Padanilam is a town located in Onattukara region of Alappuzha district, Kerala. The word Padanilam means "land of battles". It is located on the banks of river Achankovil. The Padanilam temple is one of the important centres of worship in Kerala. Nooranad is named as the Nandikesha Paithruka Gramam by the Government of Kerala due to its importance in kettukala construction, which is an icon of Onattukara region.

Alappuzha district, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to Alappuzha in 1990. Alappuzha is the smallest district of Kerala. Alleppey town, the district headquarters, was renamed Alappuzha in 2012, even though the anglicised name is still commonly used to describe the town as well as the district.