Cheruthuruthy is situated 32 km from Thrissur in Kerala. Shoranur Railway Junction is the nearest from Cheruthuruthy. The world famous training center for the Kathakali dance form of Kerala, Kerala Kalamandalam is located in Cheruthuruthy. Vallathol Narayana Menon, a notable Malyalam poet, was the founding father of Kerala Kalamandalam. Not only Kathakali, various other South Indian dance forms like Ottam Thullal and Mohiniyattom are also taught in this institute.

Kerala Kalamandalam in Cheruthuruthy is revered by people from all over the world as an important place for the training of traditional Keralian art form. Kathakali is a classical form of Keralian dance-drama. It is the most important center for learning and propagating Kathakali in India for the past 78 years. Many world famous artists from Kerala and from all over India have been trained in this academy.

The atmosphere and surroundings of Kerala Kalamandalam in Cheruthuruthy are very pure with an ethnic touch which has helped the art to survive for centuries. At Kerala Kalamandalam, Koothambalam is a traditional dance theatre, the only one in the state to be built outside of a temple complex.

One of its 3 natya grihas (theatres) is constructed by following the instructions in vikrushtra madhya. Bharatha's Natyasasthra is a treatise on art that was complied in 2nd century B.C. According to it, the theatre has been built 14.6m long and 7.31m wide, with 4 wooden pillars as support. 3 important divisions of the theatre are:

• Aniyara – green room
• Rangam – stage (including the space on the front and side, to be used by the audience)
• Mridanga-patha – place for keeping the drums