If Kathakali has achieved world fame it is mostly thanks to Cheruthuruthy the home of the internationally acclaimed ‘Kerala Kalamandalam’, the flagship training school for ‘Kathakali’ and other indigenous performing arts of Kerala. Cheruthuruthy is a charming riverside village situated in Thrissur the cultural capital of Kerala and in the vicinity of the Shoranur railway juction. It is the location of Cheruthuruthy that has made it a unique place. It lies at the west end of the renowned Palakkad Gap, a route cutting through the barrier of the western Ghats, once used by traders, immigrants and invaders to access the coastal regions of Kerala. The convenience of this trade route attracted people to this district and made it an area rich in cultural attractions. It undoubtedly is the ‘Kalamandalam’ that has put this serene village on to the global map of art and culture. The Kalamandalam situated in a sprawling aesthetically, designed campus of 32 acres is the citadel of learning for ‘Kathakali’, a dance-drama and other performing arts of Kerala like Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, and Ottam Thullal. Karnatic Vocal music, Violin and Kerala’s percussion instrument courses are also offered at Kerala Kalamandalam.