Adi-Kesava temple

This temple contains the Deity of Lord Keshava. This Maha-Vishnu Deity, lying on Sesa Naga, is 5.5m (18 ft) long and is viewed from three doors.

The Adi Keshava Temple is about 45km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram in the town of Tiruvattar. Few people visit. The Deity faces west instead of east. The Deity’s left hand faces down, while in most other Maha-Vishnu temples, the Deity’s right hand is down. The temple priest says that Maha-Vishnu is facing west because this Deity is looking at the Deity of Sri Padmanabhaswami in Thiruvananthapuram.

It is a large, architecturally interesting temple. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu found a copy of the Brahma-samhita at this temple.

Darshan times are 5 to 8 am, 10 am to noon, and 5 to 8 pm.

Practicalities This temple is in the town of Tiruvattar, about 45km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram. This is a small town with no overnight facilities. From Thiruvananthapuram you get here by first taking a bus to the town of Marthandum. This town can be reached by getting a Nagercoil or Kanyakumari bus. From there you get another bus to Tiruvattar (10km, 20 min, Rs 3). You can also get a bus to here from Nagercoil. The temple is about a ten-minute walk from where the bus lets you off.