Kalimala Durgadevi Temple, Pathukani, Kanyakumari
Kalimala
Temple is a beautiful shrine situated on the Western
Ghats, about 3000 ft above sea level,
near the Kerala – Tamil
Nadu border, in Tamil Nadu. It is positioned towards
the eastern part of Kurisumala, on the same mountain. The word ‘Kalimala’
literally means ‘the mountain of Goddess
Kali’. The temple is structurally very small but it houses a
beautiful idol of Goddess Kali.
A narrow
path (about 6 km) connects the temple with the foot of the mountain. Kalimala has Kaali Theertham situated near to
a place where Sage Agasthya is said to have done his holy Thapas. The Kaali
Theertham which never gets dried up is considered sacred, on par with the
Ganges. This water is used by thousands of women during the Pongal Mahotsavam.
Hindu
devotees go to a temple there mainly during Durgashtami that is September to
October for offering prayers and “Ponkala”. It’s advisable to go there during
off seasons (religious) so that one can enjoy the mist and fog. The place is
situated at an altitude of 3,000 ft from the sea level. The temple is deserted
one and only during Durgashtami, it gets crowded. Otherwise only limited
devotees go there to offer prayer.
The
Temple is located at about 12 Kms from Pathukani, 5 Kms from Vellarada, 5 Kms
from Vellarada Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Mancode, 22 Kms from Thiruvattaru, 13 Kms
from Thirparappu, 22 Kms from Kuzhithurai, 22 Kms from Marthandam, 20 Kms from Kaliyakkavilai,
18 Kms from Parassala, 46 Kms from Nagercoil, 68 Kms from Kanyakumari and 44
Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kuzhithurai and
Parassala. Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.
