Nileshwaram

Referred to as the cultural capital of Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala. "The first Chief Minister of Kerala and communist leader E. Namboodiripad, Kamaran Nair had contested elections to the Assembly from the Neeleshwaram segment."

• Name — Nileshwaram • Official Name — Nileshwar / Nileshwaram • Nickname — Cultural capital of Kasargod district • Settlement Type — Town / Municipality • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — India • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Kerala • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Kasaragod • Subdivision Type3 — Taluk • Subdivision Name3 — Hosdurg • Government Type — Municipality • Governing Body — Nileshwar municipality • Leader Title — Chairperson • Leader Name — P.P. Muhammad Rafi (CPIM) • Leader Title1 — Vice Chairperson • Leader Name1 — P.M. Sandhya (CPIM) • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 26.23 • Population Total — 39,752 • Population As Of — 2011 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Demographics Type1 — Languages • Demographics1 Title1 — Official • Demographics1 Info1 — Malayalam • Leader Name2 — Sandeep Varier (INC) • Leader Title2 — MLA • Timezone1 — IST • Utc Offset1 — +5:30 • Postal Code Type — PIN • Postal Code — 671314 • Area Code Type — Telephone code • Area Code — 0467 • Registration Plate — KL-60

Neeleswaram, or Nileswaram, is the abbreviated form of Neelakanteshweram. The Kolathiri Dominion emerged into independent 10 principalities in the late medieval period, i.e., Kadathanadu (Vadakara), Randathara or Poyanad (Dharmadom), Kottayam (Thalassery), Nileshwaram, Iruvazhinadu (Panoor), Kurumbranad etc., under separate royal chieftains due to the outcome of internal dissensions. Many portions of the present-day Hosdurg taluk (Kanhangad) and Vellarikundu were parts of the Nileshwaram dynasty, who were relatives to both Kolathunadu as well as Zamorin of Calicut, in the early medieval period. Nileshwaram was historically the seat of the Neeleswaram Rajahs, who belonged to the clans of the Kolathiri and Zamorins. The Nileshwar Rajahs and the Bednore Nayaks battled in this area. The grand finale of the annual temple festival season takes place in this area, which is known for its "kavus", or sacred groves. The most famous of the sacred groves is the Mannampurathu Kavu. The town is also known for Theyyam, the ritualistic art forms. Also Nileshwar is the first town in Kerala famous for cultivating 'Chengthengu' (red dwarf coconut). In 1918, the Rajah's High School was established, it was one of the first north Kerala schools of its kind. The school retains a letter written to the students by Mahatma Gandhi on his way in 1928 to Mangalore. It was part of a broad appeal for people to rally behind the national movement. in 2024, 150 people were injured by fireworks at Theru Anjootambalam Veererkavu temple.

• Illustration — Local bodies in Kasaragod district Nileshwar municipal town is administered by the Nileshwar Municipality, headed by a chairperson and vice chairperson. Nileshwar surrounding Panchayats are administered by Nileshwar Block Panchayat. Nileshwaram is politically a part of Thrikaripur Assembly constituency under Kasaragod Loksabha constituency.

Nileshwar Municipality is composed of following 32 wards: • Ward no. — Name — Ward no. — Name • 1 — Padinhatam kozhuval west — 2 — Padinhatam kozhuval east • 3 — Kizhakkan kozhuval — 4 — Palakkat • 5 — Chirappuram — 6 — Pattena • 7 — Suvarnavally — 8 — Palathadam • 9 — Palayi — 10 — Vallikkunnu • 11 — Chathamathu — 12 — Poovalamkai • 13 — Kunhippulikkal — 14 — Karyamkode • 15 — Perole — 16 — Thattachery • 17 — Pallikkara I — 18 — Pallikkara II • 19 — Karuvachery — 20 — Koyamburam • 21 — Anachal — 22 — Kottappuram • 23 — Kadinhimoola — 24 — Purathekai • 25 — Thaikadappuram south — 26 — Thaikadappuram centre • 27 — Thaikadappuram north — 28 — Thaikadappuram sea road • 29 — Thaikadappuram store — 30 — Kotrachal • 31 — Kanichira — 32 — Nileshwaram Town

Most of the people are Hindus, followed by Christians and Muslims. To a lesser extent, there are Jain and Buddhists. The name Nileshwaram is derived from the name of a temple Thaliyil Siva Temple (Neelakanteshwaran), and the culture of the town is based in large part by its temples, like Thaliyil Siva Temple, Mannam Purath Kaavu, Shri Gopalakrishna Temple and Vaikunda Temple.

Nileshwar Town is between Kochi and Panvel on the National Highway 66 (previously NH-17). Private and KSRTC buses provide routes to many cities like Ernakulam, Calicut, Mangalore, Mysore and Bangalore. There are rail services at Nileshwar railway station. There are airports at Mangalore to the north and Kannur to the south.

• Illustration — Kovilakam Chira (Pond) • Illustration — Thali Shiva Temple-Nileshwaram • Illustration — Statue of Shri Gopalakrishna in Nileshwaram • Illustration — Railway Station Nileshwaram • Illustration — Nileshwaram palace • Illustration — A Kettuvallam in Nileshwaram backwaters • Illustration — Nileshwaram bus station