India is full of surprises. India has something to offer to every traveler started from beaches, scenic beauty, interesting history and everything in between. Travelling in India is mesmerizing experience for everyone. You will discover different India every time you visit the country. For other people India is all about Sadhus in Kumbh Mela and country of villages, but for Indians India is a magical place where you came empty hands and go with enchanting experience.

Ananthapura is one of the places in India which is unique in its own way. Ananthapura Lake Temple is located in Kasaragod District of Kerala and is the only lake temple in Kerala. The principal deity is Lord Vishnu. Ananthapura is famous for Lake Temple and a crocodile. Now you wonder what is special in crocodile. The crocodile is believed to be vegetarian and is guarding the temple for more than 60 years. This crocodile named Babiya is found in Ananthapura temple.

The priests feed the crocodile after the Ucha Pooja / Noon Pooja with mixture of rice and jaggery.

Local people in ananthapura narrate the interesting story behind this crocodile.

Once Sree Vilvamangalathu Swami who was devotee of Lord Vishnu was doing penance for his favorite lord. While he was in his prayers, Lord Krishna in the form of a little boy appeared and started to disturb him. Being annoyed by the behavior of this child, the saint pushed little boy aside with his left hand. The boy who was Lord Krishna immediately disappeared into a nearby cave and the truth dawned on the saint. The cave into which Krishna is said to have disappeared is still there. The crocodile guards the entrance and the shrine. According to Temple authorities crocodile has never harmed anyone including the fishes in the pond.

According to local people there is only one crocodile in the lake at a time. When one crocodile dies, another one appears magically in the lake. The devotees pay great respect to this crocodile.

In 1945, when the British soldiers were stationed there, one soldier shot dead the crocodile. Surprisingly the soldier died within few days by a snake-bite. People believe it to be revenge by the serpent god Anantha.

The temple is unique in its structural aspects. The original idols in the sanctum sanctorum were not made of metal or stone, but of a rare combination of more than 70 medicinal materials called `kadu-sharkara-yogam. The temple is open to all religion and caste.

How to reach:

The nearest major railway station to Ananthapura Lake Temple is Kasaragod railway station which is almost 13 km from here. There is also a railway station at Kumbla, 30 minutes drive from Kumbla which is Anil Kumble’s home town.

Mangalore Airport (Karnatak) is the nearest airport which is 60km away from here.

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