Travel Shop

Discover India

Hot Spots

Hill Stations

Holy Places

Around the World

Contact Us

Introduction

Air:Nearest airports: Mangalore (50 km); Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode (200 km)

Rail:On the Kozhikode-Mangalore-Mumbai route. Enquiry Ph: 230200

Road:An excellent network of roads connect Kasaragod to major towns in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Culture Zone -

Anandasram (15 km from Bekal): This internationally renowned spiritual centre founded by Swami Ramdas in 1939, offers a quiet, peaceful ambience best suited for meditation and spiritual studies.

Ananthapura Lake Temple (30 km from Bekal): This 9th century temple is the only lake temple in Kerala and is the moolasthanam (original abode) of Ananthapadmanabha, the deity of Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. A crocodile at the temple pond, said to be 150 year old is a major attraction.

Manjeswaram: A number of temples and fifteen mosques make this cashew growing town a prominent pilgrim centre

Jain Temples:There are two old Jain Bastis at Bengara Manjeswar on the southern bank of the Manjeswar River

Churches:About 11 km from Kumbla on the Kumbla -Badiadka road is the Mother Dolorus Church of Bela. The hundred-year-old Roman Catholic church is built in the Gothic style. The Our Lady of Sorrows Church constructed in 1890, is the oldest in the district. The memorial of the late Govinda Pai, the grand patriarch of Kannada literature, is also located at Manjeswaram.

Madiyankulam Durga Temple: This Bhadrakali Temple at Kanhangad in Hosdurg is famed for the Bhutha dance performed in connection with the annual festivals in May/June & December/January.

Sree Mahalingeswara Temple, Adoor (45 km from Kasaragod): Located in wooded surroundings on the southern banks of the River Payaswini, this ancient Siva Temple contains a Sanskrit inscription in Kannada script which has been ascribed to the Western Chalukya King Kirthivarman II (745 - 755 AD).

Trikkaripur:The old seat of the Thazhekattu Mana, Trikkaripur is the hometown of T S Thirumumb, poet and freedom fighter, and Guru Chandu Panikkar, the famous Kathakali artist.

Madhur Temple (8 km north of Kasaragod town): The Srimad Anantheswara Vinayaka Temple, with its rich architecture and copper plate roofing, rises majestically against the beautiful landscape of the Madhuvahini River.

Edneer Mutt (10 km north east of Kasaragod): The Mutt of Edneer renowned as a seat of art and learning belongs to the Sankaracharya tradition.

Tulur Vanam (4 km east of Panathur):Also known as Kekulom (the eastern place). The temple here is consecrated to Kshetrapalan and Bhagavathi. The eight-day annual festival commencing from Sivarathri, attracts large crowds from all over the district as well as from Coorg.

Central Plantation Crops & Research Institute (CPCRI):The Institute was established in 1970 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and has its headquarters in Kudlu, 5 km north of Kasaragod. The CPCRI serves as a national forum for improving the genetic potential of plantation crops, to conduct basic and applied research on various aspects of these crops, to produce genetically superior planting materials for coconut, arecanut, spices and cashewnut.

Malik Deenar Mosque: Kasaragod acquired over the years considerable importance as a centre of Islam on the west coast. The historic Malik Deener Juma Masjid built in the typical Kerala style is believed to have been founded by Malik Ibin Dinar. The Juma Masjid, which is one of the best kept and most attractive in the district is located at Thalankara.

Nileswaram: The cultural centre of the district, this was the seat of the Nileswar Rajas. The Nileswaram Palace today functions as the folklore centre of the Dept. of Archaeology. The town is also famous for its numerous kavus (shrines), temple festivals and the Kavil Bhavan Yoga and Cultural Centre which offers rejuvenation therapy and naturopathy treatments like mud and herbal baths.

Annual Events

Pattutsavam, Madiyan Kovilakam, Kanhangad:
Nine day annual festival in January. Highlights: Cultural performances, religious rites, grand elephant processions

Chaliyaporattu festival, Chuliyar Bhagavathy Temple, Aniyal Theru (3 km from Kanhangad):Annual festival in March named after the popular folk art of the name, prevalent in North Kerala. Palakunnu

Bharani: The event is marked by processions and brilliant fire works. (First week of March)

Nileswar Poorakali:Folk dance of men performed at the Nagacherry Bhagavathy Temple (last week of March to first week of April)

Utsavam at Pishakarikavu Temple (March)

Pooram at Arakkal Temple (March/April)

Annual festivals at Lokanarkavu Temple (March/April, November/December)

Theyyam: Performed in houses, tharavads and shrines (October) Kanathur Theyyam Kaliyattom (last week of December every year) Kalom Kanipu Utsavom, Palakunnu: Women's procession with earthen pots which are later displayed at the local temple Puppet Show: Prof. Srinath, Sirikannada Press, Opp. SBT, Kasaragod.

Art forms of Kasaragod

Theyyam - The oldest ritualistic temple art form in India and one of the most spectacular in terms of artistry and symbolism. Theyyam literally means a form or shape, which is usually the representation of a divine or heroic character from mythology. The Bekal Resorts Development Corporation - an Information Centre at the Bekal Fort provides an annual Theyyam Calendar. Normally performed in houses, tharavads and shrines.
 

Yakshagana - This classical art form of Karnataka is very common in Kasaragod. Two variations of this performing art are Bayalattu and Bommayattu. Kannada Parthy Subba, the father of Yakshagana belongs to Kumbla in Kasaragod Professional agency - Kottoor Karthikeya Kalakendra, Kottoor PO, Muliyar, Kasaragod.