Kalakkad is also called as Kalakkadu and it lies in Nanguneri Taluk in Tirunelveli District. The full name of the Temple is Sri Gomathi Ambal Udanurai Sathyavageswarar Temple. At the outset there is a Gopuram on top of which are the coloured Idols of Shivan and Parvathy along with a Rishaba Vaahanam. Flanking them are the coloured Idols of Sri Vinayagar and Sri Murugan. From the Gopuram Devotees have to enter through a multiple pillared passage leading to the Rajagopuram. This Temple has a 9 tiered East facing Rajagopuram which is as tall as 135 feet. Just before the Rajagopuram is an Idol of Gopura Vinayagar who is perched on the left top. Beyond the 9 tiered Rajagopuram is another Gopuram on top of which coloured stucco Idols of the Ambal and Maha Vishnu are seen and between them God Shiva is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Facing the Moolasthanam is a tall Dwajasthambam or a Flag Staff, a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam. Then another three tiered East facing Rajagopuram is seen and to the left of this Rajagopuram is an Idol of Sri Narthana Vinayagar and another Idol of Sri Maha Ganapathy, to the right of this Rajagopuram is an Idol of Sri Murugan. Beneath this Rajagopuram is a North facing Idol of Sri Adhikaara Nandhi who is seen in a standing posture.

Leading to the Moolasthanam are the Idols of Cheramaan Peruman Nayanar and Sundarar. Just beside the left Dwara Baalaka is an Idol of Sri Anukyai Vinayagar whose Idol is as tall as the Dwara Baalaka Itself. There is a second Nandhi Vaahanam here which is smaller in size and this Nandhi Vaahanam looks towards the Moolasthanam. Sri Sathya Vageeswarar is in the form of a self manifested Swayambu Lingam. The Presiding Deity of this Temple is Sri Sathya Vageeswarar who is none other than God Shiva. Sri Rama is believed to have visited this Temple while He was in search of Goddess Seetha. It is said that Shivan had appeared before Rama and had promised that He would get back His Wife very soon. God Shiva's words came true and hence after this incident the Presiding Deity here is known as Sri Sathya Vageeswarar. On select days of a year the Sun God reflects His Rays in such a way that the Rays fall on the Shiva Lingam of Sri Sathya Vageeswarar. In the Moolasthana Mandapam there is an enclosure Sri Natarajar, Sri Sivagami Ambal are seen along with the Urchavamoorthy Idols. There are two huge Dwara Baalakas who stand guard on either side of the Moolasthanam. The Temple has an East facing Sub Shrine for Sri Navaneetha Krishnan.

In this Temple the Presiding Deity of Sri Sathya Vaageeswarar is seen along with His Consort Goddess Gomathi who is another form of Goddess Parvathy. She occupies another East facing Sub Shrine and is found in a standing posture. On one side of Her Sannadhi is a small Vinayagar Idol and a Nandhi Vaahanam is seen looking towards Her Shrine. There is also a Neivedhya Peedam and a Dwajasthambam for Her Shrine. Standing guard before Sri Gomathi Ambal's Shrine is a pair of Dwara Baalakis. It is worthwhile to mention here that there is no Navagraha Sannadhi in this Temple. The reason for this is said that Sri Gomathi Ambal is seen as a Nava Sakthi and Prayed. This Temple was built by Pandaya Kings in 13th century but this Temple was later developed to its current structure by the Nayak's and Vijayanagara Kings. There are many Yazhi Pillars, 200 Mural and nearly 1500 Stuccos which showcase the crafty and  artistic works of  Nayaks. The deft hands of the workers and masons of those days could be seen  in the Maha Mandabam and the Artha Mandabam. Travancore King Boothala Veera Udaya Marthanda commissioned a hall of musical pillars in this Temple. This place is also called as Cholanadu, Vallipuram and Vanavan Naadu. There are Sub Shrines for Sri Vinayaka, Sri Subramanya, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Sri Chandikeswarar, Jurudevar, Sapthamathas, Veerabadrar, Goddess Durga, Annapoorani, Sri Sastha Poorna Pushkala, Saneeswarar, Boothathar, 63 Naayanamars, and Bhairavar. The outer peripheral of the Temple has a Punnai Maram beneath which is a Shiva Lingam known as Sri Punnaivananathar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar and Sri Visalakshi's Idol are also seen. The Temple has an exclusive South facing Shrine for Sri Anandha Natarajar and Sri Sivagami Ambal. He looks dazzling to the eyes of the Devotees since He is smeared with Sandalwood Paste and hence some call Him affectionately as Sandhana Natarajar. There is also another Natarajar Sannadhi in this Temple in which He is seen along with His Consort Sri Sivagami Ambal.

The Temple is compounded using a high granite wall. Saint Appar had recited Verses and Songa in praise of the Deity and hence this Temple is known as Thevara Vaipu Sthalam. It  is also known as Pancha Aasana Sthalam and the other remaining 4 are Eravadi Shiva Temple, Nanguneri Shiva Temple, Vijayanarayanam Shiva Temple and Shenbagaramanallur Shiva Temple. The Temple gains importance since its loaded with Inscriptions. There is a Sekkizhar Mandapam with coloured Idols atop its Gopuram and facing this is the Sacred Tank or the Pushkarani. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner.

Contact Details: 0471 2345667, Balakrishnan Gurukkal 94424 33664 99523 84732, 99943 96409, 90250 20211 and 63698 80175 For Annadhanam: 80721 43159 and 63698 80175

Temple Timing: 6.30 AM to 11 AM and  5 PM to 8.30 PM

Distance from Nanguneri to Kalakkad is 15 Kms 

Distance from Thirunelveli or Tirunelveli to Kalakkad is 43 Kms 

Distance from Veeravanallur to Kalakkad is 28 Kms 

Distance from Pattamadai to Kalakkad is 22 Kms 

Distance from Valliyur to Kalakkad is 25 Kms 

Distance from Munnirpallam to Kalakkad is 34 Kms 

Distance from Nagerkoil or Nagercoil to Kalakkad is 53 Kms 

Distance from Kanyakumari to Kalakkad is 54 Kms 

Distance from Vijayapathi to Kalakkad is 56 Kms 

Distance from Thiruchendur to Kalakkad is 85 Kms 

Distance from Srivaikundam to Kalakkad is 66 Kms 

Distance from Thoothukudi or Tuticorin to Kalakkad is 88 Kms 

Distance from Kovilpatti to Kalakkad is 105 Kms 

Distance from Kazhugumalai or Kalugumalai to Kalakkad is 101 Kms 

Distance from Sankarankoil to Kalakkad is 100 Kms 

Distance from Kallidaikurichi to Kalakkad is 34 Kms 

Distance from Papanasam to Kalakkad is 47 Kms 

Distance from Tenkasi to Kalakkad is 69 Kms 

Distance from Ambasamudram to Kalakkad is 37 Kms 

Distance from Varkala to Kalakkad is 162 Kms 

Distance from Thiruvananthapuram to Kalakkad is 125 Kms 

Distance from Chennai to Kalakkad is 666 Kms 

Nearest Railway Station is Nanguneri R.S.

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