Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights
Region
North Kerala
Best Time to Visit
November to April, outside the heaviest monsoon rains
About This Pilgrimage
A North Malabar circuit through ancient Shivalayas, daily Theyyam ritual worship, a rare forest temple, Kerala's only lake temple and Bekal's historic coastal fort.
Destinations You'll Visit
The Destinations on This Route
A little background on each place this pilgrimage takes you to.
Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
Set on the banks of the Valapattanam river in Kannur district, this temple is dedicated to Muthappan, a folk deity worshipped as a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu. Worship here centres on Theyyam, a ritual dance performed daily rather than only during a festival season.
Kottiyoor Temple
A Shiva temple in Kannur district observed across two linked sites, one with a permanent structure and the other, by tradition, kept free of any built shrine. It opens only for the Vaishaka Mahotsavam each year, a 28 day festival, and is sometimes called the Dakshina Kashi.
Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple
A very old and prominent Shiva temple in Kannur district, counted among the twelve major ancient Shivalayas along the Kerala coast. Entry is restricted to Hindu visitors.
Cherukunnu Annapoorneswari Temple
Originally an ancient Krishna temple near Taliparamba in Kannur district, later home to a goddess Annapoorneswari shrine installed with royal patronage. Krishna and Annapoorneswari are both given equal sanctum status here, an unusual arrangement among Kerala temples.
Lokanarkavu Temple
An ancient Durga temple near Vadakara in Kozhikode district, closely tied to the Vadakkan Pattukal, the ballads of North Malabar, and to the region's Kalaripayattu martial arts tradition. Its festivals feature Poorakkali, a folk martial dance performed here.
Thirunelli Temple
Thirunelli Temple, set deep within the forests of Wayanad against the Brahmagiri hills, is dedicated to Vishnu and is often called the Kashi of the South. The nearby Papanasini stream is traditionally used for ancestral rites, adding to the temple's reputation as a place of spiritual purification.
Ananthapura Lake Temple
Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod is the only lake temple in Kerala, its sanctum standing amid a scenic freshwater pond. Local tradition holds it to be the original seat of Sree Padmanabhaswamy, the deity later enshrined in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bekal Fort (heritage stop)
Kerala's largest fort, spread across 40 acres on the coast of Kasaragod district. Built in its present form around 1650 and later held by Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and the British, it is a purely military structure known for its keyhole shaped cannon openings and sweeping sea views.
Highlights
- Daily Theyyam ritual worship
- Ancient Shivalayas of North Malabar
- Rare forest-temple setting at Thirunelli
- Kerala's only lake temple
- Coastal heritage stop at Bekal Fort
Includes
- Hotel stay
- Private transportation
- Breakfast
- Temple visits
- Driver assistance