Chirakkal is a registered town in the Kannur region of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 7 km from the city of Kannur. The Kovilakam “palace” in the Malayalam dialect of Kolathiris was located in Chirakkal, a place near Kannur known as the seat of Kolathiris. Kolathiri were also called Chirakkal Raja or King of Chirakkal. The fort of Bekal, now in Kasaragod, and the fort of Chandragiri were initially under the control of the Chirakkal Rajas till the time Shivappa Naik attacked Kolathunadu. Nowadays, the name of the Chirakkal Raja is universally respected by folklorists, especially Theyyam artisans.
