Kalaripayattu, the treasure Kerala should also be famous for

Keep Kerala’s tea and coffee plantations, beaches and backwaters aside for a while and let’s look at a part of Kerala’s culture we don’t usually talk about – Kalaripayattu. It’s an ancient Indian martial art form with a history that dates back over 3,000 years.

Kalaripayattu is, without a doubt, one of the world's oldest martial art forms that combines physical combat techniques, self-defence tactics, exercise routines and spiritual elements. Kalaripayattu is indigenous to Kerala and should be a part of your Kerala itinerary.


The word Kalaripayattu is derived from two words Kalari, meaning battleground, and Payattu, meaning training of martial arts. It’s an art that mixes the training for combat with physical and mental conditioning.


True to Kerala’s culture, Kalaripayattu also integrates yoga and ayurveda. So why shouldn’t it be something that visitors get to see and experience just as often as one does with other attractions like Kathakali, backwaters, cuisine and gorgeous landscapes?


Kalaripayattu also includes the use of various traditional weapons, such as swords, daggers, spears, and flexible weapons like the urumi. There are several schools where one can witness people practising this martial art. Truth be told, it’s more common to see Kalaripayattu during festivals and celebrations. Even though it’s an indigenous art form, it’s not so common.


The traditional Kalari schools have historically been centres of learning, a place that not only imparted martial knowledge, but also lessons on philosophy, ethics, and the deeper understanding of the human body and mind.


Destinations like Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Kochi are some of the places in Kerala where one can go visit the Kalaripayattu centres and see the performances.


If one has the time and conviction, one can even get lessons during their visit. Who said a leisure visit to Kerala has to be only about the usual?


Make no mistake, it’s an art form that takes a lifetime to learn. But a casual beginner class wouldn’t hurt anyone, we think. For those curious, Kalaripayattu training takes place in four stages – Meipayattu (body control exercise), Kolthari (practise with wooden weapons), Angathari (practise with metal weapons), and Verumkai (bare-hand combat).

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Each of these stages takes at least a year’s worth of training. Definitely something that is impossible to achieve during your week-long Kerala holiday. But don't let the technicality stop you.


Let Kalaripayattu be your cultural experience on your next visit to Kerala; not only because it is something that’s fun to watch, but because it is something that is a big and integral part of Kerala’s culture.