Padanilam is a town located in Onattukara region of Alappuzha district, Kerala.

It is bounded by Venmony Panchayath in the north, Pandalam municipality and Palamel in the east, Mavelikkara Thamarakkulam in the south and Chunakkara and Thazhakara in the west.

Topographically, the village has 3 areas: small hills, slope regions and plain land.

The Pattoor malamukal is the highest point in the village with an altitude of 121 m above sea level.

Alluvium and loam soil types can be found in the low lying areas of the village including plain lands.

This is one of the biggest Nandikesha (ox vehicle of Lord Shiva) kettulsavams in Kerala.

Padanilam has been the administrative centre of Nooranad and it has history of intense conflict between various karakal (territories) around the temple.

He made a tent in the eastern part of the temple and started fasting unto death.

When he was on the verge of death due to the fast, they fearing the Brahmanasaapam, agreed to stop war.

They demarcated the boundary in the north-south direction and stopped the war in the name of Parabrahma, the presiding deity of the temple.

The buses through Padanilam ply from the private and KSRTC bus stands of Kayamkulam and Pandalam.

There are buses from Pandalam, Kayamkulam, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Mavelikkara, Oachira, Karunagapally, etc., passing through Padanilam.

The current MP of the area is Kodikkunnil Suresh (INC) and the MLA is M.S.Arun Kumar (CPM).

Currently, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) unit has started functioning in the sanatorium compound.

One of the seventeen 220 kV substations of KSEB is located near Pattoor, the northernmost portion of the village.

Interflora Worldwide Kerala Member Office is located in the town of Pandalam.