Vatakara is a small town in Kozhikode district of Kerala in south India.
Geographically Vatakara is situated
to the west of kozhikode by the side of historical Kottakkal puzha. Initially known as Vadakkekara due to its position with respect to the Kottakkal puzha came to be called as vatakara by popular usage later.
Historically, Vatakara is the capital of old kurumbranadu, a tribal flock known as kurumbrar, where the main inhabitants of this place. This is the story behind Vatakara getting the name kurumbranadu.
Kalaripayyattu
Kozhikode
is famous for its
martial art called
Kalaripayyattu. The
Northern
kalarippayattu gives
more emphasis on
weapons than on
empty hands.
Northern
kalarippayattu is
distinguished by its
meippayattu physical
training and use of
full-body oil
massage. The system
of treatment and
massage, and the
assumptions about
practice are closely
associated with
Ayurveda. The
historian Elamkulam
Kunjan Pillai
attributes the birth
of northern
kalarippayattu to an
extended period of
warfare between the
Cheras and the
Cholas in the 11th
century.
Unniyarcha
Unniyarcha (or sometimes spelled Unniarcha) is a popular legendary woman warrior mentioned in the Vatakkan Pattukal, the old ballads of north Malabar. She is a popular character in Kerala folklore. She was from North Kerala a small state in south India who lived in the 16th century.
According to the folklore, Attummanammel Unniyarcha is from the famous Puthooram Veedu an Ezhava Chekavar family of Malabar.
For the
people
of
Kozhikode,
this
pleasant
stretch
of rock
studded
beach is
Kappakkadavu.
To the
tourist
it is
one of
the most
charming
of
Kerala's
beaches.
Kappad
finds
mention
in
history
and
geography
texts as
the
gateway
to the
Malabar
coast.
A
Kalari
belonging
to
Thacholi
Othenan,
the
legendary
hero of
the
ballad
of
Malabar
called
"Vadakkan Pattu"
can be
seen at
a short
distance
from
Vatakara.
A
monument
and
Kalari
still
exists
at this
place
which is
3 kms
away
from
Vatakara.
Every
year
martial
arts
festival
is held
in the
month of
March or
April.
There is
a ruined
fort in
the
town.
A veritable treasure trove for historians and connoisseurs of art, the Pazhassiraja Museum is located in Kozhikode - the land of spices which lured navigators from time immemorial down to the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498.
The
Marakars
were
admirals
of
Zamorins.
who
valiantly
resisted
the
Portuguese
on high
seas.
Kunhali
marakkar
built a
fort on
the
southern
bank of
Mooriad
river
which
was
completely
destroyed
by
Portuguese
with the
help of
Zamorins for various reasons.
Kozhikode
is famous for its
martial art called
Kalaripayyattu. The
Northern
kalarippayattu gives
more emphasis on
weapons than on
empty hands.
Northern
kalarippayattu is
distinguished by its
meippayattu physical
training and use of
full-body oil
massage. The system
of treatment and
massage, and the
assumptions about
practice are closely
associated with
Ayurveda. The
historian Elamkulam
Kunjan Pillai
attributes the birth
of northern
kalarippayattu to an
extended period of
warfare between the
Cheras and the
Cholas in the 11th
century. 
