Kadathanadan Kalari Centre - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 1 km from Thekkady Bus Stand, Kadathanadan Kalari Centre is a cultural center situated in Kumily. It is one of the top places to witness the intriguing martial arts form as part of the Thekkady - Munnar tour packages.

Kadathanadan Kalari Centre is famous for performing Kalaripayattu martial arts and representing Kerala's unique culture. A team of seven well-trained men conducts regular Kalaripayattu performances in a designed gallery here. The gallery is built in such a manner that one will get to watch various cultural and other sporting functions from a safe distance. Visitors will be delighted to watch this life-saving art, which is the oldest fighting system in existence.

Along with Kalaripayattu, Kadathanadan Kalari Center is also popular for Kathakali performances. Kathakali is the classical dance of Kerala and is used to tell stories from the Indian epics. Interestingly, this dance style is a blend of different fine arts, like literature, music, painting, acting, and dance. It is not simply a dance-drama, but an act of devotion featuring the universal struggle between good and evil. The dedication and synchronization of the artists performing here are worth mentioning.

Hour-long demonstrations of the exciting Keralan traditional arts of Kalaripayattu & Kathakali are staged here every evening. Tickets are available from the box office throughout the day. Even though the theater only has bare essentials, the show is breathtaking, and the narration is thrilling. The best part is that you are invited to go down into the arena to be able to hold the weapons and shields and get some great pictures at the end.

Timings:

Kathakali: 5 PM - 6 PM & 7 PM - 8 PM

Kalaripayattu: 6 PM - 7 PM

Entry: RS. 200 for Kathakali, & Rs. 200 for Kalaripayattu