Thiruvilwamala

Thiruvilwamala, also spelt Thiruvilluamala, is a hilly village in the northern terrain of Thrissur district of Kerala state in southern India.

The village, which is more of a temple town, is located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river, with nearest towns being Shoranur and Ottappalam. The place is famous for the Vilwadrinatha temple, which is among the rare Sri Rama temples in Kerala. Niramaala is one of the famous festive events here.

Noted litterateur, the late VKN (Vadakke Koottala Narayanan Kutty Nair), hailed from this place. It has also been home for writers like Manasi, P.A. Divakaran, M.K. Nambiar, M. Kannan, Marshal, Mohan Thiruvilwamala and V.K.K. Ramesh. Late poet P. Kunhiraman Nair had stayed here for long, having fallen in love with the scenic beauty and culture of the place. Raobahadur T.K. Nair, a former state minister, hailed from this place. The place has also given birth to prominent artistes in the field of Kathakali, especially maddalam players like the late Venkichan Swamy and his pupil Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval besides Kalamandalam Eachara Warrier. Late freedom fighter K. Kumaran, who set up Sadanam Kathakali Akademi (or Gandhi Seva Sadan) in Peroor near Ottapalam, also is a native of Pambadi near this village. Besides, it has given rise to Panchavadyam artistes like Thiruvilwamala Hari and Jayan (both edakka players). Also famous for its set of Carnatic musicians, the Sri Rama temple here hosts a relay south Indian classical concert even on the auspicious day of ekadasi.

The place is also famous for the kasavu clothing made in nearby villages like Kuthampulli.

Thiruviwamala has many other temples of ancient years and have more than four Shiva temples. Ivor Madom, the Krishna temple, is famous for the ceremonies performed in order to ensure peace for the soul of the dead. Other temples and groves of thiruvilwamala are:-Parakkottu Kavu, Cheruthrikkovil, the temples of Mariyamma in Aakkaparambu, Eravathodi, Pattiparambu, Kuthampulli, Soudeshwari Amman temple (Kuthampulli) and Poothanakkara Shiva Temple.

The Parakkottukavu pooram festival falls on the last Sunday of the Malayalam month of Medam (mid-May). The firework spectacles in this pooram would match up to the the fireworks of the world famous Thrissur pooram.