Kalpathy Agraharam

An agraharam (Brahmin Street) welcomes you to similar-looking houses lining both sides of a road that leads to a temple, all following the traditional style of architecture. The Kalpathy Agraharam in Palakkad is one such place situated on the banks of River Kalpathy. The settlers here mainly belong to the Brahmin community, who fled from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu during the 1790s fearing attack by Tipu Sultan. It is said that they were on their way to Kozhikode when en route the Raja of Palakkad provided them with a settlement at Kalpathy. The Brahmins set up an agraharam which is, today, a combination of four agraharams " Chathapuram, Govindarajapuram, Old Kalpathy and New Kalpathy.

There is a Siva temple here that resembles the famous Kasi Viswanatha Swamy temple of Benares. The flagstaff of the Kalpathy temple is known for its sheer size. Kalpathy is also famous for the very popular Kalpathy Ratholsavam, or chariot festival, that is held in November. All the temples in the vicinity take part in the chariot festival.