Kalady Holy Place in Kerala

Location: Near Kochi

Highlights: it is the birthplace of Adi Sankaracharya

How to Reach: You can reach Kalady in Kerala by rail, road or airways. Nedumbassery Airport is about 6 km from here and Angamali railway station is situated 10 km away.

Kaladi village, located near Cochin city of Kerala, is a famous pilgrim center cum tourist spot. It was once an insignificant little village, but it gained importance after Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian philosopher of the 8th century AD, was born there. He was the only son of Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Kerala Brahmin couple. It is said he was only 16 when completed the study of the Vedas. Adi Sankaracharya evolved the philosophy of Advaita, one of the two principals of the Vedantic school asserting the sole existence of Brahma.

At Kalady, there are two shrines dedicated to the memory of the Adi Sankaracharya. While one shrine is dedicated to him as Dakshinamoorthi, the other shrine is dedicated to Goddess Sharada and is looked after by the Sringeri Mutt. The Sringeri Mutt is believed to be situated exactly at the same place where Adi Shankaracharya house once stood. To the left of the entrance of the temple is a black pole, which was meant to mark the exact spot where Adi Sankaracharya was born.

Sharing the same premises is another spot called Brindavan, where Shankaracharya's mother Aryamba was cremated. Shri Krishna temple located nearby used to be the family temple of Adi Shankaracharya. Infact, around this venue there are many sites associated with the life of the Shankaracharya. For instance, there is the famous bathing ghat called the Crocodile Ghat outside the temple. It is said the Crocodile Ghat is the place where the young Shankaracharya once got caught by a crocodile.

His mother was against his taking the Sanyasa and so he utilized this opportunity to coax her to give him permission to take up Sanyasa or renouncement. When she said yes to Sanyasa, the crocodile let him go easily. About 45 m away from this Mutt is the nine-storey Sri Adi Shankaracharya Keerthi Sthamba Mandapa, which bears illustrations narrating the entire life story of the great Adi Shankaracharya.

Around Kaladi : Manickamangalam temple, one km north of Kalady, dedicated to Bhagavathi or Goddess Durga, Vellimanthulli temple, 2kms west of Kaladi, Malayattor church on a small hillock 8 kms away.

Festivals : Sankara Jayanti - 5 days (April/May) celebtation include several religious rites, Navarathri - 9 days (Sept/Octo) music concerts, chariot festival, 'rathotsavam' and other exciting festivities.

Best season : Throughout the year, except monsoon season (June to October). Applicable to Trichur, Guruvayur, Kalady.

What to wear : Cottons

How to get there : Nedumbassery is the nearest airport just 10kms away. Angamaly 10 kms away, or Alwaye 22 kms away, are the nearest railway stations which are connected to major Indian cities. Buses and taxis are available from Angamaly to Kaladi. Kaladi is connected by an efficient bus service with important towns in Kerala including Trivandrum, Palghat and Kozhikode (Calicut).

Where to Stay : Guest houses and choultries maintained by Sringeri Math and Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Government Rest House, Private lodges like Hotel Prince and Udaya Lodge offer economical accomodation.