Kalpathy is in Palakkad , the border town between Kerala and Tamilnadu. Kalpathy is synonymous with the famous car festival of Kasi Viswanathar temple.This is a 600 year old temple on the banks of Kalpathy river. A woman named Lakshmi Ammal brought a bana Linga from Kasi (Varanasi ). This event is inscribed on a pillar in front of the temple. The Rajah of Palakkad allocated the place for this temple. The Sivalingam here is very small. The Amman here is known as Vishalakshi. There are sub shrines for Kalabhairavar, Dakshinamoorthy, Murugan and Ganapathy.This temple has been renovated recently.
There is also a small temple of Lakshmi Narayana Perumal near by. The idol here is of Lord Narayana in a sitting posture with Goddess Lakshmi on His lap. This temple has sub shrines of Ayyapa and Anjaneya.
Interesting facts- The Viswanathar temple is famous for the annual chariot festival which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across the world.
The chariots are embellished with fine carvings and I have included some pictures of the same.
The temple is surrounded by agraharam(garland of houses) or row of houses which are about hundred years old and is declared as a heritage village. click here to see the beautiful pictures of the Heritage village known as Paithraga gramam which is on my other blog.
Many perform the last rites here on the banks of the river Kalpathy for the departed souls of their loved ones.
How to reach- Nearest airport is in Tamilnadu Coimbatore which is 60 Kms. away.
The nearest rail station is Palakkad where many express and mail trains stop.
Palakkad falls on NH 47 and this temple is about 5 Kms. from Palakkad town.
Accommodation- Decent hotels are available in Palakkad town itself.
Photos
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM5X49qeKLLGy9SBkrsU4KfouwsGq7GIgrGDkuO?key=CLaKkJ7ToODJVQ
Photos
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM5X49qeKLLGy9SBkrsU4KfouwsGq7GIgrGDkuO?key=CLaKkJ7ToODJVQ
As usual awesome post. Excellent pictures
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful indeed... The pics are wonderful!! Have a nice day Chitra:-)
ReplyDeleteawesome pictures with such intricate carvings ... as always you have shown me another beautifull temple ... thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteSuper Yummy Recipes
Charriot with exquisite carvings and intricate work is awesome.. Will be a sight to behold when the Lord goes into a procession on it.. The heritage village is great.. The well though out traditional houses are dwindling indeed. Beautiful pictures.. Chitra..!
ReplyDeleteA, thanks.Today only I could read your post too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Arti, Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteSatya, Thanks, Long time dear. See you!!
ReplyDeletesridharan, thank you, Loved the agraharam visit. Chariots are the main attraction there.
ReplyDeleteSomehow temples in Kerala have such serenity...they are so inviting! Loved the pictures of the chariot...
ReplyDeleteHi chitra ,had not heard of this temple kalpathi.I think events here resemble kashi,including the final riots performed.Nice pictures too of the chariots and carvings.
ReplyDeleteChitra!
ReplyDeleteThis is so close to home!
The whole character of the village and temple had changed when we visited a couple of years back.
Rather loved the older (non-renovated) structure. There are several new multi-storied buildings among the streets of Kalpathy!
Hope you got to visit the other beautiful temples around Palakkad?
great phtos
ReplyDeletewith names and info its a treasure
Thank you Chitra.The slide show brought the grandeur of the chariot and the baeuty of the temple.I read about these temples just a day before in iyer group.But the slide show gave the feeling of having visited them
ReplyDeleteI guess you can make a book out of your blog. Very good writeups on pilgrimage places, I must say! Thanks to you for helping me know abt so many temples!
ReplyDeleteChitra,
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful temple with beautiful carvings around the chariot. On different tiers you have various forms of Shiva and the narratives from the Ramayana as well as other exploits of Vishnu. The Yamantaka murti of Shiva is interesting. Some of the dancing images of Shiva are very similar to those at the 13th century Hoysala temple at Halebidu in Karnataka.Is the chariot festival celebrated for Shiva or Vishnu?
The Malayalam board says somethng about 1425-26. Is that the date of construction of this temple?
The details on the chariots are so intricate and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful pictures, liked those details of the bells and statues a lot.
ReplyDeleteSiddarath, Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteRaji, Many ceremonies resemble here that of Kasi's hence they call it as South kasi.
ReplyDelete?
ReplyDeleteHappy to know that your home is near to this place. I visited 2 more temples there. The heritage village is slowly getting converted with concrete buildings. I just saw the picture of old Kalpathy temple.I too liked it.
Sm, thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteKP, thank you so much.I posted it, as you were very much interested in it.
ReplyDeleteVineeta, happy you like my posts.
ReplyDeleteArchana,
ReplyDeleteThe temple is dedicated to Siva only, no Vishnu deity here.The date inscribed on the board is the date of construction of the temple. Vishnu temple is 100 meters from the Siva temple
Insignia- thanks.The chariots looked well polished as it was immediately after the festival.
ReplyDeleteu had a nice break :) and the temple looks so beautiful..
ReplyDeletethe pics amazing ... and they all look so clean too loved them :)
Bikram's
Bikram, Thanks a lot. really loved this trip.
ReplyDeleteMridula, Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe inticate designs on the chariots are breathtaking. I notice there are a lot of bells, do they have a major significance?
ReplyDeletePW, the bells are to enhance the beauty and to make the jingling sound when they get pulled along the streets. Bells always hold a significant place in Hindu rituals. It is believed that the sound of bells drive away the evil forces. The bells while rung also bring in positive vibrations.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful slide show Chitra
ReplyDeleteI love it :-)
Thanks for sharing ....
Have a relaxing sunday
Kareltje =^.^= Betsie >^.^<
Anya :)
Hi Chitra..glad to see your post..very beautiful temple, all the pictures are so nice n as always thanks for the wonderful virtual tour :)
ReplyDeleteUS Masala
Looks so serene..lovely place
ReplyDeleteGreat description. Beautiful pictures. Thanks so much for sharing Chitra.
ReplyDeleteyes
ReplyDeleteKalpathy festival is amazing
Its something to be experienced
:)
Thanks for writing about it..
Dear Chitra,
ReplyDeleteGood Morning!
The chariot festival is very famous.I always loved the location in the movies.The agraharam,the kolam in the courtyard,the temple rituals give one an amzing feeling!
Beautiful intricate carvings are captured so well.
You are doing a noble deed,Chitra!May God Bless You!
Wishing you more pilgrimage,
Sasneham,
Anu
Anya, thanks a lot. Happy you enjoyed the slide show.
ReplyDeleteAipi, thanks dear.
ReplyDeleteEC, thanks. very calm and beautiful place it is.
ReplyDeleteKiran, thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteSorci, nice to see you after a long time. Haven't visited your posts too:) In between I had checked and found you were not active in blogosphere.Anyway shall check soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anupama,
ReplyDeleteI had heard so much about this festival and it was in November last year. But could not visit at time. I also do not like being in a crowded place hence visited after the festival.
So pretty again this slide-show! A serene and wonderful place, so peaceful!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Martina
ReplyDeleteCeline , Nice to see you back. thanks for the comment.
nanri nanri
ReplyDeleteNice post Chitra! Awesome pictures. I saw your other blog today and the post on conventional boiler is very good!
ReplyDeleteRamesh,:) :)
ReplyDeleteGopalan, I saw your comment on other blog also . Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi Chitra, lovely post as usual.
ReplyDeletebeautiful temple...loved seeing the snaps...
ReplyDeleteNeena and Sushma - thanks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics , lovely temple , Loved the chariot . Thanks for sharing .
ReplyDeleteTeam G Square,
ReplyDeleteThanks. Happy you liked the pictures of the chariot.
I would like to request the Temple authorities or Kurukkal/Priest of Kalpathy Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple to perform an archana on Aswathi Nakshatra day of every month and send the vibhoothi and kumkum prasadam to be my post, by paying the requiared amount to him in advance for one year. Can u kindly give me the telephone numbers of the Temple office and the Chief Priest with his name?
DeleteI had requested for the phone numbers of Kalpathy Sivan temple and also that of the Priest. Please send the same to my yahoo id sr_pon1941@yahoo.com or by sms to my mobile 9443535426.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ - Lakshminarayan Temple is in a different village called Sekharipuram which is close to Kalpathy. Please correct that. Otherwise, the description is fine. Thanks.
ReplyDelete@ Rams. Thanks for the information. I don think I have presented wrong facts here. I said it is nearby. this temple is a few meters from the temple and I mentioned it that is all. I am a traveller and don't find such details as and when I want.
ReplyDeleteOMG! To see your home through another eyes is always refreshing... Thanks for sharing this brilliant post... Happy to find u in the blogosphere... :)
ReplyDeleteHi Loco mente. Thanks for visit and comment. I wished to be part of the festival but did not get opportunity.I visited your blog when Kp shared link
ReplyDelete