Long ago, the present Dharmashala town area was a deserted place known as Mangattu Parambu. At that time there was a shelter for passengers and pilgrims for taking rest and refreshing while travelling long distance on foot. From there the pilgrims and other passers by were served with sambharam, a term for spiced butter milk in Malayalam language. The sambharam was given as dharmam, free of cost. So the shelter from where this was given was called as Dharma Shala, then Dharmashala. This facility to passers-by was arranged by the Parassinikadavu Sree Muthappan temple authorities and can still be seen as a small building about 100 m south of the present Dharmashala junction near the national highway.
The Vismaya Water Theme Park is located at Parassinikadavu near Taliparamba.
Parassinkkadavu Snake Park
Parassinkkadavu Snake Park is in Parassinikkadavu, which is from Dharmasala. The park houses a variety of snakes and other small animals, including the spectacled cobra, king cobra, Russell's viper, krait and various pit vipers. There is also a large collection of non-venomous snakes including pythons. The park is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of snakes, many species of which are gradually becoming extinct. In a live show, trained personnel play and 'interact' with a variety of snakes, including cobras and vipers, and try to quell mythical fears and superstitions about snakes. It has also been proposed that a laboratory to extract venom from snakes for purposes of research be set up here. The Snake Park, set up by the Visha Chikilsa Kendra, is regularly visited by both foreign and domestic tourists. The Kendra also offers effective treatment for snake bites.
Mullool
Mullool is a small village near Dharmasala. Three sides of Mullool are surrounded by small hills and one side is the Mullool river. In Mullool there is the Mullool L.P. School, a public library and many Hindu temples such as Sri Kannikorumakan Kshethram, Sri Puthiya Bhagavathi Kshethram, Thayiparadevatha Kshethram, Shastham Koota, Ayyappa Temple, Parakali Amma etc.
Education
Central Schools Dharmasala,Kannur has one Kendriya Vidyalaya located near Keltron Nagar
Kannur University was established by Act 22 of 1996 of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The university by the name "Malabar University" had come into existence even earlier by the promulgation of an ordinance by the Governor of Kerala, on 9 November 1995. The university was inaugurated on 2 March 1996 by the Chief Minister of Kerala. The objective of the Kannur University Act 1996 was to establish in the state of Kerala a teaching, residential and affiliating university so as to provide for the development of higher education in Kasargod and Kannur revenue districts and the Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad district. Kannur University is a multi-campus university.
Government College of Engineering, Kannur was established in 1986 near Dharmasala,Kannur as a center for imparting engineering education in northern Kerala.
Today the college is among the top ten engineering colleges of the state, providing higher studies in the field of technical education.
The thirteenth National Institute of Fashion Technology Campus in Kannur is located near Taliparamba in Dharmasala,Kannur
A B.Ed College located at Dharmasala,Kannur near Keltron Nagar is one of the major school in Kannur.
is located at a distance of 35 km from Dharmasala,Kannur. Dharmasala,Kannur is on National Highway 66 or between Kozhikode and Mangalore. This highway is scheduled to be expanded to four lanes soon. Kannapuram Railway Station is nearest railway station.
