Kerala’s famous Kathakali village Ayroor has been renamed as Ayirur Kathakali Gramam

Ayroor village, located on the banks of the Pamba River in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, is known for its scenic beauty and cultural heritage. But the village’s USP has always been the traditional dance-drama form of Kathakali.

It took the residents of the village a long period of 12 years to convince the authorities to rename the village. Today, the erstwhile village of Ayroor has a new name – Ayirur Kathakali Gramam. The name justifies the village’s long history and tradition of keeping the art of Kathakali alive.


Ayirur Kathakali Gramam (Ayirur) has a long-standing tradition of Kathakali performances, with several talented artists and troupes based in the village. The Mahadeva Temple, located in the village, is also known for its annual Kathakali performances during the temple festival, which draws large crowds of devotees and tourists alike. So, Ayirur is considered as one of the important centers of Kathakali in Kerala.


Did you know that Ayirur’s relationship with Kathakali goes back almost 200 years? Yes, the Kathakali heritage is centuries old and till date, a little to nothing has been changed in the artform.



Due to the efforts of Sankara Panicker of the Chirakuzhiyil family, Kathakali was made more common to the public. In the olden days, it was a special performance performed only within the walls of the temples. Back in the days, not everyone was allowed inside a temple, hence, the artform didn’t reach the mass.


Today, the village of Ayirur has produced a long line of Kathakali artists and they continue to inspire the younger generation. Isn’t that the greatest way to keep one's heritage alive?