ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL PLACES - AROUND SWASTHYA

Kalasmala is also known as Kallazhi Kunnu, Narimada Kunnu. Located in Akathiyoor, Part of Chowannur in Porkulam Pachayat. Kalasamala is a heavenly abode and a biodiversity heritage site (One of the five in the State, other four are Iringole near Perumbavur in Ernakulam District, Paliyeri Mookambika Temple in Karivellur near Kannur, Connolly Teak Plantation in Nilambur, Malappuram District and Pathiramanal Island near Muhamma in Alappuzha District). The view from the hill-top is enchanting.

Kalasamala is a temple grove where the deities are Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The grove spread over in 3.5 acres is jammed with 110 critically endangered tree species known as Kulavetti or Vathamkollin in local language and Syzygium travancoricum scientifically which is included in the IUCN Red list. According to the Red list only less than 200 trees are left in the world.

There is a natural cave in the Kalasamala hill-top dating back to the stone age which is known as Narimada (the abode of Tiger). A temple surrounded by dense shola forest is an added attraction here.

Kalasamala has now become a tourist destination and cinema shooting place as it offers nature in its totality. Famous movies listed Ponthan Mada, Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan

kudakkallu parambu [ umbrella stone ]

Kudakkallu Parambu is a prehistoric Megalith burial site situated in Chermanangad of Thrissur District of Kerala. The site have 69 megalithic monuments spread over a small area. Different types of burials are in this area includes Topikkal, Kudakkal, multiple hood stones and stone circles. Archaeological Survey of India says that these monuments are built around 2000 Before Christ. Archaeological Survey of India has declared it as a centrally protected monument

chemmanthatta shiva temple

CHEMMANTHITTASIVA TEMPLE (EYYAL),  :Siva Temple is located in Thalapilly Taluk of District Thrissur.It is a circular temple of Kerala Dravida style .The temple is built on a moulded adhisthana and the over that stands Bhitt i made out of laterite and superstructure is of typical Kerala timber architecture.
An incomplete entrance gate is made out of laterite and is embellished with sala and kuta motif. A beautiful stepped tank is seen on the temple premises.
Excellent mural paintings are seen on the outer walls of the garbhagriha is dated to the 17 th -18 th Century A.D. The paintings included Sree Rama pattabhishekam, Nataraja, Visnu, Mohini, Kaliya Mardana, Dakshinamurthi, Namboothiri performing Ganesha Puja, Sastha on hunt, Sadasiva, Indra with thousand eyes, Narasimha, Kirathasunu, Markandeya Purana, Durga on the lion, Kiratarjuniyam, Krishnaleela, Venugopalakrishna, Umamaheshvara, Yasodara, etc.The site is a centrally protected monument under the control of Archaeological Survey of India since 1982.

Burial Cave (EYYAL) : The megalithic site at Eyyal is located south of Cheramangad on the Kunnamkulam-Vadakkancheri road in district Thrissur. This is a double-chamber megalithic burial cave excavated in a laterite boulder. The chamber has no central pillar but a bench is provided with an irregular width, which runs along all sides except the entrance is situated. It also has a wide pedestal –like probably for its central pillar. 
Near the site were unearthed Roman coins of the Republican period datable to first century A.D.

BURIAL CAVE (CHOWANNUR) : The megalithic rock cut cave at Chowannur is situated about 3km northeast of the town of Kunnamkulam, district Thrissur. It is entered through a recessed opening on the east. The other sides of its chamber are circular and its vault hemispherical. On its northern and southern sides are two benches and there are five circular blocks along the western side of the chamber, which appear to be intended as stands for vessels.
The site is a centrally protected monument under the control of Archaeological Survey of India since 1951 . 

BURIAL CAVE KAKKAD (KUNNAMKULAM) : The Megalithic burial cave at Kakkad is situated on the slope of a hill 2km north of the town of Kunnamkulam, district Thrissur. It has a narrow entrance on the east, accessed by a flight of steps. The cave is dome-shaped and paraboloid on plan with almost straight edge on the entrance side. Running along the northern side, there is a single sectoral bench, to the south of which is a rock circular block. 

BURIAL CAVE (KATTAKAMBAL) : The Megalithic burial cave at Kattakambal located two km west of Kattakambal which lies about ten kilometres North West of Kunnamkulam, district Thrissur. It is multi-chambered cave, each chamber provided with a bench cut out of the rock. It is a multi chambered cave comprising four ante chambers, two of them are situated laterally, facing east while the remaining two chambers situated opposite to each other across the outer court, faces north and south. Chambers on the northern side are replicas of the chambers on the east- west median line, bisecting the entire composite cave into two halves. The floors are rectangular and ceilings horizontal. The site is a centrally protected monument under the control of Archaeological Survey of India since 1951.

ANCIENT DOLMENS (TOMBS) AND ONE ROCK-CUT CAVE : Two ancient dolmens (tombs) and one rock-cut cave at Vedakad in Porkulam panchayat (Kunnamkulam). These tombs are megalithic monuments from the early stages of the Iron Age. The tombs are situated behind the Vedakad Devi Temple and the rock cave is in front of it.