Thirunelli is one of the most ancient temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Kerala. This is a famous temple in Kerala where the worship of Pithrus (manes) is done. It is 32 kms from Manandavadi in Wayanad district and is a dense tribal area. It is in a valley called “Brahma Giri” (Mountain of Brahma). Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the history of the temple dates back to 3000 years. It is believed that here the prathishta of Lord Vishnu was performed by Lord Brahma. It is also known as ''Sahyamala Kshetram'' and ''Kashi of the South''. It is the only temple in the world where the devotees can perform all the rituals related to one’s life, starting from birth to death and life after death.
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The Thirunelli temple in Wayanad is an ancient structure showcasing the beauty of olden days. You will love the drive to this location because you might see some wild animals along the way. The temple has many stairs which you will have to climb. It can be difficult. An advantage is that this is not one of those temples where there is too much crowd.
Thirunelli is one of the most ancient temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Kerala. This is a famous temple in Kerala where the worship of Pithrus (manes) is done. It is 32 kms from Mananthavady in Wayanad district and is a dense tribal area. It is in a valley called “Brahma Giri” (Mountain of Brahma). Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the history of the temple dates back to 3000 years. It is believed that here the prathishta of Lord Vishnu was performed by Lord Brahma. It is also known as ''Sahyamala Kshetram'' and ''Kashi of the South''. It is the only temple in the world where the devotees can perform all the rituals related to one’s life, starting from birth to death and life after death.
Thirunelli Temple draws pilgrims from all over, primarily for ancestral rites. The rituals are performed on the banks of the stream Papanasini which flows down from Mount Brahmagiri. It is believed that this stream has divine power to dissolve sins of all the mortals. Another major attraction of the temple is the holy rock where people pray for their forefathers. On the western side of the temple is the cave temple Gunnika, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thus Thirunelli becomes blessed by the unique presence of all the members of the trinity.
The temple has beautiful granite columns which add an aesthetic appeal to the whole architecture. A stream runs beside the temple, which provides water for the temple usage. The temple also has a pond, at the centre of which is a stone slab with the impression of Lord Vishnu's feet.
Thirunelli Temple is located at Thirunelli, 137 kms from Calicut, 121kms from Mysore and 250 kms from Bangalore. You can reach the temple only by road. When coming from outside Wayanad, the most convenient railhead is Calicut. From there proceed to Mananthavady and then to Thirunelli by taxi or bus. Take a drive from Mananthavady to Thirunelli on the Mysore road and take a turn from Kattikulam to reach the tiny hamlet of Thirunelli. As the village is located on the Kerala – Karnataka border, it is easy to access it from Kutta in Karnataka too. If you are travelling by public transport, there are frequent local bus services from Mananthavady during daytime. For those coming from long distances, Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady are major connection points.
Festivals of the temple: Puthari, Chuttuvilakku, Navarathri, Shivarathri and Sreekrishnajayanthi.
