Kadathanadu

Kadathanadu, alternately known as Vatakara or Badagara) was a kingdom in northern Malabar just north of the Korapuzha River, ruled by the Porlathiri after their dispossession from Calicut. They were traditionally feudatories and kin of the Kolathiri kingdom in present-day Kerala, on the Malabar Coast. The region is most known for being the area where the events of the Vadakkan Pattukal, a set of warrior ballads from Kerala, took place, and for being one of the heartlands of Kerala's native martial art, Kalarippayattu.

Geographical location

Geographically, Kadathanadu is situated to the south of Thalassery and north of Koyilandy on the Malabar coast, beside the historical Kottakkal river. The area roughly six kilometers from Vatakara is known as Kadathanadu. The place is now part of Puduppanam in Vatakara.

Kadathanadu, apart from its cultural richness, is also the site of a famous Hindu temple, the Lokanarkavu temple.

History

The erstwhile princely state of Kadathanadu was ruled by Rajas of Kadathanadu also known as Kadathanadttu Raja, who were of Nair origin and was feudatories to the Kolathiri.[1] Around 1750, the ruler of Kadathanadu had adopted the title of Raja, with the explicit consent of the Kolathiri. Harivihar is the 150-year-old residence of the Kadathanadu royal family. Legend has it that the sons of the Kadathanadu rulers were sent to Calicut to be educated in institutions set up by the Zamorin of Calicut, and hence a city house was built for the young princes.

During Malayalam Era 965 corresponding to 1789-90, Tipu Sultan crossed over to Malabar with his army. A small army of 2000 of Kadathanadu resisted the invasion from a fortress in Kuttipuram near Nadapuram for a few weeks. This land, whose Sanskrit name is Ghatolkachakshiti, mainly included parts of the present Vadakara taluk. The king of Katthannad was addressed as Vazhunnor.

Kadthanad is famous for kalari.kalari, a form of martil art was widely practiced and taught by thiyya warriors of that time.Aromal chekavar, unniyarcha, chandu chekavr and kadthand simham kuroli chekon were famous among them. Thacholi othenan another famous warrior lived in the 18th century was also belongs to kadthanadu.LoknarkavTemple is famous for the Kalarikars of Kadattanadu.Renowned poet Katthannad Madhaviyamma is the contribution of this land

References
  1. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). History of Tipu Sultan. Aakar Books. ISBN 978-81-87879-57-2.


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