Alamy Stock Photo

Thirunelly Temple

Northern Kerala

Thought to be one of the oldest temples on the subcontinent, Thirunelly Temple huddles beneath the Brahmagiri Hills 15km southwest of Tholpetty. Non-Hindus cannot enter the temple itself, but it’s worth visiting for the otherworldly cocktail of ancient and intricate pillars backed by mountain views. Follow the path uphill behind the temple to the stream known as Papanasini, where Hindus believe you can wash away all your sins; a trail branches off halfway up to an ancient Shiva shrine.

Buses run to Thirunelly from Mananthavadi (₹35, 1½ hours).

Contact

Get In Touch

http://thirunellitemple.com/

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Edakkal Caves
25.48 MILES
These remote hilltop 'caves' – more accurately a small series of caverns – are celebrated for the ancient collection of petroglyphs in their top chamber,…
Wayanad Heritage Museum
24.81 MILES
In the village of Ambalavayal, 12km southwest from Sultanbatheri near the Edakkal Caves, this small but fascinating museum exhibits tools, weapons,…
Nagarhole National Park
14.14 MILES
West of the Kabini River is the 643-sq-km wildlife sanctuary of Nagarhole National Park (pronounced nag-ar-hole-eh). The lush forests here are home to…
Uravu
22.91 MILES
An 11km drive east from Kalpetta, the Uravu nonprofit collective of 200 workers (most of them women) creates all sorts of artefacts from bamboo. You can…
Pookot Lake
25.48 MILES
Around 3km southwest of Vythiri (10km southwest of Kalpetta), Pookot Lake is a beautiful mirror framed by forest. With well-maintained gardens, a cafe, a…
Panamaram Jain Temple
12.84 MILES
Seemingly being allowed to collapse into oblivion, this ancient, partly ruined roadside Jain temple displays fine stone carvings backed by lush greenery…
Jain Temple
24.43 MILES
The 13th-century Jain temple on the western edge of Sultanbatheri has splendid stone carvings and is an important monument to the region’s strong…
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Tholpetty)
5.28 MILES
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary can only be visited by two-hour jeep safari; this is the location of the reserve's northern gate.

View more attractions

Nearby Northern Kerala attractions

1. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Tholpetty)

5.28 MILES

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary can only be visited by two-hour jeep safari; this is the location of the reserve's northern gate.

2. Panamaram Jain Temple

12.84 MILES

Seemingly being allowed to collapse into oblivion, this ancient, partly ruined roadside Jain temple displays fine stone carvings backed by lush greenery…

3. Nagarhole National Park

14.14 MILES

West of the Kabini River is the 643-sq-km wildlife sanctuary of Nagarhole National Park (pronounced nag-ar-hole-eh). The lush forests here are home to…

4. Uravu

22.91 MILES

An 11km drive east from Kalpetta, the Uravu nonprofit collective of 200 workers (most of them women) creates all sorts of artefacts from bamboo. You can…

5. Jain Temple

24.43 MILES

The 13th-century Jain temple on the western edge of Sultanbatheri has splendid stone carvings and is an important monument to the region’s strong…

6. Wayanad Heritage Museum

24.81 MILES

In the village of Ambalavayal, 12km southwest from Sultanbatheri near the Edakkal Caves, this small but fascinating museum exhibits tools, weapons,…

7. Pookot Lake

25.48 MILES

Around 3km southwest of Vythiri (10km southwest of Kalpetta), Pookot Lake is a beautiful mirror framed by forest. With well-maintained gardens, a cafe, a…

8. Edakkal Caves

25.48 MILES

These remote hilltop 'caves' – more accurately a small series of caverns – are celebrated for the ancient collection of petroglyphs in their top chamber,…

View more attractions

placement: superzone
path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "india/kerala/wayanad-wildlife-sanctuary/attractions/thirunelly-temple/a/poi-sig/1150646/356345",
  "destination": "Northern-Kerala",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "country": "India",
  "region": "Northern-Kerala",
  "position": "superzone"
}