Ottappalam

35Kms from Palakkad, this town is known for its numerous places of worship and the colourful festivals. Ottappalam was once, the centre of political as well as tenant movements in the south Malabar of the erstwhile Malabar Province of Madras Presidency. The important Hindu festival of Ottappalam is at Chathan Kandar Kavu in Varode Desam. Legend goes that the temple was built by the local Kanjoor Namboodiri family at a place where Harijan called Chathan found a stone bleeding while he was sharpening his knife on it. The deity of this temple is Durga. The annual festival is Thalapoli, which is celebrated on Avitam day of Meenam (March or April).