Theyyam, the colorful ritual dance of Kerala is one of the oldest art forms of India. It incorporates dance, mime, and music and enshrines the rudiments of ancient tribal cultures, which attached great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. Venue: Perumthitta Tharavad, Kottamkuzhy, Kasaragod District. Perumthitta Theyyam festival at which most of the Theyyam forms are on display is truly a grand affair. The pomp and splendor of the Theyyams are bewitching and help keep alive this age-old tradition. Getting there: By road: Bekal-Palakunnu-Mudiyakkal-Chandrapuram-Perumthatta. Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, about 26 km away. Nearest airport: Mangalore, in the neighboring state of Karnataka, about 50 km away from Kasaragod.