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Tour to Thiruneli
Facts and Figures:
Main Attraction: Thiruneli Temple
Deity: Lord Vishnu
Location: 30 km from Mananthavady in Wayanad District, Kerala.
Best Time to Visit: Any time except during heavy monsoon
History of Thiruneli
Nestled beautifully amidst the Brahmagiri hills, Thiruneli is a treasure-trove of scenic beauty, housing the divine Thiruneli Temple and the holy mountain spring of Papanasini flowing close by.
Legend has it that Thiruneli temple was built more than 3000 years ago by Lord Brahma – The Creator of the Universe, and that he himself dedicated the temple to Lord Visnu – the Preserver of the Universe according to Hindu mythology. Perhaps this explains how the hill ranges surrounding the temple came to be known as Brahma Giri. But the actual origin of the temple still remains a mystery.
Historical records provide evidence that present day Thiruneli ranked as an important and prosperous place in South India till 16th century AD. Copper inscriptions of Chera kings Bhaskara Ravi Varman I and II have been excavated from Thiruneli village and they bear testimony to the historical importance of the Vishnu Temple.
About Thiruneli
The temple at Thiruneli is a marvelous specimen of Kerala temple architecture with 30 granite slabs supporting the shrine and the floor being tiled with massive square granite blocks. The 'Koothambalam' at the temple is among the best in Kerala, and the walls are adorned with exquisite paintings. The ethereal charm of the place and the divinity of the deity lure devotees and visitors of all kinds to embark upon a tour to Thiruneli during their Kerala visit. There is a sacred mountain spring located nearby, known as Papanasini (the destroyer of sins), which is supposedly blessed with divine powers to free the soul from all its sins.
On your tour to Thiruneli you will also come across a holy rock in close proximity to the temple where devotees make ritual offerings for their ancestors on New Moon days.
Location
Thiruneli is ideally located amidst the serene Brahmagiri Hills, at about 32 km from Mananthavady and 66 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad District, North Kerala.
How to Reach
Wayanad is accessible only by road.
- Nearest Airport:
Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode, about 23km from Kozhikode town.
- Nearest Railhead:
At Kozhikode, about 72 km from Kalpetta.
Tourist Places around Thiruneli
- Pakshipathalam -
An idyllic hill resort located in the Brahmagiri hills, 7 km north-east of Thirunelli, Pakshipathalam houses a wide variety of birds and animals.
- Kuruvadweep –
Located in close proximity to Thiruneli, Kuruvadwep is a beautiful island on the banks of the Kabani River, 17 km from Mananthavady.
- Edakkal Caves –
The Edakkal Caves, located on Ambukuthi Hills, at a distance of 10 kilometers from Sultanbathery, are a major tourist attraction of Wayanad.
Fairs and Festivals
The festivals at Thirunelli include Thiruneli Festival – the two day annual festival of Sree Thirunelli Devaswom held in April, and Bali Karma – held during new moon days in the months of karkidaka (July-August), thulam (October-November) and kumbham (February-March), wherein devotees perform rituals (bali) for the departed souls. Other festivals celebrated at the temple are Puthari, Chuttuvilakku, Navarathri, Sivarathri and Sreekrishna Jayanthi.
Where to Stay:
The various hotels and resorts in and around Wayanad offer decent accommodation facilities suiting the budgets of all kinds of tourists on tour to Thiruneli.
tourism-of-india.com offers information on tour to Thiruneli and to other regions in Kerala, India.
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