Dharmadom or Dharmadam is a census town in Thalassery taluk of Kannur district in the state of Kerala, India. It is known for the 100-year-old Government Brennen College and Dharmadam Island. Dharmadam is also home to famous Andaloor Kavu. The annual festival here draws thousands of devotees. A variety of theyyams are performed during the week-long fest in February. During the festive season the entire village follows vegetarian diet and offers rice flakes, jaggery and plantains to all guests. India's premier circus Academy, Circus Academy Thalassery is also located at Dharmadam. There is a small railway station in Dharmadam where only the local passenger trains stop.Dharmadam was earlier known as Dharmapattanam and was previously a Buddhist stronghold.The Dharmadam Island is located 100 metres away from the mainland at Dharmadam. Geographically, Dharmadam is an island, en route Thalassery and Kannur. It is surrounded by the Anjarakandy river on three sides and by the Arabian sea on the fourth side. The Jews and the Arabs have named this place Dahfattan in their records in the 12th century, the British named it Darmapatam and the Portuguese called it Darmapatao.DemographicsIndia census, Dharmadam had a population of 29,169. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Dharmadam has an average literacy rate of 87%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88% and, female literacy is 86%. In Dharmadam, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.