Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple

The Mangaladevi Kannagi Temple stands at about 1,337 metres in the Western Ghats, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve on the border between Idukki district in Kerala and Theni district in Tamil Nadu, some 15 kilometres from Thekkady. It honours Mangaladevi, also known as Kannagi-Pattini, heroine of the Tamil epic Cilappatikaram, who in legend came here after burning Madurai and stayed 14 days. Tradition credits the Chera king Chenguttuvan with dedicating the temple to her about 2,000 years ago. Smaller shrines are for Karuppa Swamy, Shiva and Ganapathy.

Worshippers are admitted only on Chitra Poornami day in April or May, when about 25,000 pilgrims make the trek; private vehicles are banned and only taxis with special permission may drive up. Priests from Kerala and Tamil Nadu hold pujas in separate shrines. Because the site lies in an area disputed by the two states, entry happens under the supervision of both district administrations and police. Other visitors must first obtain permission from Thekkady's Wildlife Warden.