Ottapalam

Ottapalam is a heritage town in Palakkad District, Kerala, situated on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River. It serves as a cultural and commercial centre of the region and is known for traditional Kerala architecture, historic manas such as Varikkasseri Mana, and the annual Chinakkathoor Pooram festival. The town is also a noted centre for Malayalam literature and a popular film shooting location.

Visitors can expect a riverside town with a mix of heritage buildings, traditional Kerala manas, temples and bustling local markets. The Bharathapuzha River forms a scenic backdrop, while the Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple area is the focal point during festivals. Streets offer local shops, eateries and access to nearby rural landscapes, paddy fields and historic sites that can be explored on foot or by auto-rickshaw.

Ottapalam was part of the medieval Valluvanad kingdom and later came under the Zamorin of Calicut and British Malabar. It developed as an administrative and trading centre on the Bharathapuzha River, with colonial-period public buildings and traditional feudal manas like Varikkasseri Mana reflecting the region's Nair heritage.

Ottapalam is a cultural centre of Palakkad known for the Chinakkathoor Pooram festival at Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple, traditional Kerala architecture, and its association with Malayalam literature and cinema. The town and its riverine landscape are frequently used as a film shooting location and retain folk arts and temple traditions.