The small Malappuram town of Kottakkal is known across India for a single institution — the Arya Vaidya Sala, one of the most respected names in Ayurveda. What is easy to miss is that it began as one man’s village clinic, and grew into something far larger while also becoming, of all things, a great home of Kathakali.
P.S. Varier and the 1902 clinic
The Arya Vaidya Sala was founded at Kottakkal in 1902 by the physician and philanthropist Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier (1869–1944). He set out to put traditional Kerala Ayurveda on a rigorous, organised footing — standardising the making of classical medicines and pairing treatment with teaching and research. From that small beginning grew a hospital, medicine-manufacturing units, herb gardens, a research wing and an Ayurveda college. In 1933 the colonial government conferred on him the title “Vaidyaratnam” in recognition of his work.
Why there is a Kathakali school
Varier’s vision reached beyond medicine. He founded a dramatic troupe in 1909 and, in 1939, the PSV Natyasangham — a Kathakali academy that survives as one of the most respected training grounds for the art, known for its strict adherence to classical tenets. To this day, healing and high classical art sit side by side on the Kottakkal campus, along with the Vishwambhara temple he built in 1932.
Visiting Kottakkal
Kottakkal is a working town of clinics and pharmacies rather than a ticketed sight — but the campus, temple and gardens are open to visitors, and on scheduled evenings you can watch Kathakali at the Natyasangham. Ayurvedic consultations and treatments are paid and usually booked ahead; approach them as genuine medical care, not a spa novelty.
- Kottakkal is about 12 km from Malappuram town on the highway toward Kozhikode.
- The campus, temple and gardens are free to walk; treatments and consultations are paid and best pre-booked.
- Ask locally about PSV Natyasangham Kathakali performance evenings if you want to see the art.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala?
It is a renowned Ayurveda institution in Kottakkal, Malappuram, founded in 1902 by Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier. It runs hospitals, medicine-manufacturing units, herb gardens, a research wing and an Ayurveda college, and is one of the best-known names in Ayurveda in India.
Who founded Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala?
The physician and philanthropist Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier (1869–1944), who started it as a village clinic in 1902 and built it into a large multi-unit institution. He was given the title “Vaidyaratnam” in 1933.
Why is there a Kathakali school at Kottakkal?
Its founder P.S. Varier also championed the classical arts. He established the PSV Natyasangham in 1939, a Kathakali academy that remains one of the most respected in Kerala — so medicine and classical dance share the same campus.