Ithiyapuram Kaavu

Ithiyapuram Kaavu is a Hindu temple on NH-47 between Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram, about 30 km from Nagercoil and 52 km from Thiruvananthapuram, on the Swamiyarmadam–Verkilambi road near Kovikal Bridge. Its age is unknown. The main deities, Sree Vana Sastha and Sree Vana Durga, along with Bala Ganapathy, are held to be self-manifested, and Nagaraja, Naga Yakshi and Krishna are also worshipped. Tradition says the Travancore king Marthanda Varma passed this way while fleeing for his life, and later gave the temple a copper-plate grant.

Large trees surround the shrine, and the forest behind it, home to king cobras and other snakes, is closed to everyone. Long neglected, the temple is now cared for again thanks to local people. A five-day festival is held at Panguni Uthram, along with the 41-day Mandala Pooja in Karthigai, and an evening puja takes place daily.