Palakkad Pilgrim Centre

Thiruvalathur Bhagavathi Temple

When on a trip to Kerala, one should always make it a point to visit the Thiruvalathur Bhagavathi Temple one of the 108 Durga temples in the country, Thiruvalathur has an interesting story behind it. It is believed that an army of gods constructed the outer wall of the temple. Using stones from the Nila River, they worked through the night at a feverish pitch. But at dawn the work remained incomplete. Not wanting to be seen by human beings, the gods left, leaving the construction incomplete at several points. Despite efforts much later on by humans, the work could not be carried out. The walls remain unfinished, as it is believed that mortals cannot complete this work.

The Thiruvalathur festival is a 10 day long one, held in January. When on a trip to Kerala, the best thing to see is the 4,000 stone lamps fixed on the wall, lit up at night.

Jain Temple

Built by two diamond traders from Karnataka, this temple in Kerala is not in the best of shape today. But it is a historic structure that has withstood the ravages of time. The first Jains- the Shetty’s, bestowed on the place name Jainamedu, a term that is still in use. This temple in Kerala is said to be of 1,500- year vintage and Thirthankara. A notable aspect is the statue of the Kshetrapalan, the guardian.

The families lived peacefully, ahimsa or non violence, being their way of life so it was a shock when Tipu who lived there at the time fled, the woman leaving their jewellery in the many wells, hoping to return and the place, taking apart the stone boundary walls of the wreaking destruction. Unable to come back to their homes, most of the families resettled in Wayanad.

Today, Jainamedu has a solitary Jain family. Of the 24 wells that had been constructed, only one remains. The boundary walls of the temple are missing and the main structure is crumbling. But the Kshetrapalan has been replaced and is a must see place if you are on a trip to Kerala.