Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Hindu temple in Nagercoil, India
The Nagaraja Temple is a southern Indian sanctuary in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to a five-headed serpent deity. The main hall features a sand floor that forms the base of prayer ceremonies.
The sanctuary arose before the 12th century and served local rulers as a site for religious donations. Stone inscriptions from the 16th century document gifts from Travancore king Bhutaalvira Udayamarttandavarman.
The temple incorporates both Saiva and Vaishnava practices, with shrines dedicated to Krishna, Shiva, and other deities alongside the primary Nagaraja worship.
Visitors can enter the grounds in the morning between 4 and 11:30 AM and in the evening between 5 and 8:30 PM. The closest airport is in Thiruvananthapuram, roughly an hour away by road.
The sand in the main area shifts color between black and white depending on the sun position during the two halves of the year. This phenomenon draws pilgrims who interpret the change as a sign of divine presence.
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