Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple, Karunagappally

Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple in Karunagappally town, Kollam district, on the bank of the Pallikkal River and beside National Highway 47. It is counted among the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala.

One of several legends tells that Shiva and Krishna, travelling through what was then forest, grew tired. Krishna went ahead to find a resting place, liked the spot so much that he settled there, and Shiva, searching for him, eventually found him and sat down at his side. Karunagappally itself was ruled in turn by the Ay dynasty, Odanad and Travancore, and the Kayamkulam kings once had their headquarters here. The temple's elephant, Karunagappally Mahadevan, was well known until his death in 2007.