkara is 32 km from Palakkad town. Meenkara, picturesque with Gayatri river nearby, is a popular picnic venue
Pathamkulam : Pathamkulam, located 3 km from Vaniumkulam is an agrarian village. The major produce is paddy.
An office of the Kerala Agriculture Department functions here.
A Durgadevi temple in the village is a great attraction. The annual festival celebrated in February/March is attended by many.
Majority of the population consists of Hindus. Other communities count for the name sake only.
Thiruvegappura : This village is located on the bank of Thuthupuzha River, a tributary of Bharathapuzha River.
The village has a famous Shiva temple with over 600 years of standing. The temple has a unique feature. As against one flag mast in almost all temples, this temple has three flag mast. The temple is mainly devoted to two deities – Shiva and Sankaranarayana. The attraction of Kerala architecture is amply reflected on the Koothambalam (temple theatre) of the temple. The Koothambalam has been the venue for exposition of Chakyarkoothu and Koodiyattam for decades by the world renowned exponent Padmasri Mani Madhava Chakyar. Padmasri citation is awarded by the government of India only to the outstanding persons who have proved excellent in their field of specialization.
The village has given birth to some great luminaries. Chenda (a percussion music instrument) maestro Thiruvegappura Rama Perumal, the great magician Prof Vazhkunnam, poet and Shaakunthalam translator Cheruliyil Kunhunni Nambiar and scientists and an ardent disciple of Nobel Laureate Prof C V Raman among them.
Thiruvegappura is proud of having in its soil the famous Raayiranellur mountain temple. Raayarinellur mountain was the abode of Naaranathu Braanthan (Naaraanathu madman) – the lunatic prophet who was one of the great twelve sons of Vararuchi an ancient saint. He taught his own philosophy to the society. The Raayiranellur and Branthaachalam temple devoted to Naaraanath Braanthan are historical sites of interest.
The village has adequate basic and intermediary education facilities. For higher education the village depends nearby places.
Major portion of the population is Hindus.
Vadavannur : Vadavannur is a developed agrarian village located in the middle of Kollengode, Puthunagaram and Pallassana Panchayats.
The village has supplied a number of prominent individuals to participate in the struggle against alien forces in the country.
The village has given birth of many luminaries. Ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu late M G Ramachandran, late Vadakkepat Narayanan Nair a great Sanskrit scholar and the renowned Kathakali exponent Prof Vadakkepat Vijayan are few among them.
The village has 8 Hindu shrines. The shrines congested village enjoys festivals right from January end to early April. Kanyar Kali (a variety ritual folk dance) is major item of entertainment in the festivals.
The village is amazingly Hindu majority.
Pallippuram : The village Pallippuram has grown to the status of a small town. It is located at the west end of the district with a distance of 9 km from north-west Pattambi, a big town of the district. Two rivers snake through the village – Bharathapuzha in the south and Thuthupuzha in the south-west as boundaries.
The village falls into six categories topographically. Hills, valleys, plains, low lying paddy fields, river banks and marshy wet lands constitute the categories.
The hills in the village number eight in total. Mangalm Kunnu (hill is called Kunnu in Malayalam), Kal Kunnu, Kaitha Kunnu, Odupara Kunnu, Thekke Kunnu, Mundyara Kunnu, Ponmala Kunnu and Thattara Kunnu are the eight.
Except in river banks where the soil is alluvial with more clay content, the soil of the village is red laterite.
The village is rich in ponds with as much as 22.
In population Muslims form majority. The rest is Hindus. The presence of Christians is unfelt.
Pallippuram is a rail station.
The Pooram (temple festival) in the Chirankara Bhagawathi temple here is celebrated by the entire village consisting of 13 areas called Desams. Each desam participated in a spirit of competition and it is mandatory to each desam to arrange at least one pair of “Poothan and Thira’ (masked ritual folk dance).
The village has three more important temples in addition to Chirankara Bhagawathi temple. Pallippuram Srikrishna temple, Kodikunnu Bhagawati temple and Chirangara Mahavishnu temple are the three.
The village is rich in mosques too. Kodanthur mosque is most famous among them. The Nercha (annual feast) in this mosque is very famous.
Once, the village was a known center for the manufacture of bell metal utensils and other articles including icons of deities. The swindling of demand forced the craftsmen to switch over to other fields for bread winning. No trace of the craft at present.
On education front the village has adequate facilities except for higher education. Pattambi and Valanchery accommodate the children of the village for higher education.
The village has given birth to a number of freedom fighters and social reformers.
The village has been and is still the abode of many percussion music experts.
Bharath Circus, a well known name in circus field, was founded by a native of the village, K S Menon.
Pallippuram has witnessed many of its sons shine in the field of Ayurveda. The shining spree continues with more emphasize.
Brothers Arts Club of Pallippuram has played a yeoman role in educating and uplifting the poor and the down trodden in the State. They enacted theatrical plays with themes exposing the exploitation of the haves not by the haves and emphasized the rights of the poor to have decent existence.
The village has many other legacies to claim in the fields of Parichamuttukali (a sort of martial art), witch craft, odi vidya (a crude form of sorcery) etc.
Major chunk of the population is of Hindus. Muslims form most of the remaining population.
Once, agriculture was the main sway of the village with abundant produces of paddy, coconut, areca-nut and tapioca. The agriculture is now fated to doom mainly because the new generation has no interest in it. Another reason for ill-fate is non-remunerative income from the agriculture.
The village has large work force related to construction industry.
Many educated have migrated to Gulf countries in search of greener pastures. Their income is more reflected on designer bungalows, villas and apartments in the village.
For education of the children the village has adequate facilities up to high school level. For education above high school level the village depends on Pattambi and Valanchery.
Akethethara : A small village, Akethethara is agrarian.
This Hindu dominated village has an Engineering College named NSS College of Engineering. It is a centre of excellence. Thousands of its products scattered all over the world are in lucrative posts.
A temple known as Kallekulangara Bhagwathi temple is a limelight of the village. There is a peculiarity here. The idol is only two hands which are supposedly of Devi or say Bhagawathi. The deity is powerful to eliminate the sufferings of its subjects. Late Indira Gandhi had visited this temple for blessings soon after she chose hand as an election symbol to the faction of Indian National Congress she led following a split in that party.
Athipotta : A small village, Athipotta is located near Alathur which is 30 km distanced from Palakkad town.
Majority of the inhabitants are Hindus.
The village is agriculture centered, paddy being major produce.
A Hindu shrine, Mangottukavu temple, is considered as the creator of prosperity. The steadfast influx of the devotees generates good income to the temple.
Chokkanathapuram : This Hindus dominated village is farm based. The main produce is paddy.
Located by the side of Nila Nadhi, the village, ancient and beautiful enough, attracted Tamil Brahmins as migrant long back.
Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple located here is an important shrine. Kasi-Viswanatha temple located here is also equally important.
Edathanattukara : The village is located in a remote but developed area. South-eastern boundary of the village is Velliyar Nadhi. Velliyar bears legendary colour. Once in the past Brahmins mistook a Naga Goddess (serpent goddess) of a temple as criminal and sealed her. The humiliated goddess left the place weeping. Her tears fallen on the earth along the route turned to be a river which was later known as Velliyar. Velliyar in Malayalam means river of silver. The colour of goddess’s tear was probably of silver and hence the name Velliyar
The village has a glorious past of many years. The wells around Nalukandum School, an Upper Primary School, are square shaped. In ancient time the place was a market where fresh spinach from Kongunadu in Tamil Nadu was available.
The village has a place called Kodiyamkunnu somewhat resembling to Odiyumkunnu. Odiyan was a sorcery act practiced by Panas and Pulayas – two different sects in Hindu community. They were capable of transforming as animals during nights. In the animal form they used to confront and frighten the targeted persons. This was done at the behest of somebody else for a price to frighten the enemy.
Edathanattukara is agriculture centered. Till recent past, paddy was the major crop. When the paddy cultivation turned uneconomical many took to remunerative crops such as rubber, areca-nut, tapioca and coconut.
The village has an enchanting waterfall called Vellachaatta Paara in Puliyamthodu where many come and enjoy. In education facilities the village is well-equipped. Many educational institutions including vocational, Arabic and English medium schools too function.
A formidable Library with thousands of books is yet another asset of the village.
An Orphanage with 300 inmates is a feather on Edathanattukara.
The village has a colourful cultural heritage. Karumanappan Kavu Thalappoli, a temple festival, is celebrated by all religions as a village fest. A Muslim scholar, Ishaq Master translated Bhagwat Geetha, a Hindu epic story, from Sanskrit to Malayalam as first timer.
Nharalath Rama Poduval, Sopana Sangeetha Vidwan (doyen of temple ritual music), known all over India and C N Ahamed Moulavi who translated Holy Quran in Urudu to Malayalam first are natives of Edathanattukara.
The village is a fertile land for Thullal and Aarattu, the Hindu ritual art forms.
In healthcare too the village is advanced with full-fledged hospitals both in allopathic and ayurvedic systems. Services of many traditional Ayurvedic Physicians are available here.
Muslims are in majority with Hindus coming next. Christians enjoy third position.
Kallur : 20 km distanced from Palakkad town, Kallur is a small agrarian village with serene atmosphere.
The village is predominantly Hindu inhabited.
Kallur Raman Kutty and Kallur Naaryanan Kutty, the celebrated Chenda (drum shaped musical instrument) artists are the natives of this village.
The village has facilities for medium level education.
In healthcare it has satisfactory facilities.
The village is self-sufficient in Hindu shrines. Kallambakavu, Kallur Sree Krishna temple, Karadimala Bhagawathi temple and Ayyappankavu are the shrines.
Kannambra : Kannambra is a small agrarian village. The main crop is paddy.
Hindus form majority here.
Up to lower level education facility exists.
For outside, the place is known for its famous Kannambra Vela. The Vela (temple festival) is celebrated by two Desams (localized area) – Kannambra and Rishinaradamangal.
Karimpuzha : The village is located 15 km north of Ottappalam. Mannarkkad in the north, Kongad in the east, Lakkidi and Mankara in the south and Cherpulasseri in the west are the surrounding towns.
Karimpuzha is a Hindu majority village.
The vocation of the village is agriculture.
The village got the name Karimpuzha from the river Karimpuzha, a tributary of Bharathapuzha, which is flowing through the heart of Karimpuzha village.
The village has given birth to a number of eminent personalities. Karipuzha Gopi Poduval and Rama Poduval, famous Chenda artists, cine artist Chelapurath Ravi Menon, poet Karimpuzha Ramachandran, Arya Vaidyan Rama Varier, founder of reputed Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, spiritual leader Gyananda Saraswathi et al are among them.
Karumanassery : Karumanassery is a small village dominated by Brahmins and located 5 km from Vadakkenchery on NH 47. The population is very thin accommodated in below 100 houses.
A shrine dedicated to Ayyappan is the main deity of the village. There is a legend behind this shrine. A shepherd was sharpening his knife on a stone found nearby. During the process blood started oozing from the stone. The villagers heard of this wonder and assembled there and started worshiping the stone conceiving it as Lord Ayyappan. Later it was sheltered and came to be known as Karumana Swayambu Aayyappan. Prosperity of the village is attributed entirely to the deity.
Annual festival called Ratholsvam is celebrated on 29th December. The villagers have a solid belief that those inhabitants who are present on the festival Kodiyettam day (flag hoisting day) which is 5 days in advance of the festival should remain in the village till the Kodiyirakkam (flag lowering) takes place next day of the festival. Those who break the tradition are self-inviting the wrath of the deity, the villagers fondly believe.
Kavasseri : Kavasseri, a small village in Alathur Taluk, is located in between Alathur and Pazhayannur Road.
Majority of the population is of Hindus.
The village is farm based.
Up to high school level education facilities exist. Up level education facilities availed from Alathur and Pazhayannur.
Sree Porakkattu Bhagwathi temple, Ganapathi temple, Sree Krishna temple and Ayyappa temple are the Hindu shrines. Out of these, Parakkattu Bhagawathi temple adorns the cap of captain.
The annual festival of Parakkattu Bhagawathi temple is celebrated in the month of Meenam (March/April) in a spirited manner. The spirit is tempered as the festival is organized by three Desams on competitive basis. Kavasseri, Kazhani and Vavilliapuram are the Desams participated.
The day Pooram (festival) begins from a particular place called Koottala with caparisoned elephants’ procession accompanied by ear-friendly temple music. The procession covers a long stretch passing through Ganapathi temple, Eaduvedialu, Kaalichira, Moolichira and Chembarathi to terminate at the temple in the evening with resounding fire works.
Desams co-sponsored festivities take place in the night. It begins with the arrival of Vellakuthira (a sort of ritual-cum-festivity offering) and procession from Kavasseri Kammanthara (village of artisans) which is considered as their hereditary right. Now is the turn of Vavilliapuram Desam for fire works display which is followed by Chariot and Kuthira Kali (horse play). The second turn is of Kazhani Desam. They display their pyrotechnics which followed by Chariot and Kuthira Kali. The third and final turn is of Kavasseri Desam. They too ignite pyrotechnics on a grand scale followed by Chariot and Kuthira Kali.
Killikurissimangalam : The village is located near Ottappalam. It is small in size and agrarian.
Majority of the inhabitants are Hindus.
The farm based village has a historic temple known as Killikurissi Mahadeva Kshetram. The temple established by sage Sree Suka Brahma Hrishi houses Lord Shiva.
The village has to its credit many luminaries. The formulator of Ottamthullal and satire poet Kunchan Nambiar, Koodiyattam and Chakyarkoothu exponent and Natysastra scholar Natyacharya Vidoosharatnam Padmasree Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar and Sanskrit scholar Koppattu Achutha Poduval are the products of this village.
The village has educational facilities up to high school level. Sree Sankara Oriental High School sheltered here is one of the six schools with Sanskrit as major language.
Kollengode: Kollengode village is situated 19 km from Palakkad town. The village is agri-based, the major crop being paddy.
Kollengode is in the lap of pristine beauty.
The Hindu dominated village has a thin layer of Christians.
A legendary Palace (now converted as resort-cum-ayurveda rejuvenation center), temples, weekly sundry items fair make Kollengode different from other villages.
The village has arrangements for education up to middle level.
Kuzhalmannam : Kuzhalmannam is 14 km distanced from Palakkad town. It is predominantly agrarian. Paddy owns major share with coconut sharing second position.
All the three religious denominations of Kerala have ensured their presence here. Hindus are in brute majority, nonetheless.
The village has adequate educational and healthcare facilities.
Replete with cultural and religious heritage, the village is overloaded with temples and festivities. Eight temples – Laxminarayaan Swamy temple, Visweswara temple, Ganapathy temple, Azhakath Mahadeva temple, Sree Kaalimuthy Bhagawathi temple, Marathur Sree Krishna temple, Sree Mookambika Devi temple, Pavodi Maniyamman Kovil – dotted in strategic spots as guardians of the village.
Out of these, Kaalimuthy Bhagawathi temple bears a distinct posture. The temple is opened only on 1st day of every Malayalam month. The devotees throng in bulk on this day. All the remaining days the temple kept closed and no ritual is performed. If anybody wants obeisance during the closed days special permission is given along with key of the temple. After offering prayers the key is to be returned to the authority. The annual festival of this temple is known as Vishu Vela, celebrated on the 4th day (17th April) of Vishu, the beginning day of the harvesting year of Kerala, is celebrated on a mega scale.
All other temples have their own festivals which fall between September and May.
Distinct from other villages, Kuzhalmannam celebrates four folk festivals called Malamkali, Karivela, Chambalvela and Kalapetty Vela. The festivals fall between March and April.
Kuzhalmannam is famous for Kannukali Chanda or Mattu Chanda (cattle market). It is a weekly event in a spacious open ground. Hundreds of cattle from various parts of the State and from Tamil Nadu brought here for sale. Literally, Kuzhalmannam is flooded with cattle and vehicles on that day.
Erumayoor, adjacent to Kuzhalmannam, sponsors cattle race, rather say oxen race, every year which is a crowd generator.
Kudallur : The village located on the banks of Bharathapuzha is in Ottappalam Taluk.
The village is agrarian and beautiful.
The conjunction of Bharathapuzha and Thoothapuzha takes place in this village.
The famous writer M T Vasudevan Nair is hailed from Kudallur.
Kudallur is a Hindu majority village.
It has its own arrangements for education up to middle level.
In healthcare facilities the village is somewhat satisfied.
There is yet another Kudallur in Palakkad district, but it is on the banks of Gayathripuzha in Chittur Taluk.
Kunisseri :The village is located at a distance of 7 km from Alathur town.
The agri-based village has Hindu population more.
The village has middle level education facilities.
Kunisseri is known outside for its famous Kummatti festival celebrated in Pookulangara Bhagawathi temple during March/April.
Kanyarkali, usually performed by Nair community, is a major attraction. The performance is one day prior to Kummatti. Kanyarkali is originated from martial art, Kalaripayattu. Comedy and rhythmically stepped folk dance inject vigor and value to the performance to the amusement of all present. The dance and comedy tempered by folk songs and percussion music thrill all.
The Kummatti is performed in front of the procession of 10 tuskers.
Another attraction of Kummatti is a folk art called Ponnani Kali. For this the performers undergo vigorous training under an expert. Usually lower castes wearing their own usual folk dresses perform the art. Ponnani of Ponnani Kali has nothing to do with the place Ponnani in Kozhikode district. No trace is there as to when and how Ponnani Kali took shape.
Yet another festival called Thalappoli is celebrated in Kunisseri during which Pookulangara Bhagawathi goes in a big procession of villagers to meet her father Pallavoorappan or say Shiva in the Pallavoor village nearby.
Mannarkkad : Mannarkkad has grown to the status of a small town. Silent Valley, a tropical oxy-filled rain forest is 66 km away.
The agri-based vocation of Mannarkkad has attracted emigrants from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in addition to a good number from southern parts of Kerala. The produces turned out are rubber, coconut, area-nut, banana, nutmeg, pepper and rice.
Almost all religions of the aforesaid States are co-inhabitants here.
Tossed between two rivers – Kunthipuzha and Nellipuzha – the place is nature lovers craze.
Mathur : Mathur is located between Kuzhalmannam and Thiruvillamala. Thiruvillamala is in Thrissur district. The village is totally agrarian.
Mathur is more popular due to Mathur Koothu (a ritual folk dance) in Mathur temple. Koothu is a puppet show in which the story of Ramayana is skillfully depicted. It is a two-week long affair.
The village has facilities for well above basic education.
Palappuram : The village is located 4 km from Ottappalam and lies between Palakkad town and Shornur highway.
Palappuram is agrarian.
Hindus are in majority here. Muslims count second and Christians third.
Palappuram is known outside for its famous Chinakkathoor Pooram (festival) celebrated in Chinakkathoorkavu temple dedicated to goddess Durga. It is a mega event attracted by thousands including foreigners. Huge manmade artificial horses displayed in the Pooram is unique in all senses.
The village has adequate education facilities up to college level.
In healthcare front too the village has adequate facilities.
Muthuthala : The vocation of the village located on the banks of Bharathapuzha in north-west of Patambi is cultivation.
The village is predominantly Hindu inhabited.
Muthuthala Maha Ganapathy temple mainly dedicated to Ganapathy is a limelight of the village. In contrast to the sanctum sanctorum of other temples this temple’s sanctum sanctorum is roofless. The main offering to the deity is Ottappan or Otta, a delicious sweet made of rice flour, coconut, jaggery and ghee for which the devotees from various parts of Kerala throng here. The deity has power to remove the obstacles in materialization of marriages for which the offering given is called Mangalya Pooja (offering for materialization of wedlock). Other deities sheltered and treated as ancillaries are Bhagwathi and Swami Ayyappan.
Muthuthala is a mostly Hindu inhabited place.
Kuthunur : Located on the south-west part of the district, the village is agriculture oriented. Rice, vegetables, tapioca and ginger have commanding positions.
Population of Hindus is more. The presence of Muslims and Christians are not strong.
The village has facilities for lower level education.
Peringottukurissi : Peringottukurussi is located in Alathur Taluk and it is near to Malesamangalm in Thrissur district on NH 47.
The village is adequately well-equipped in education facilities up to the limit of higher secondary.
Population-wise Hindus are on a strong footing.
Mannathukavu temple with its Karthik Vilakku festival in mid-December and Charamkulangara Bhagawathi temple with its Vishu Vela in April are crowd pullers.
The distinctiveness of the village is that it has mothered a peacock sanctuary called Choolanur Peacock Sanctuary spread over 500 hectares reserve forest.
Pudiyankam : Pudiyankam is a small village distanced 22 km from Palakkad town within Alathur Taluk.
This agriculture oriented village has Hindu population on steep higher side. Sparse Muslim population is there, particularly in Trippalur andThekkumuri.
The village has education facilities up to lower primary stage.
Though the village is small, it has given birth to a number of personalities shined in various fields.
Puthucode : Puthucode is a small village near Alathur.
The vocation of the village is agriculture. Major crop is paddy.
Hindus are in majority. The remaining population is of Muslims.
A recently built mosque is a crowd puller during its Nercha.
On Hindu’s side there is a temple known as Annapoorneswari temple, the goddess here is considered as the guardian of the village.
The village has education facilities up to lower level.
Puthunagaram The village is located 10 km south of Palakkad town.
The agriculture based village is inhabited mostly by Hindus. Muslims rank second and Christians third. Paddy is the major crop.
A vocational higher secondary school caters to the village.
Shornur : Shornur has grown to a town status. The location is on the northern banks of Bharathapuzha.
The population consists mostly of Hindus and Muslims.
Adequate education facilities exist.
Just across on the southern banks of the Bharathapuzha, Cheruthuruthi in Thrissur district where Kerala Kalamandalm is located. Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed university, imparts training in Kerala’s own performing arts such as Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Koothu and the like.
Shornur is more known as a railway station junction. Trains from different directions pass through.
Sreekrishnapuram : It is a small village near Cherpulasseri.
The village is agrarian and Hindu dominated. Major crops are paddy and coconut.
A Government Engineering College is the highlight of the village.
The village has two Hindu shrines – Uthrathikavu temple and Pariyanampattkavu temple. Annual festivals at both the shrines are famous.
Tarur : Tarur is a small village near Alathur.
The village is Hindu majority.
Agriculture is the main vocation, churning out paddy as main produce.
Lower level education facilities exist.
