Places to See

The Vilwadrinatha temple at Thiruvilwamala is one of the ancient sacred temples of Kerala. Located at Vilwamala, near the famous river Nila, this beautiful temple is situated near Lakkidi Railway Station and is set amidst the breathtaking natural charm. This granite stone temple has a majestic grandeur and beauty with its intricate wooden carvings including the wooden chain and aaroodham work. The carvings on the wall depicting Nara Narayana Tapas remain as testimonies of the artistic excellence and craftsmanship. It is believed that behind the idol of the temple, there is crater in which there is a golden Vilwa (Beel) tree and the village has taken its name from this.

The “punarjani” caves lie between the Vilwamala and the Bhoothamala and these are believed to be built by “Viswakarma” as per the instruction of “Devendra” for the salvation of spirits. The Entrance of Punarjani cave is at six feet and in many places the pilgrims need to crawl and bend to slither through the dark and narrow passages within the cave often in total darkness. Only men are allowed to perform this ritual. It takes about 45 m. for you to reach the exit of the Punarjani caves. The cave will be open to the public only on the Ekadasi day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November-December).