Keraladeshpuram temple located 3 km away from Thanur is one of the ancient temples in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Thanur is a coastal town in Malabar Coast, Malappuram, famously known for the oldest Portuguese settlements. A lot of Portuguese people stayed near the coast for trading. Legend says that St. Francis Xavier on his journey to Malappuram had paid a visit to Keraladeshpuram temple in 1546 A.D, as the temple was an integral part of Vettittnad Kingdom during the medieval period.
The present outlook and structure of the temple was the result of a renovation done on the remains of the temple, which was destroyed by the armies of Tipu Sultan, the Mysore ruler, during his invasions in Malappuram district. One can spot mural paintings on the walls of the temple. The murals along with the spiritual ambience invite ardent devotees to the vicinity of the temple, that stays close to the beach shore in Thanur. The much-celebrated annual festival of the temple takes place in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam. Currently, the temple is part of Malabar Devaswom Board that maintains temple premises, rituals, festivals etc. A visit to this ancient temple would be a great experience to witness the heritage of our culture.
