Hindu temple open 1 day per year

htid · Jun 17th, 2008, 17:18

We were in Kerala in May and went on a bullock cart ride in Tamil Nadu.

We went past the "entrance" to a Hindu temple which is right up in the mountains which our guide told us was only open 1 day per year. Anybody have an idea of the name of the temple? It would be on the Tamil/Kerala border.

machadinha · Jun 17th, 2008, 17:31

My first thought is you may be thinking of Sabarimala. I believe it's not technically open just one day a year, however it is the center of a major annual festival and pilgrimage, so this may have inspired your guide's comment. If in Kerala (at the right time of year) and even beyond you see hordes of pilgrims dressed only in black making their way, this is where they're headed.

You can search the web for it. Remember, in India different explanations for the same phenomenon will often abound

Or, it may well have been an entirely different temple, of course.

Nick-H · Jun 17th, 2008, 17:41

Sabarimela (I'm unsure of the correct spelling) has seasons; it is open for periods in the year.

Htid; if you tell us where you took the bullock cart from that will define the area and should make it a fairly easy question for those who know to answer.

Hyderabadi · Jun 17th, 2008, 19:34

Sabarimala:
http://www.sabarimala.org/

htid · Jun 17th, 2008, 20:20

Sorry silly me, I meant to say that the bullock cart ride was organised by the Periyar forestry office. We drove through Kumily, over the border into TN, down the hills onto a flat plane, which is where we went around in the cart.

I'm still not sure if it's that temple, but it could be, I just don't really know. Looking at the website, the "statues" (not sure of the correct word for them, sorry) of the gods look the same as the ones we saw, so most likely it is.

Thanks!

snonymous · Jun 19th, 2008, 22:45

It would have been the Mangaladevi temple which is within the Periyar sanctuary. Its open to the public on 1 day in the year. I remember reading that recently on thekkady.com or maybe periyartigerreserve.org If you Google Mangaladevi you are sure to get a lot more info.

Sabarimala - the famous Ayappa shrine - is in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, neighbouring the Idukki district where Periyar sanctuary is located.

machadinha · Jun 19th, 2008, 23:06

Great find, Snonymous. It appears there's a major Mangaladevi temple at Mangalore, Karnataka (that city is said to have taken its name from her), but this would seem to be it then: http://www.keralatourism.org/video-c...2122434432.php (includes video, could be slow-loading to some members).

manojb · Jun 20th, 2008, 09:05

It must be Mangaladevi temple. There is a boundary dispute between Kerala and Tamilnadu in this area, and it has not been settled whether the temple is in Kerala or Tamilnadu. The annual festival is held under the joint supervision of both states.

snonymous · Jun 24th, 2008, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

.. Mangaladevi temple .... but this would seem to be it then: http://www.keralatourism.org/video-c...2122434432.php (includes video, ...

Good work Machadinha. Keralatourism is a good site, I did not realise they had this much detail.

iloveindia1234 · Jun 24th, 2008, 14:11

There is one temple in Karnataka which i know is open only for one day in a year. They keep it locked the whole year and devotees are let inside to see the idol only on one day in a year. The temple is in Kolar, in Karnataka.

Jun 17th, 2008, 17:18	#1
htid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 129	Hindu temple open 1 day per year We were in Kerala in May and went on a bullock cart ride in Tamil Nadu. We went past the "entrance" to a Hindu temple which is right up in the mountains which our guide told us was only open 1 day per year. Anybody have an idea of the name of the temple? It would be on the Tamil/Kerala border.

Jun 17th, 2008, 17:31	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,560	My first thought is you may be thinking of Sabarimala. I believe it's not technically open just one day a year, however it is the center of a major annual festival and pilgrimage, so this may have inspired your guide's comment. If in Kerala (at the right time of year) and even beyond you see hordes of pilgrims dressed only in black making their way, this is where they're headed. You can search the web for it. Remember, in India different explanations for the same phenomenon will often abound Or, it may well have been an entirely different temple, of course. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Jun 17th, 2008, 17:41	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Sabarimela (I'm unsure of the correct spelling) has seasons; it is open for periods in the year. Htid; if you tell us where you took the bullock cart from that will define the area and should make it a fairly easy question for those who know to answer. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jun 17th, 2008, 19:34	#4
Hyderabadi Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: GA,USA. Posts: 1,106	Sabarimala: http://www.sabarimala.org/

Jun 17th, 2008, 20:20	#5
htid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 129	Sorry silly me, I meant to say that the bullock cart ride was organised by the Periyar forestry office. We drove through Kumily, over the border into TN, down the hills onto a flat plane, which is where we went around in the cart. I'm still not sure if it's that temple, but it could be, I just don't really know. Looking at the website, the "statues" (not sure of the correct word for them, sorry) of the gods look the same as the ones we saw, so most likely it is. Thanks!

Jun 19th, 2008, 22:45	#6
snonymous Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 765	It would have been the Mangaladevi temple which is within the Periyar sanctuary. Its open to the public on 1 day in the year. I remember reading that recently on thekkady.com or maybe periyartigerreserve.org If you Google Mangaladevi you are sure to get a lot more info. Sabarimala - the famous Ayappa shrine - is in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, neighbouring the Idukki district where Periyar sanctuary is located.

Jun 19th, 2008, 23:06	#7
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,560	Great find, Snonymous. It appears there's a major Mangaladevi temple at Mangalore, Karnataka (that city is said to have taken its name from her), but this would seem to be it then: http://www.keralatourism.org/video-c...2122434432.php (includes video, could be slow-loading to some members).

Jun 20th, 2008, 09:05	#8
manojb Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 423	It must be Mangaladevi temple. There is a boundary dispute between Kerala and Tamilnadu in this area, and it has not been settled whether the temple is in Kerala or Tamilnadu. The annual festival is held under the joint supervision of both states.

Jun 24th, 2008, 14:11	#10
iloveindia1234 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 116	There is one temple in Karnataka which i know is open only for one day in a year. They keep it locked the whole year and devotees are let inside to see the idol only on one day in a year. The temple is in Kolar, in Karnataka.

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