Ananthapura Lake Temple
Ananthapura Lake Temple is a holy palce of Hindus. It lies in the centre of the lake located in the small village named as Ananthapura which is in the Kasaragod District of Kerala (South India). This shrine is worshipped and visited in the honour of Sree Padmanabhaswamy. This temple has gained its solid structure in the 9th century. The main lure of this temple is crocodile naming Babiya which is 150 years old and it is believed that it is the protector of the shrine. It is a great wonder that this crocodile is vegetarian and it does not damage any living being even fish. It is the belief of local people that god actually settled down at this place. Another major attraction of the temple is the cave which lies to the right corner of the lake.
Getting There
One can reach Ananthapura Lake Temple by mean of two modes: rail and air. The railway station which is near to this shrine is Kumbala railway station. The airport which is near to this sanctum is Bajpe airport which is in Manglore. From Manglore bus or taxi can be hired to move towards this temple.
Security And Some Tips
There are many security services at Kasaragod which are provided to people for safety and protection. These security services are Fabkon Technical Systems, Axix Security Services, Smart Security System and Smart Solution etc. Yatris should not carry cash and ornaments with them. Yatris should keep their luggage at safe and secure place.
When To Visit
The best time to visit the temple is from the month of November to December. The timings of the temple are 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. People of all caste and religion are allowed to visit the temple.
What To See And Do
One can enter the shrine by mean of a bridge. A verandah has surrounded the temple. The walls of the shrine are adorned with paintings. This shrine reveals the scenic beauty of green landscape. The north eastern part of the sanctum is occupied by the cave. Unlike other idols the main deity of the temple is not made up of metal or stone, it is made up of a combination of more than 70 medicinal materials named as KADU-SHARKARA-YOGAM. In 1972 the deity is supplanted by panchaloha metals. The main deity which is of Lord Vishnu is placed in the sitting posture over five-hooded serpent king Lord Anantha. The food is given at noon to all of the aficionados. A kind of gruel which made up of rice and jaggery is distributed as Prasad which is also given to babia.
Where To stay
There are many dharamshalas and guest houses in the Kasaragod which provides stay at reasonable price. They are: Ayesha Cottage, Chandragiri Guest House, Speedway Inn Lodging And Boarding, Sivarba Becal Traditional Cottages and Iman Cottage etc.
Where Else To Stay
Yatris can also stay at hotels which provide luxury. These hotels are: Raj Residency, Neeleshwar Hermitage, Sree Gokulam Nalanda, Speedway inn, Vivanta by Taj – Bekal (A Taj Hotel) and Kanan Beach Resort.
Festivals
The annual one day festival of Thapotsavam is celebrated at the temple premises here with great zeal of enthusiasm. People from distant places are flocked towards this temple during these festivals and thus show their devotion and spiritualism.
Side Trips
There are other places to visit around this temple. These places are: Chandragiri Fort, Nileshwar, Manjeshwar, Malik Deenar Mosque, Govinda Pai Memorial, Ajanoor, Malom Wildlife Sanctuary and Parappa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Travel Tips
Yatris should take video camera with them in order to trap each and every activity of the whole trip. They should also take a personal diary for having the written record of the whole trip along with the feelings and emotions at that period of time. They should also hire a tourist guide for having the complete knowledge of the shrine including its history. They should also take first aid for curing frequent injury.
Thus, a combination of divinity and natural beauty is Ananthapura Lake Temple.