Thirunelli Temple, Kerala – Overview
Thirunelli Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu on the side of the Brahmagiri hill in Kerala, near the Karnataka state border. The temple is situated at an altitude of about 900 meters in northern Wayanad in a valley surrounded by mountains and beautiful forests. It is 32 km from Manthawadi.
History of this Temple
As far as the history of Thirunelli is concerned, information about the place is limited. It is believed that Thirunelli was an important religious center till the 16th century. Malayalam works of the 11th and early 12th centuries, such as Unniyachi Champu, refer to the place. Copper plate inscriptions from the time of Bhaskara Ravi Varma I and II, who ruled the region in the 10th and 11th centuries, have been excavated from the village by archaeologists.
The Malabar Manual, William Logan’s work also mentions a place. It is said that when the roads were being built, the workers found coins from the 9th and 10th centuries, indicating the importance of the place during Kulasekhara’s rule. One clearly shows that this place was an important religious place in northern Kerala for centuries.
The name Thirunelli is derived from the Tamil/Malayalam and Kannada word nelli for the Indian gooseberry of the gooseberry tree. Parasurama, the famous incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is said to have visited Thiruneli and performed the last rites of his father, the sage Jamadagni. He also took a dip in Papanashini to wash away the sins committed in killing the Kshatriyas.
The Kottiyur Temple and the Trisillery Temple are inextricably linked with the legends and folklore of the Thirunelli Temple. An old route exists which crosses Narinirangi Mala to connect with Trisillery Maha Dev Lord Shiva Temple. In earlier days, all the devotees going to Thrisillery had to cross the arduous Narinirangi Mala to pay respects to Lord Vishnu and Brahma at Thirunelli.
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Thirunelli Temple Timings
This temple opens at 5.30 am to 12 noon in the morning and 5.30 pm to 8 pm in the evening.
| Days | Parts of the Day | Temple Darshan Timings/Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Mon to Sun | Temple Opening Time | 05:30 |
| Mon to Sun | Morning Hours | 05:30 to 12:30 |
| Mon to Sun | Evening Hours | 17:30 to 20:00 |
| Mon to Sun | Temple Closing Timings Hours | 20:00 |
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Place to visit near Thirunelli Temple
Panchatirth
The Panchatirth tank located on the southern side of the temple used to be a tank in earlier days. The water of five rivers was available in this pond, hence it got its name. Water dries up in summer. There is a mound in the middle which can be reached by a stone bridge. On this mound there is a stone slab inscribed with the feet of Vishnu which is called Vishnupad.
Papanashini
Papanashini is also called Papnashak. The story of Papanashini is related to the Samudra Manthan episode. After Lord Brahma installed an idol of Vishnu in the Thirunelli temple, Vishnu granted the power of river Papanashini as a boon to Lord Brahma to wash away all sins. Pilgrims visit the river Papanashini to be absolved of all sins.
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How to reach this Temple
By Air- The nearest airport from this temple is Karipur International Airport in Kozhikode, which is located at a distance of about 93 km from Wayanad. The airport is well connected to important destinations in India and the world through regular flights. From here you can easily reach this temple by using local transport services.
By Train- The nearest railway station from this temple is Kozhikode or Calicut, which is located at a distance of about 84 km away from this temple. Once you reach the railway station, you can hire a taxi or local transport services to reach this temple.
By Road- A good network of roads connects Wayanad to important cities of Kerala and other neighboring states. SH17 and NH212 connect to Wayanad. From these routes you can easily reach this temple by using own vehicle from any part of the country.
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