Vadakkencherry is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India, which is 40 km. north-east of Thrissur and a same distance south-west of Palakkad. It is under Alathur Taluk in Palakkad district. National Highway 47 passes through Vadakkencherry. Vadakkencherry Vela and “Eakadesi Villaku” is one of the famous festivals in Kerala. Though the spellings are different, many people confuse Vadakkencherry with Wadakkancheri of Thrissur. To avoid confusion, some refer to Vadakkencherry as Alathur-Vadakkencherry or Vadakkencherry-MBR, which is short for Malabar region. The postal code of Vadakkencherry is 678683. Vadakkancherry is surrounded by other locales such as Puducode, Kannambra, Manjapra, Mudappallur, Kizhakkancheri, Konnanchery and Ayakkad.

Name:
The name Vadakkencherry is originated by joining of two words – Vadakkan (Northern) and Cheri (Street). Vadakkencherry is sometimes shortened to VDY or VDCY. Vadakkancherry, sometimes spelled as Vadakkumcherry or Vadukkumcherry or Vadukkencherry, is located in the middle of Palakkad and Thrissur cities on National Highway 47.

Textiles:
Orange beauty plaza was opened on 2 May 2012 inaugurated by Samvritha Sunil. Sells shirts [pan America-kevin ninan-don boston], pants [sturdy],underwears [jockey-vip], churidar materials, readymade churidars, 1gram gold covered ornaments, bedsheets, belts, body sprays, tops, inners, bra, maxi etc. Churidar stitching unit on top floor.

Cinema Halls:
There are seven theatres in VDY-Jayabharath Movies, New Jayabharath Movies, Thangam, KAM Movie Max Aashirvad, Sobha, Sri Rama and CVM Movies. New Jayabharath was opened in mid 2009 and is the first Air Conditioned theater in Vdy. KAM Movie Max Aashirvad was opened in 07/08/2010 inaugurated by Mohanlal. KAM Movie Max is leased by Antony Perumbavoor (Aashirvad Cinemas).

Hotels:
Hotels like Diana, Aryaas are used by tourists. Others are Arathi, New Light, Hotel Thoufeeq, Goodlands, SWAMI”S VEG MESS, Sreeram Hotel (one of the oldest hotel in vadakkencherry), Sivasakthi, Royal, Manoj Teastall, Venkiteswara, Hotel Vishnu etc.

Festival:
Ekadesi Vilakku: The Navaratri is celebrated in Vadakkencherry village. The festivities extend to a total duration of 12 days, which includes the Dasami (10th Day) and the Ekadasi (11th Day), with festivities peaking on Ekadasi day in a grand celebration. The Navaratri starts with the hoisting of the celebratory flag of the deity on the Kodimaram (flag staff) to indicate the start of festivities. During the first 10 days, a caparisoned elephant carrying the image of the village’s presiding deity Lakshminarayana Perumal comes in a procession visiting the entire village. Nivediam is offered to the Lord by every house in the village. The Alwar, who specifically makes it to the Vadakkencherry from Tanjore a.k.a. Thanjavur from where he hails and who is part of the procession, performs the Nivediam ritual. The procession is accompanied by a small group of traditional music players playing the Chenda and accompaniments. The procession is performed twice in a day, once in the morning and once more in the evening.
Sree Ganapathi Sahayam-Sree Naga Sahayam Ulsavagosham: Ganapathy Sahayam & Naga Sahayam Vela is one of the most popular competition festival in palakkad dt. Vela falls on April 17 every year (medam 4th). Each temple features a set of 5 elephants and Panchavadyam led by the prominent panchavadyam musicians in kerala. Main attraction of this vela’s are Kuda-Mattom (by evening), Vedikettu (Fireworks) & Ganamela by night. Chamaya-Pradarsanam [Exhibition of the elephant’s decorations] and Thayambaka which happens on 16 April (the day before Vela). Other attractions are a Multi-storied Panthal with illumination, Thayambaka, Eddu (A special kind of firework done to announce the beginning of the festival). It is also referred to as Vadakkencherry Pooram.
Tourist Attractions:
Vadakkencherry is a starting point of a huge hill region. In Malayalam language, ‘cherry’ means a place which lies under hills. Here, places like Mangalam Dam, Palakkuzhi,Odemthode are the kind of places where the beauty of nature is very near to us. We can see the harmonious culture in Vadakkencherry in every corner of the village. The famous Nelliampathi,Kunjiarpathy(near to Odemthode-Mangalam dam) hills are located close to this town. Pothundi Dam is another attraction. This dam has been created with mud and rocks. It is on the way to Nelliampathi. For Sabarimala pilgrims, this town is a short time resting place. Many of the traditional food items of Kerala are supplied and became famous from here. Though the town and the nearby area are fast developing, you can see the beauty of the river, green fields and forests everywhere.

Temples:
The area has a few old temples:
Sri Mariyamman Temple (Palayam)
Sri Kodikkattu Bhagavathy Temple (Kodikkattukavu)
Sri Thiruvara Siva Temple
Sri Maha Ganapathy Temple, Vinayaka street, Vadakkencherry
Sri Nagaraja Temple, Vadakkencherry
Mangodimuthi Temple, Vadakkedesham, Kammanthara
Sri Namburimuthan Temple, Thekkedesham, Kammanthara
Sri Palliyaarakkavu and adjoining Shiva Temple, managed by Thiruvanjikkulam Devaswam Board, Cherukannambra near Nelliyampadam
Sri Narashima Moorthi Temple, Anjumoorthi Mangalam
Padarkavu Sri Krishna Temple, Manikyapaadam
Churches:
Rajagiri Church, Kanakkenthuruthi
St. George Malankara Church, Chakkund
Lourde Matha Farona Church
Hermon Marthoma Church
St. Alosious RSLC Church
Jose Giri Church
St. George Jacobite Syrian Church, Thenidukku
Mar GreGorious Orthodox Church, Thenidukku
Malankara Christian Church
St. Thomas Evangelical Church
The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), Thenidukku
St.Jude Church, Odenthode
St. Xaviers Church, Mangalam Dam
St. Marys Church Mariya Nagar, Chittadi
Grace Baptist Church, Vadakkencherry
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Erukkumchira