Uthralikkavu Temple

Uthralikkavu, formally Sri Rudhiramahakalikavu, is a temple about two kilometres north of Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, beside the Thrissur-Shoranur railway line. It sits among paddy fields ringed by low hills, and the open ground of the temple compound works almost like an arena. The temple itself is modest in size and stands in a quiet rural spot.

For most of the year it is a village shrine, but each February or March it hosts the Uthralikkavu Pooram, reckoned the most crowded pooram after Thrissur's own. The flag is raised on the second Tuesday of the Malayalam month of Kumbham, and the festival builds over the following week to its climax, with processions of caparisoned elephants, percussion ensembles and fireworks drawing crowds and wide media attention.