Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Krishnapuram, Tamil Nadu

Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Krishnapuram, Tamil Nadu
Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple (also called Krishnapuram Temple) dedicated to Lord Vishnu . The temple located in Krishnapuram village which is 10 km far from Tirunelveli town in the Tamil Nadu state.  The presiding deity is Sri Venkatachalapathy (Lord Vishnu) and Alamelumangai (Goddess Lakshmi). The temple is constructed in the Dravidian architecture. Also, the temple is a storehouse of Nayak architecture.

Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Krishnapuram, Tamil Nadu
Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

History

The temple received various contributions from the Nayak and Vijayanagara Empire from the 16th century. There is one inscription indicating that the temple was built by Krishnappa Nayak (1563–72), the son of Viswanatha Nayak, the founder of Madurai Nayak dynasty. Krishnappa is credited to the construction of the precincts around the temple and the soaring temple tower. Krishnappa Nayak also laid four streets around the temple for the smooth passing of the temple car. The original village name Thiruvenkatapuram changed to Krishnapuram during the rule of Krishanppa Nayak.  The five copper plates from Sadasiva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire indicate grants to light lamps perpetually and lay gardens.

Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple, Krishnapuram, Tamil Nadu
Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architecture

Spread across an area of 1.8 acres, the temple surrounded by a granite walls and has a five tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) height of 110 feet. The temple had originally three precincts but the outer one was demolished by Chanda Sahib. The 4 feet standing posture image of Venkatachalapathy is made of granite. The deity has four arms in which two arms hold the conch and Chakra and other two hold Abayamudra and Kadahasta. The images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are located on either of his side. There is a separate shrine of Alamelumangai in the third precinct, which also houses the festival image. There are many halls in the temple namely the Pandal mantap, Vahana mandap, Ranga Mandap an Nanguneri Jeeyar mandap.

Temple Timings

The temple remains open from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM in the Morning and 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Evening. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. The temple priests performed pooja four times a day.

Festival

The major festivals celebrated in this temple; 11 day Brahmmotsavam in Purattasi (September-October), 10 days Vaikunda Ekadasi during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January).  Also in Pongal, Tamil and English New year days are celebrated in the temple.

How to Reach

By Air

Nearest airport Tuticorin Airport is 33 KM away.

By Rail

Krishnapuram has its own railway station but Tirunelveli is well connected to major cities like Mumbai, Bilaspur and Coimbatore etc.

By Road

Buses are available from Tirunelveli to Krishnapuram .

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