Kalrivathukkal Temple is a very famous temple located in Valapattanam in Kannur district. As the name suggests, this temple was associated with a Kalari where weapons training was practiced. This place, which provided Kalari training to many young men from Kolathur, also molded many warriors for Kolathuri’s army. It is said that at least five thousand people used to practice Kalari from here every year. This temple got its name Kalari Vathukkal Temple because it is located in front of the main gate of the old Kalari, known as Valor Kalari.
Valapattanam Fort, the main fort of the Kolathuri king, was located near the Kalari Vathukkal Temple. Valapattanam was once a famous place as the main royal city of Kolathuri. This fort, which was largely destroyed during Tipu Sultan’s invasion of Malabar, is now completely ruined.
The temple has a Balikal pura, a temple enshrining the idol of Bhadrakali, and a Shiva lingam. The Sapta Matru temple is located in the southern courtyard of the temple. The idols of the Sapta Mathru (seven goddess) and Ganapati are enshrined in it. The Sapta Mathru are Brahmi, Maheshwari, Indrani, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, and Chamundi.
The mandapam is located to the southwest of the temple of Sri Bhadrakali. On some special occasions, a special ceremony called Kalanjilari is performed here. Sri Bhadrakali is known as Kalari Vathukkal or Kalari Vathukkal Bhagavathi. All the idols in this temple are carved in the core of the plank.
The main festival of the Kalari Vathukkal temple is the Poorolsavam, which is held every year in the month of Meena from the Karthika star to the Pooram star. During the Poorolsavam, every night during the festival, the Edamkaiyar of Pattuvathuruvam in Chirakkal region and the Chaliya community, who worship Sree Kurumba as the parade goddess, perform Poorakalli in the Thirumuttam. Apart from the Poorakalli, the Kalathilari and Pattum, which are held every year in the month of Makaram, are another important ceremony here.
