Ananthapuram Lake Temple is the only lake temple in
Kerala, which is regarded as the moolasthanam (original abode) of Anandapadmanabha, the deity of
Sri Padmanabha Swami temple,
Thiruvananthapuram. It is located at
Ananthapuram,, 30km from
Bekal in
Kasargod District.
The deity Shri Padmanabha is in a sitting posture. This temple is associated with the great mystic Vilvamangalathu Swami who is believed to have offered penance at this spot.
The temple which is built on a remote rock is situated in the center of the Ananthapura lake. There is a lone crocodile living in the lake. It is said that when one crocodile dies, another one appears.
The walls of the temple are adorned by murals depicting themes from the Puranas and there is a cave which opens out to a small pond where the water level remains steady regardless of climatic changes.
The original idols in the temple were made of a special combination of a number of medicinal materials known as 'kadu-sharkara-yogam.' These were recast in panchaloha in the year 1972, but now there is a move to reinstall idols made of the original material.
To reach the temple, one has to travel 11 km from Kasargod to Kumbala. From Kumbala, there is a road that leads to Badiadka, and it is a further 3 km to Naikap. The temple is located 1 km from there.
