Kunnathur Padi is a village in Kannur district, Kerala, India and is the historic center for the folk Hindu deity Sree Muthappan. The center stands in Payyavoor Grama Panchayat, Kannur District of the Kerala state of India. It is located 3,000 feet above sea level on top of Udumbumala in the Sahyadri mountains. The region belonged to the Mannanar dynasty during the line of Muttappan. In 1902, the dynasty’s last Muthappan King was killed, and the British government seized the dynasty’s land. The British government then gave the right to manage Kunnathur Padi to a Nair landlord named Karakattidam Nayanar.

The Kunnathur Padi festival is conducted there, although there is no temple for Sree Muthappan. The festival is held in a natural setting since it is believed that Sree Muthappan said that “Fallen leaves, a spring, a large mountain, a round stone, forest and palm trees are enough for me.”

During the festival season, a temporary Madappura is erected, called Sreekovil, in the middle of the forest. There is a glade and a cave in the middle of the forest. On the west side of the Madappura is a stone, a rock stand and a mud platform. On each side of the cave there is a palm tree. On the north side, there is a spring called Thiruvankadavu. Beyond that is Aadipadi.

Thanthries do the purifying rituals (Sudhi, Pasudanam, Punyaham, Ganapati homam and Bhagavathiseva). The Malayirakkal (invoking) of Sri Muthappan is done by Puralimala. In all other madappuras, this is done by Kunnathurpadi.

Thiruvappana and Vellattam do not appear simultaneously in the padi as in many other Sree Muthappan centres.

The festival at Padi lasts from the month of Dhanu to Makaram (mid-December to mid-January).