Kadathanadu, also rendered Kadathanad, Katattanad, and, academically, Kaṭattanāṭǔ; alternately known as Vatakara or Badagara, was a Realm in North Malabar just north of the Korapuzha, ruled by the Porlathiri dynasty after their dispossession from their native realm of Calicut and Polanad. Its ruler was known as Vazhunnavar, often rendered 'Boyanore', until 1750, whereupon their prior titulature of Raja was resumed.
The establishment of the kingdom dates to the flight of the Porlathiri, fleeing the Zamorin, to seek asylum in Kolathiri territory; where a chance lakeside encounter led to a Kolathiri prince of the Southern Regency scandalously espousing the Porlathiri heiress, who traditionally would only have hypergamy contracted sambandham with a Nambudiri The dynamics of the marriage led to significant carveouts from the Southern Regency, with the hereditary governance matrilineally vested in the line of the Porlathiri princess and her Kolathiri groom.
Kadathanadu is also the site of the famous Hinduism Lokanarkavu temple.
During Malayalam Era 965, corresponding to 1789–90, Tipu Sultan crossed over to Malabar with his army. A small army of 2000 Kadathanadu Nairs resisted the invasion from a fortress in Kuttippuram near Nadapuram for a few weeks. This land, whose Sanskrit name is Ghatolkachakshiti, mainly included parts of the present Vadakara taluk. The king of Katthannad was addressed as Vazhunnor.
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