Nalambalam

Nalambalam Tozhal or Nalamabala darshanam involves visiting the four temples dedicated to Rama,Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shatrughna in that order. It is said that it is best to do the Nalambalam tozhal during the month of Karkkidakam(Mid of July to Mid of August). It is widely believed that Nalambala darshanam done during the month of Karkkidakam (visiting all the four temples on the same day) in the proper order will wash away all the sins.

One of the stories associated with Nalambalam is that at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, Dwaraka was swallowed by the sea and four idols of Sreerama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrukhna which Lord Sree Krishna worshipped, were also washed into the sea. Some fishermen caught these four idols near Thriprayar and they were given to Naduvazhi Vakkay Kaimal. Vakkay Kaimal, had a dream one night in which some mysterious person appeared before him and told him that four idols have been washed ashore and that these idols are to be consecrated at such and such places. They were duly installed in four temples as directed in the dream. Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Sathrughna at Payammal.

Thriprayar Ramaswamy temple

This is the first temple one should visit to start the Nalambalam pilgrimage. As the name suggests it is dedicated to Lord Rama. Menoottu(feeding the fish) is one of the main offerings here.

If coming from Eranakulam, one can take the Kodungalloor- Guruvayoor route to reach Thriprayar.

Koodalmanikyam Bharatha Temple

The next temple to visit is the Koodalmanikyam Bharatha Temple, its nearby and takes hardly around 30 minutes from Thriprayar Temple. Payammal Shatrukhna Temple which should be the last temple to visit is actually near to Koodalmanikyam, but as we had made up our mind to visit the temples in the proper order, we next went to Thirumoozhikulam Sree Lakshamana Perumal Temple.

ThiruMoozhikkulam Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple

It takes more than an hour to travel from Koodalmanikyam to Thirumoozhikulam.

The myth behind the name of this place is Hareetha Maharshi did penance and meditation on the banks of river Poorna(Periyar). Lord Mahavishnu got impressed by the dedication of the Maharshi and appeared before him on the beginning of the Kali yuga. Lord Vishnu gave some advices to Hareetha Maharshi to overcome the difficulties in Kali yuga. These advices are called "thiru mozhi" meaning sacred words. And there after this place got its name as "thirumozhi kalam" – kalam means place. Later Thirumozhikkalam became Thirumoozhikkulam.

Payammal Sree Shathrukhna swaami Temple

This is the last temple to visit as part of the Nalambala Darshanam. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shatrughna, the youngest brother of Lord Rama. This temple is also the smallest of the four temples. It is considered best if we can complete the nalambala darshanam by worshipping the deeparadhana here in the evening. 

Vazhvanthol Waterfalls

Vazhvanthol waterfalls is one of the most beautiful and relatively less explored area in Trivandrum. It's located around 45 Km's from Trivandrum city. One have to take the Nedumangadu - Vithura route and then turn right into the Bonacaud route just after Vithura and then continue along until you reach the kanithadam forest checkpost. There you will have to take entry pass(thousand rupees for a group of 10) and one guide will be allotted to you. You can go another 1kms or so in your vehicle to reach the parking ground and from there the trekk to the waterfall starts. The trekk to the waterfalls from the parking ground is around 2.1 Km's.

We reached the kanithadam check post around 11 AM. We paid the entry fee and we were assigned a guide and then they let our vehicle in. The guides are not from the forest department, but they are chosen from people who live in the nearby tribal settlement. Since these guys are born and brought up there, they know in and out of the forest. From the check post we traveled around 1KM in our vehicle and then we were asked to park our vehicles as the trekking trail starts from there.

In the initial part, it's an easy path and then once you start entering the forest it becomes a bit more difficult, there are some places where you have to climb through rocks. We trekked around 1 hour and reached the waterfalls.

Sri Kalahasti

This ancient temple dedicated to Shiva is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams, representing one of the five major elements - Air. The vast west facing Kalahastiswara temple is built adjoining a hill, and on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. SriKalahasti got its name because in days of yore a spider (sri), serpent (kala) and elephant (hasti) elephant worshipped Shiva with great devotion.

Sri Kalahasti temple is one place you should visit atleast once in your life time. Approximately 110 KMS away from Chennai, Sri Kalahasti is known as the temple city. It is a very famous temple and people come from far off places to do Rahu - Kethu pooja here mainly on saturdays. Its easily accessible by road.

From Chennai central - Board 15B or 15F bus to reach Koyambedu.

Chennai Egmore - 27B

From the Koyambedu main stand there are buses operating every 30 mins to Sri Kalahasti. You can either board a bus to Sri Kalahasti or the bus which goes to Tirupathi via Kalahasti.

If you are going by rail, you can getdown at renigunta station which is approx. 25KM away from SriKalahasti, all the trains plying between chennai and mumbai stops here.

One can find quite a few hotels near the temple which makes it convenient for the devotees to stay there and visit the temple.