Nileshwaram, also known as Nileshwar, is a town in the Kasaragode District of Kerala with an area of 14.14 km² and population of 22,661 (1991 census)popularly known as Cultural capital of Kasargod.
Arts and Culture
Nileshwar is the cultural capital of Kasaragod district. There are a large number of socio -cultural organizations across the length and breadth of the town. The place is also famous for its communal harmony. In the realm of cultural and social activities here lived several eminent leaders . Several activists from Nileshwar participated in the freedom struggle , movement against Endo-sulphan , anti-liquor campaign etc. The new generation helps Nileshwar to stand proudly in Kasaragod district as its cultural capital. The calmness and beauty of Nileshwar is incomparable. Arts Forms It is famous for its folk arts, temple festivals, palace, sacred grooves, old markets, and weaver street. Famous festival in Nileshwar is Pooram and Kalasam in Mannampurathukavu and festival in Thaliyil temple. Porat (ശാലീയ പൊറാട്ട്), in Anjoottabalam Veerarkavu and the Pooram festival in Cheermakkavu attracts thousands of people in the month of Meenam. The temple premises are filled with red cloth as the devotees present to the goddess in gratitude and also for curing severe diseases like chicken-pox. The famous artists who lived here and spread the name of the town include Kanayi Kunhiraman,Kavya Madhavan and Sri.Krishnan Anjoottan. The Theyyam festival performed in several kavus, tharavads and 'temples'[ not the right term to call as temple]invite the attention of large number of foreigners. The festivities start from Thulam-10 [Theyyam in Anjoottambalam] and continue till Idavam. In Nileshwar alone Theyyam in different forms performed like Padarkulangara Bhagavathi,Padinhare Chamundi, Moovalamkuzhi Chamundi, Kundor Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi, Vishnumoorthi, Palot Bhagavathi, Muchilot Bhagavathi, Vairajathan, Vairavan, several Bhagavathis, and Gulikans.
Kolkali,poorakkali, alamikali etc
Kolkali in praise of gods performed by the nayars of kizakkan kozuval from the biginning of the 19th century. Poorakkali performed by the kazhakams in nileshwar and produced eminent panikkers like Maicha Govindan. In the month of march poorakkali was performed in a competituion basis and known as marathukali.Alamikali performed in connection with the Porat in memory of the art form performed near manthop maidan in the past.
Naming Nileshwaram
The name "Nileshwaram" derives from "Neelakandeswaran" means Lord Siva, the deity of the Thaliyil temple. There is another folklore that the place was named so after Sage Neela who installed the deity of Lord Siva thousands of years ago. The name Nileshwaram derives from Neelichutta Idam[now called as Karuvacherry]Nileshwar lies between two rivers, Nileshwaram river and Karyangodu river. To the west is the Arabian Sea.
The Thekke Kovilakam, Kinavoor Kovilakam, Kovilakam Chira, Tali Temple etc. associated with the Nileshwar Raja family attracts thousands of tourists from different corners of the world.
Tali Shiva Temple[ Neelakandeswara Temple
Believed to be enshrined by Sree Parasurama the temple plys a great role in shaping the history of Nileshwar. From the name of the temple Neelakandeswara derives Nileshwar.
Kadanjathoor Sree Krishna Temple
Presents utmost divinity with the big pond. Considers to be the birth place of Sree Krishna. The temple had a rich past before the invasion of Tipu Sultan. Neglect from the part of the natives led to the sorry state of the temple. But the devotees expect the revival of the temple surpassing all other Krishna temples maily because of its rich past.It stands in the middle of Neelakandeswara temple and the Arabean sea.
Mannanpurathu Kavu [Chathayamangalam Temple]
Mannampurathu Kavu[Chadayamangalam Baghavathi Temple] filled with trees in the centre of the town becomes wonder to the tourists. The temples history is related to Mannan , a notorious figure, and his assassination by Mannampurath Baghavathi. The temple also tells us the story of the migration of Nair families to Nileshwar from the South. Then they invited a priestly class[non-vegitarian] to do the rituals of the temple. During the Pooram festival large number of devotees came to the temble and worship the 'Thidamp' and got the blessings of Kavilamma and 'Eruvattachan' and 'Mailittachan'. The 'Kavilachans' with 'Olakkudas' express the divinity assured to them.
Anjootambalam Veerkavu
Famous for Movalamkuzhi Chamundi Theyyam and Saliya porat and Pooram festival. Sacred place of saliya caste in and around Nileshwar. Residents have been making famous cotton clothes.
Cheerma Kavu
Natives worshipped sree Kurumba Bagavathi for curing chicken pox and other contaminable diseases.
Sree Muthappan Temple Nileshwar
There is an interesting story regarding the construction of Sree Muthappan Temple, Nileshwar.The Sree Muthappan temple near National Highway No 17 in Nileshwar has a rich heritage. It tells philosophical, devotional and educational importance of Nileshwar.
As a result of the formation of a committee and the great work done by the members of the committee the temple developed as famouse a daily hundreds of people visited there. There is a strong belief that the God will cure all diseases and will give prosperity to the devotees. The devotees will get Payakutti from the temple and stood developing as a great temple like the Sree Muthappan temple at Parassini kadavu.
Muchilot Bagavathi Temple Puthukai
Muchilot Bagavathi Muchilot Bagavathi is one of the most popular deity worshipped in North Kerala. There is a practice for suppling food to thousands of devotees in connection with the Muchilot Bagavathi. Another work 'Muchilot Bagavathi' narrates the origin and establishment of Muchilot Kavu in different parts of Kannur and Kasaragod District. Highly decorative figure of Muchilot Bagavathi attracts the minds of devotees and the men of esthetic sense. In Cherukunnu and Kannapuram yearly Muchilot Bagavathi Theyyam performed. But in several other Kavus [worshipping place] Muchilot Bagavathi Theyyam performing in a gap of 12 to several years like one at Kayyur[near Nileshwar] in Jan 2008 after a term of 47 years. Ramanthali [near Payyanur]also came into the fore in 2008 January as a result of the Muchilot Bagavathi Perumkaliyattam. Perumkaliyattam at Muyyam near Taliparamba was a great experience to the devotees in the month of December 2007.
Nearby Attractions
Guru Vanam 3 km from Nileshwar Anandasramam 10km north of Nileshwar Hosdurg Fort 8km north of Nileshwar Bekal Fort 19 km north of Nileshwar Veeramalakunnu 5 km south of Nileshwar Valia Pramba island is near Nileshwar. It is a thin strip of land which has sea on one side and the river on the other side. There are boat services from Nileshwar to Valiya Paramba.