Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Vellayani Devi Temple

Vellayani, Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala · 8.4456°, 76.9914°

BhadrakaliUndeterminedDravidian (kovil form) with a bronze roof
Sacred since
1000 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
dating unrecorded
Undetermined

History & significance

A Bhadrakali temple beside Vellayani Lake south of Thiruvananthapuram, known for the Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam held once every three years, a festival of some sixty-five to seventy days said to be the longest continuous temple festival in south India.

Sthala katha — the legend

A blacksmith named Kelan Kulasekhara is said to have found a divine frog near Vellayani Lake and consecrated an image in which the goddess took her seat.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Undetermined