The land of classical art forms, ayurveda and home of Adi Sankara, the revered sage whose theses in Sanskrit still attracts attention. All these have various schools of interpretation, but essentially enrich knowledge.
The beautiful hamlet by the river Periyar, Kalady in Malayalam means ‘feet imprint’, took its name after Adi Sankara’s feet imprints on the spot where the river changed course so that it flowed nearer to Adi Sankara’s home. The place is sacred to Hindus and of academic interest to anyone studying the Veda and Adi Sankara’s life. The place has some temples and few ashrams or hemitages. Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit adds a complementing dimension to Kalady.
Through generations, the classical art forms and allied arts have been passed on to students in Gurukulams (schools). These gurukulams have waned with passage of time. The rich cultural traditions like the highly intricate designs in murals (Chuvar Chitrangal) and wood carvings (Daru shilpa) are all governed by stringent rules that call for dedication of both the guru and shishya.
