Padanilam

Padanilam is a town located in Onattukara region of Alappuzha district, Kerala. The word Padanilam means "land of battles" (pada means "battle" and nilam means "land"). It is located on the banks of river Achankovil. The Padanilam temple is one of the important centres of worship in Kerala. Nooranad is named as the Nandikesha Paithruka Gramam (Heritage village of Nandikesha) by the Government of Kerala due to its importance in kettukala construction, which is an icon of Onattukara region.

The Shivaratri is the most important festival in Padanilam. It is the biggest Shivaratri kettukazhcha in Kerala and it is second only to Aluva Shivaratri in terms of crowd gathering.