Ottapalam

Ottapalam (Malayalam: ഒറ്റപ്പാലം) is a town in Palakkad district of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river (also called the Nila or Perar), it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here. Being headquarters of the taluk of the same name, it is one of the municipalities of the district.

Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad district of Kerala State, South India. Situated on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River (or Nila), it has a rich cultural heritage and has hosted many historic events. Headquarters of the taluk by the same name, it is one of the municipalities of the district. It used to be a major town of the erstwhile Valluvanad, during the reign of the Zamorins of Calicut. The principal spoken language is Malayalam. Other languages like English, Hindi and Tamil are also spoken to a lesser extent.

Features
Renowned personalities who owe it to this small town are:

K.R. Narayanan, India's first President from the Dalit community, represented the Ottapalam Lok Sabha constituency for three terms - 1984, 1989 and 1991.
K.P.S. Menon,Independent India's first Foreign Secretary, was born in Ottapalam. He also served pre-Independence India as an Agent-General to China.
Shiv Shankar Menon,the present Foreign Secretary also hails from the town.
Dr. Mambullikalathil Govindakumara Menon Menon, the former Union Minister and Scientific Adviser to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is from Ottapalam.
M.K.Narayanan, the former chief of the Intelligence Bureau and present National Security Adviser, hails from Ottapalam.
Sankaran Nair, the former Intelligence Bureau Director and head for the committee of Asiad 1982, is from Ottapalam.
Bhaskar Menon, the first Indian to head a multinational corporation, comes from this place. He was the chairman of Lever Brothers in England (Now Unilever).
Vidya Balan, the Bollywood actor, was born in Ottapalam.
Kalluvazhi Vasu, famous Kathakali Artist is from Ottapalam.
Ottapalam's claims to fame:

Killikkurussimangalam, near Lakkidi, is the birthplace of Kerala's famous poet and father of the traditional solo dance, Ottamthullal, Kunjan Nambiar. It is 8 km away from Ottapalam. The renowned Koodiyattam artiste late Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar also hails from Killikkurussimangalam.
Recently Ottapalam, particularly Manissery, has become a popular shooting spot for Malayalam and Tamil movies. Manissery is famous for Varikkaseri Mana, where many Malayalam movies are picturised.
Kalluvazhi Chitta is a special & attractive type of demonstration in Kathakali is originated from Ottapalam
Pariyanampatta Temple, Kattukulam also known as Valluvanadan Mookambika Temple is situating in Ottapalam

Geography

Ottapalam is located at 10.77° N 76.38° E.[1] It has an average elevation of 54 metres (177 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census[2], Ottappalam had a population of 49,230. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. It has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82% and female literacy 79%. Nearly 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.


Transport

Ottapalam is well connected to a number of major cities by road and rail.

It has a major railway station in the Indian Railways network. Most of the major passenger and express trains stop here. It is a major station between Palakkad and Shoranur in the Konkan route and Wadakkanchery in the Kanyakumari/Alapuzha route.

The Palakkad-Shoranur (Kulappully) State Highway passes through the town. Regular bus services (Public as well as private) operate between Ottapalam and other major towns such as Thrissur, Palakkad, Pattambi, Guruvayur and Thiruvilwamala.

Calicut International Airport, Karippur, Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, and Coimbatore Domestic Airport are the nearest airports.


Nearest Places

Coimbatore - 75 km east.
Cherpulachery - 17 km north.
Manissery- 4 km west.
Palakkad - 34 km east.
Palappuram- 4 km east.
Pattambi - 20 km away, enroute to Guruvayur.
Shoranur - 15 km west.
Thrissur - 50 km west.
Ambalapara - 10 km north enroute to Mannarkkad
Mangalamkunnu - 17 km north enroute to Mannarkkad
Sreekrishnapuram - 21 km north enroute to Mannarkkad

Distances to major places in Kerala

Thrissur - 50 km west.
Kozhikode - 99 km north.
Kochi - 84 km south.
Thiruvananthapuram - 340 km south.

Important Roads

Main Road, Ottapalam
TB Road, Ottapalam
Chembolly Road, Kanniampuram
Cherpulassery Road, Ottapalam
PV Menon Road, Thottakara
Mathur Mana Road, Thottakara

Temples

Pariyanampatta Temple, Kattukulam
Muthalappara Bhagavathi Kshetram
Killikavu temple, Kanniampuram
Srikurumba Bhagavathi temple, [Chorottur]
Chinakkathurkavu temple, [Palappuram]
Puzhikunnu Sri Krishna temple, Ottapalam
Vengeri Shivan temple, Ottapalam
Srirandumoorthi temple, [Thrikankode]
Killikkavu temple, [Manissery]
Nilikavu temple, [Palappuram]
Chattankandar kavu, [Verode]
Kalari Temple, [Thottakara]
Thiruvalayanad Bhagavathi temple, [Thottakara]
Parthasarathy Temple, [Thottakara]
Mathoor Mana, [Thottakara]
Killikavu temple, Pulachithra, Vaniyamkulam
Kalikavu temple,Pookkottukavu

Educational Instituitions

Schools

Govt Model High School, Kadambur. It is a rich cultured school in Palakkad district
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ottapalam
NSS KPT School, run by Nair Service Society
Mannam Memorial NSS English Medium High School
Seventh-Day Adventist HSS (Kanniyampuram)
Lady Sankaran Nair HSS and Lady Immaculate Junior School
Amrita Vidyalayam (Kanniyampuram)
Islamic Central School
Bhavans Ottapalam, Kanniampuram
ALP School Pookkottukavu
AKNMMA Memorial High School,Kattukulam
GLP School Thanikunnu
Govt HSS Munnurkode
Lakshmi Narayana Vidya Nikethan, Chakkala Kundu, Palappuram.
Daffodils, Near Gas godown Palappuram
Lakshmi Narayana Junior School, Near CPM Area Committee Office Ottappalam.
Colleges

N.S.S.College Ottapalam, run by Nair Service Society
N.S.S.Training College, run by Nair Service Society
Lakshmi Narayana College, Palappuram
Lakshmi Narayana Women's College Ottapalam
Ottapalam Cooperative College, Ottapalam
Allied Management College (Manissery-Ottapalam)
Allied Model College (Manissery-Ottapalam)
RMCC Professional College
Hospitals

Government Hospital, TB Road, Ottapalam
Ashwini Hospital, Ottapalam
Valluvanad Hospital, Kanniampuram
Seventh-day Adventist (S.D.A.) Hospital, Kanniampuram
Semalk Hospital, Kanniampuram

Banks

Canara Bank
Catholic Syrian Bank
Dhanalakshmi Bank
Federal Bank
Punjab Bank
State Bank of Travancore
State Bank of India
South Indian Bank
Urban Bank
ICICI Bank

Entertainment

Ottapalam has three movie theatres.

Lakshmi Theater is the oldest one. It is located on the main road
Jass Theater is near Aswini Hospital.
Imperial Theater is on the Railway Station Road.

Hotels

Ayodhya Hotel and Lodging, Catholic Syrian Bank lane
Aramana Bar, Hotel and Lodging, Railway Station Road
Breeze Lodge
Priya Hotel and Lodging, Main Road, opposite Ashwini Hospital

Restaurants

Choice Restaurant
Group Of Kalyani Hotels
Hotel Greenland
Hotel Sreelakshmi
Hotel Ruchi
Nila BakeHouse & Restaurant