Nileshwaram or Nileshwar or Neeleswaram is a municipality and a major town in Kasaragod District, state of Kerala, India. It is one of the three municipalities in Kasaragod district; the others are Kasaragod and Kanhangad. Nileshwaram is located on the estuary of Kavvayi Backwaters and Neeleshwaram River (also known as Thejaswini River).
Nileshwaram is referred to as the cultural capital of Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala. "The first Chief Minister of Kerala and communist leader E. M. S.
Namboodiripad had contested elections to the Assembly from the Neeleswaram segment."
Nileshwaram is easily reachable by train from anywhere in India. The railway station is 1 km from the bus station. Buses are also available from Kasaragod and Kannur. The nearest airport is at Mangalore.
Auto-rikshaws charge ₹15 per km and buses charge only ₹7 for three km. Air-conditioned jeeps are available for ₹1,000 per day. Walking is pleasant in the evenings. Keep away from busy roads because noisy motorcycles can pester you 24 hours a day.
The people of Malabar call Neeleshwaram the cultural capital or 'Paithrika Nagari' of North Malabar because of the concentration of music, dance and temple festivals in this little town. The town has an area of 26 km² and the population is 55,000. Neelesharam is the third largest town in Kasaragod District after Kasaragod and Kanhangad. The town lies between two rivers called Neeleshwaram River and Thejaswini River. The town is home to folk arts, temple festivals, a palace, kavuus (sacred groves) and ancient market.
