Kallil Temple- Sunday Ride

What all can keep you off biking?

Well, you may not agree with me on nine out of ten reasons that I would put up. But let me tell you this. Injury nails you, man. It nails you pretty bad. That’s exactly the same reason that put me off biking for a long long time.

Ironically, I didn’t get injured by biking. I jumped out of a moving bus and sprained my lower back. That’s it! Freaky, right? Let alone biking, I couldn’t move for a couple of days. One whole week of Ayurvedic treatments nursed me back to health but I dared not to use the bike for a while. But it was not easy to resist the temptation. So, I maintained absolute abstinence from bike forums, blogs and why say more, even FB!

Now, it’s been a couple of month since I have resumed active biking life but it took me some more time to write again asI was so indulged in biking alone and was imbibing the sheer fun of it. Today, however seems to be a good day to revisit blogging as I did a weekend ride so wonderful that I am not able to keep it to myself. Off me go!!!

Holding rich historical and mythological importance, Kallil Temple is situated in Ernakulam district in Kerala, at about 10kms from Perumbavoor town. An ancient Jain hub dating back to 9th century A.D., Kallil was transformed into a Bhagavathy (durga) temple when Vedic religion gained foot in Kerala. This might have made Mahavira, Brahma and Padmavati devi into Bhagavathy. The temple welcomes people from all religions. I had visited this place when I was a kid. Though I hardly reckon any details, I just remember it to be awesome. This ride, I thought, would be ideal as it is not very far off from where I stay and hopefully be an energizing redux to my biking passion.

Check out Kallil temple from the following sites:

Kallil Temple official website

Wikipedia


Route map: Perumbavoor-Kallil-Irumalapady-Perumbavoor
View Kallil Temple-Sunday ride in a larger map




Sunday, 23^rd December 2012.
Though I had planned to set off at 06:00am, I waited till 06:30am as it was quite dark even at that time. From Kaladi Junction at Perumbavoor, I took the MC road towards Pulluvazhy. The state highway is pretty decent, wide and hassle free.

 

Kalady Junction, Perumbavoor



 

The road is usually not busy at this time. As it was the annual pilgrimage season, I came across some vehicles going to Sabarimala, the jungle shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Pathanamtitta district. I even spotted some pilgrims covering the distance on foot! Swami Saranam!

 



Main Central (MC) Road

 



Sabarimala Pilgrims on foot







Hungry People





Immediately after crossing the St. Thomas Church, I took the Pulluvazhy-Kallil Road which goes straight, all the way to Nellimulam Junction. Though this is a village road, it is in pretty decent condition. I met Anandu and Devika and they were thrilled to give me the directions.



St. Thomas Church, Pulluvazhi





Jayakeralam Higher Secondary School, Pulluvazhi





Anandu & Devika











Elegant, both.



With Christmas round the corner, Nelimulam junction, Rayamangalam seemed to have geared up for celebrations. Even the elders who had gathered for their ‘Sunday-special international conference’ were in a merry mood, asking all sorts of questions regarding the bike and all. One gentleman even thought loudly that I was crazy. I too back his thoughts.

Towards right from Nellimulam junction, the road bifurcates; the road on right going to Keezhillam and the one on left going straight to Kallil. En route Kallil, I was tempted to climb the flight of steps to Nellimulam Church. A villager told me that there were 313 steps to the church and that made me focus back on Kallil Temple.  The route is scenic, decorated with paddy fields, plantain crops and irrigation canals.



Nellimudu Junction, Rayamangalam-Gearing up for x'mas.



313 steps leading to Nellimudu Church

Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kallil

I reached the entrance arch of the temple by 07:40am. The guys there told me that I missed the festival by a week. I think I missed the festival for good as places like these are best visited in solitude than amidst a festive crowd. Further, I enjoyed ascending the small yet steep climb to the stairs leading to the shrine.

Even from down below the stairs, one could see the huge monolith into which the sanctum sanctorum is carved into. The whole area was very calm and cool.




Entrance arch of Kallil Temple



Kallil Temple-Main Entrance

As it is a temple, certain decorum is expected from visitors. It’s not mandatory for gents to wear dhoti but they will have to remove their shirts or tees. I felt a bit awkward to enter wearing shorts but no one said anything. However, I could feel some eyes incising my sweaty and tattooed body. I took receipts for some pooja and asked permission to take some snaps. They said its ok but warned me not to point directly at the deity. Well, I dared not to point directly fearing the wrath of the Gods.

The following pics and captions wills give you a picture of the temple and premises.



Sculpt of Brahma [Mahavira(?)]



Note the small holes made in a line on the rock. In those days, it was an ingenious technique to split stones. Wooden cork were driven into the holes and then hot water was poured over it. The rock would crack as the wood expands and split into two perfect halves.

The main shrine of Kallil bhagavathy



The huge monolith above is believed to be staying on one pivot. One can actually see the light from the opposite side. They say that in earlier days the central pivot was clearly visible and the monolith used to stand well above the ground. It seems that it is supported with stones and structures now.

Parsvanath, perhaps.



Inscriptions. Couldn't make out anything.



Nagas

The unpaved trail alonside the irrigation canal beckons..

After spending almost an hour in the temple I decided to scoot. I had spotted a tempting unpaved trail alongside an irrigation canal on the way to the temple. On the way back, I turned off the GPS and decided to take this route hoping that it would quench my off-roading thirst and eventually connect to the Aluva-Munnar road (and it did). This strip turned out to be the highlight of the ride. Here are the snaps:

and the off-roading begins..



By the time I reached AM road, I was feeling very hungry. Being a Sunday, I was sure that there would be some nice breakfast waiting for me at home; and there was! Day made!!

Everyone, I strongly reccomend this route. Its equally good for a short morning ride or a long trek. Other spots like Iringole Kaavu, Paniyeli Poru, Kodanad Elephant Kraal, Bhootathaankettu Dam, Thattekaad Bird Sanctuary etc can all looped-in to this route and can be used as a parallel alternative to reach Munnar. Now, fancy that!!

Do tell me wotcha think..
Signin' off with that for the day, fellow travellers!!