Tourism | Malayalam Online Newspaper from Kasaragod

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Adoor Temple	Ajanur Madiyan Kulam Temple
Ananthapuram	Anantheswar Temple
Bekal	Kizhur Sastha Temple
Kumbala Sri Gopalakrishna Temple	Madhur Temple
Malik Dinar Mosque	Narampady Church
Nellikkunnu Mosque	Perne
Temples of Kasargode Town	Trikkanad
Other Places	Kasaragod Tourist Map

Adoor temple
Fourty Five kms. East of Kasaragod town, Adoor is noted for its ancient Siva Temple, believed to have been founded by arjuna. The temple, which is known as Sri Mahalingeswara temple, is situated in picturesque surroundings on the southern bank of the river Payaswini. The Makara Samkramam is a very important festival day in the temple when a Sahasra Kumbla Abhishekam with feeding of a large number of people takes place. According to tradition, the day coincides with the anniversary of the day on which a harijan spotted the Sivalingam. The annual Jatra or festival of the temple starts with Dhwaja Arohanam (hoisting of the temple flag) on the 27th of the Kumbam (February, March) and concludes with the Avabritha Snanam (holy drip) in the waters of the Payaswini on the Meenam (April) every year.

Ajanur Madiyan Kulam Temple
In Ajanur village situated the famous Madiyan Kulam temple. It is about 5kms. from Kanhangad, the head quarters of Hosdurg taluk. The main diety of the temple is Bhadrakali; but there are also other deities like Kshetrapalan, Bhagavathi and Bhairavan. A peculiarity of this temple is that a Brahmin priest performs pooja only in the noon, while the morning and evening poojas are performed by a sect called Maniyanis. The festival in the temple fall during th emonths of Edavam ( May, June) and Dhanu ( December, January) and on these days all the poojas are performed by the Brahmin priest. Teyyam is performed in connection with this festival.

Ananthapuram
At a distance of about 5kms. from kumbla is the Ananthapuram temple which is said to be the Moolasthanam of the Ananthapadmanabha Swami (Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple) of Thiruvananthapuram. Local tradition has it that Anantha Padmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram had settled down here originally.

Anantheswar Temple
The fame of Manjeswar lies in the famous Srimad Anantheswar Temple owned by the Gowda Saraswath community. It attracts pilgrims from all over India, ;pertricularly from the region lying Kanyakumari and Goa. The annual car festival of the temple is on th esixth Lunar day of the bright half of the Margashira month, usually between the third week of November and the third week of December. It is also called the Shashti Festival as the final day celebration takes place on the Skanda Shashti day, a day sacred to Subramanya. The authorities have provided several amenities for pilgrims. In the outer round of the temple, there is a flower garden named Ananda Nandana Vana.

BEKAL
The largest and the best preserved fort in the state. The alluring scene of the sea shore on which it stands makes a visit an exhilarating experience - fast emerging as an international tourist centre.

Kizhur Sastha Temple
There is an ancient Sastha temple at Chandragiri, which is known as Kizhur Sastha Temple. This is the head quarters of the Anjooru Nayanmar (Five Hundred Nairs). The festival, which is peculiar to this temple is Pattu Uthsavam. Troups of professional singers sing jointly in praise of the greatness of the diety. The dignitaries of all the Kazhakams of Saliyas from Pattuvam to Panambur (present new Mangalapuram) known as Pathinalu Nagaram assemble here annually on the second Saturday of Vrischikam (November).

Kumbla Sri GopalaKrishna Temple
Two of the four sacred temples of Kumbla Seema are located in Kumbla and its suburbs. They are the Mujankavu Sri Parthasaradhi Temple and kanipura ( Kaniyara) Sri Gopala Krishna Temple. Kumbla is also called kanipura (kaniyara) after the latter temple. In view of the local importance of these temples, brief accounts of each of these are given below. The temple of Sri parthasaradhi of Mujankavu is situated in Ednad village, about four kms. east of Kumbla and about eight kms. north west of Madhur. The Sri Gopala Krishna Temple, for which extensive repairs and renovations have been carried out recently, is situated in the heart of the town of Kumbla at the foot of an elevated hill which rises majestically in front of it, with the Kumbla river flanking it on the left (north). The colourful festival at Kumbla temple, which lasts for five days every year, commences with the Dwajaarohanam on the Makara Sankramana day. People in thousands from all over the region attend these festivals.

Madhur Temple

At Madhur, eight kms. north east of Kasaragod, is the famous Madhur Srinad Anantheswara Temple. The imposing structure of the temple, with its turrets and gables and the copper plate roofing, rises majestically against the beautiful landscape of hills, paddy fields and gardens with the river Madhuvahini flowing leisurely in front of it. The Madhur temple is a Siva temple with Srimad Anantheswara as it's presiding diety. The Sivalingam of the temple is said to have been found by a harijan woman, Madharu. A special festival associated with the Madhur Temple is the Moodappaseva. The large figure of Maha Ganapathi is covered with appam. It requires enormous quantities of rice and lakhs of rupees for its conduct. The festival is conducted only periodically in view of the huge expenditure involved. It was celebrated in April 1962 after a lapse of about 160 years, and very recently in April 1992. The ceiling of the Namakshara Mandapam of the Madhur Temple has been decorated with beautiful figures of puranic heroes in wood carving. A closer examination of the wood carvings would disclose the various episodes of the Ramayana, beginning with the Puthrakameshtiyagam and ending with Seetha Swayamvaram. The Mandapam in the interior of the temple building as well as the outside facade of the second and third storeys of the main building are also profuse with attractive and exquisite woodcarvings.

Malik Dinar Mosque

Kasaragod acquired over the years, considerabl importance as a centre of Islam on the west coast. It is the side of one of the mosques believed to have been founded by Malik Ibn Dinar. The mosque, Juma Masjid, which is one one of the best kept and mosque attractive in the district, is located at Thalankara. It contains the grave of Malik Ibn Mohammed, one of the descendants of Malik Ibn Dinar and the places is sacred to Muslims. Another notable mosque, in Kasaragod is the Theruvath Mosque which is in the centre of the town. An important local celebration takes place every year in commemoration of the arrival of Malik Ibn Dinar. The Uroos attract pilgrims from all over India.

Narampady Church

This is a Roman Catholic church on the Badiadka - Mulleriaroute, about 10kms. from Badiadka. This is known as St.John Britto Church and this church was established in 1939.

Nellikkunnu Mosque
Nellikkunnu Mosque Nellikkunnu Uroos, celebrated in Nellikkunnu mosque, attracts people in thousands. The Nercha celebration, during the second half of November, lasts for one week.

Perne
Of the 18 temples of Muchilottu Bhagavathi, Perne is is the northern most and and the only one north of Payaswini Seema. It is 5kms. east of Kumbla and near Ananthapura Lake Temple, on the Kumbla - Badiadka route. The mass marriage at the time of Pooram festival in the month of Meenam, is a unique feature of this temple.

Temples of Kasaragod Town
Kasaragod has a few important temples. Of these, the Mallikarjuna temple situated near the taluk office, is the most important. The annual festival in this temple falls in the month of March and it attracts huge crowds. One of the most important temples of the Gowda Saraswatha in Kerala is the Venkataramana Temple. The Sri Arya Karthyayani Temple and the Sri Panduranga Temple are also important temples of the place. Just on the eastern side of Pulikunnu by the Payaswini river there is a temple belomnging to the Thiyya community where thirty nine deities are worshipped. The main festival here, called Kaliyattam, falls inFebruary/March. There is also the Palakkunnu Temple (near Malik Ibn Dinar Mosque)akin to the Plakkunnu Devasthanam of Uduma. Bhagavathi temples such as Theruvath Bhagavathi and Kadappuram Sri Kurumba temples, are spread all over the Muncipal area, worshipped by particular communities.

Trikkannad
This is a Siva temple on the sea shore, within one km. of the Bekkal - bridge. The place around Pandyan kallu, a rock rising above the sea near the temple, is an ideal spot for adventurous swimmers. Swimming in the sea is a popular spot here. Palakkunnu Bhagavathi Kshethram is one km. North of Trikkannad on the Kasaragod - Kanhangad road. The annual Bharani festival attractgs thousands.

Other Places

RANI PURAM
Known as Madathumala, is 780 mtr above sea level. In beauty and bounty of nature comparable to Ooty.

KASARAGOD
Head quarters of the northern most district of Kerala - on the banks of payaswini river- the confluence of languages and culturewhere eight languages are spoken - the emporium of cash crops like cocunut and Arecanut - the splendour of kasaragod sarees comparable to that of Kancheepuram is a cynosure of the market. The juma masjid founded by malik ibn deenar draws a thousand of devotees from all over India.Renowned as the town of temples, it is the city of ancient temples and churches.

CHANDRA GIRI
Is a large square fort standing on the southern block of payaswini. The ancient Kizhur Shastha temple is in the vicinity of this fort.

CENTRAL PLANTATIONS CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The premier agriculture research institute of the nation over 75 yrs standing - 4 kms north of kasaragod town.

KANCHAN JUNGA
16 Kms east of Kasaragod is an artist village established by P.S. Puninchithaya the renowned artist of the west coast.

PASADI GUMPE
A hill 1060 ft above sea level 30 km north east of Kasaragod.Ideal tourist resort.

AJANOOR
Madiyan Koolom is famous for its rich wood carvings is in Ajanoor.

MANJESHWAR
Birth place of Rashtra kavi Govintha Pai - an ancient town with narrow lanes of and bylanes on the banks of manjeshwar river- the abode of 2 jaina temples still attract tourists.

KANCHANGAD
Known as Hosdurg after the new fort built , by somashekhara nayak of ikkeri dynasty.The place made well known by the Nithyanandashram with 45 caves and the Anandashramam, one of the international spiritual centres 4 kms east of kanchangad town.

NILESHWAR
The cultural centre of the district was the seat of Nileshwar rajas, patrons of art and culture for centuries. In and around Nileshwar there are several kavus where nature, God, and man commune in serene silence.

CHERUVATHUR
The place of the illustrious poets and scholars of kuttamath. Veeramala hills has the ruins of a dutch fort built in the 18 th century is a picnic spot.

TRIKARIPUR
The old seat of Thazhekkattu mana famous for T.S. Thirumump, poet and freedom fighter - birth place of Goru Chandu Panikkar the famous Kathakali artist.