Kerala Kalamandalam
Location : Cheruthuruthy,32 km north of Thrissur.
One
of the most revered places for the traditional art forms of Kerala, the Kalamandalam
is the cradle of Kathakali training in India. This temple of arts has preserved
and propagated Kathakali - the classical dance-drama of Kerala - for the past
78 years. Many of the internationally renowned artistes of Kerala and India
have been trained here.
The Kalamandalam and its surroundings reflect the simple, pure and ethnic atmosphere
in which these arts have survived for centuries.
The Koothambalam - the traditional dance theatre - at Kalamandalam is the only
one in the State which is built outside a temple complex. Constructed according
to vikrushtra madhya, one of the three natya grihas (theatres) specified in
sage Bharatha's Natyasasthra - a treatise on art compiled in the 2nd century
B.C, the theatre is 14.62 m long and 7.31m wide and has four wooden pillars
supporting it. It has three main parts - the aniyara (green room), the rangam
(stage) - the space on front and side of it meant for the audience, and the
mridanga-patha (where the drum is kept).
The Kerala Kalamandalam was established by allathol Narayana Menon, the renowned
Malayalam poet. It was at a time when the popularity of Kathakali was on the
wane. English education had been introduced and only a few upper class families
in the State held the key to the art form. Realising the need to keep the art
alive, the poet along with a few royal Kathakali enthusiasts like M. Mukundaraja
and Kunjikuttan Thampuran, took over the revival and popularisation programme.
They arranged performances by eminent artistes across the State and even raised
funds through lotteries.
Over the years this unique institution has imparted training for Kathakali,
Mohiniyattom, Kootiyattam, Panchavadyam, Thullal etc - following the ancient
gurukula system of education.
For more details contact :- Kerala Kalamandalam, Vallathol Nagar, Cheruthuruthy,
Thrissur, Kerala - 679531, India. Phone: 91- 0488- 2462418.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Shornur, about 10 km.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 90 km.
Monuments in Kerala
Madhavan Nayar Foundation
|| Chendamangalam || The
Antique Sellers of Jew Street || The Museum
of Kerala History || Dutch Palace
|| Thangasseri || Poonjar
Palace || Krishnapuram Palace
|| Synagogue || Indo-Portuguese
Museum || Fort Kochi || Vasco
da Gama Square || Mattancherry Palace
|| Bolghatty Island || The
Hill Palace Museum || Kunchan
Smarakam || Aranmula || Vizhinjam
Rock Cut Cave || Koyikkal Palace
|| Padmanabhapuram Palace
|| Kerala Kalamandalam || Thrithala
