Vallathol Nagar Campus
The Vallathol Nagar Campus of Kerala Kalamandalam is not just an educational institution but a vibrant cultural center dedicated to serving as a cultural hub, preserving and promoting Kerala’s rich artistic heritage. The campus features several academic buildings where students receive both theoretical and practical training in their chosen art forms. These buildings include classrooms, rehearsal halls, and performance spaces, all equipped to facilitate traditional teaching methods and practices.
Separate hostel facilities for male and female students are designed to provide a comfortable living environment while maintaining the discipline and focus necessary for intensive artistic training. The campus includes various performance venues, such as a main auditorium, where students and visiting artists regularly present their work. These venues are essential for the practice and perfection of performing arts, providing a stage for both internal and public performances.
A comprehensive library and archives on campus contain an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, recordings, and other resources related to traditional Kerala arts, supporting the academic and research needs of students and faculty. Specialized studios and workshops offer detailed training in various aspects of performance, including makeup, costume design, and musical accompaniment, which are integral to forms like Kathakali. The canteen and dining hall cater to the nutritional needs of the students, ensuring they have access to healthy meals that support their physically demanding training routines.
The Vallathol Nagar Campus is the main campus of Kerala Kalamandalam and is a testament to Kalamandalam’s remarkable growth as the premier arts institution of the state. Spread over thirty-one acres along the Thrissur-Shoranur highway, this sprawling campus provides academic and training programs from the 8th grade to undergraduate degrees in traditional art forms. Dotting the campus are the various kalaris, the training spaces, designed for physical training in different classical dance and music forms. The highlight of the campus is the Kuttampalam (Koothambalam), a modern version of the traditional temple theatre, which regularly hosts performances and stands as evidence of Kerala’s architectural brilliance.
As a fully residential institution following the gurukula system, the traditional mode of education in India, the Vallathol Nagar Campus has dedicated hostels for boys and girls, alongside staff quarters that foster a close-knit learning community. A dedicated canteen and guest houses ensure that the needs of the campus and its visitors are met adequately.
