Visit to Pulpally Seetha Devi Temple

 

November 5, 2023

It had been almost a year when I had undertaken a spiritual trip with Sudhesh. Last time around we had visited three Temples in Tirur, Malappuram District. Hence this time, we made it even further into Kerala and ventured into Wayanad district, Pulpally town which is near Sulthan Bathery.

We had been talking about the place for two months prior to the actual trip and it was an article online which made us think about visiting it.

So, on a Sunday early morning at 12:30 am I took a ‘Go Taxi’ to the Coimbatore Railway Station to board the Train which would take me to Kozhikode Railway Station where I would be joined by Sudhesh who was coming from Kannur on a train at 2 am. He reached before me as his journey was all but of 1 and half hour. Actually, due to the changes in Timings of few Trains, Sudhesh had to board his train a lot early than when he had booked the Tickets. In October Train Time Table changes every year.  However, in my case the timings were the same so I was a bit lucky.

The Taxi dropped me at 12:50 and I made my way to the Platform to board the Puducherry to Mangalore Train (Train number 16857) which was supposed to arrive at 1:57 am. Even at this time there was much of a crowd there so I sat on a chair and waited. The train was around 10-15 minutes late eventually and I climbed to my upper berth and after confirming the TT of my presence might have dozed off as I didn’t realize the Train reaching Palakkad Station and around 4:30 am I awoke to find the Train at Shoranur Junction. It was now late by half an hour. I had asked Sudhesh to call me by 5 am just in case I fell asleep. Train was supposed to reach by 5:37 am but it reached around 6 am.

We got outside the Railway Station and made enquiries on how to get to Pulpally. All suggested to going to Kozhikode KSRTC Bus Stand and board Bus to Sulthan Bathery and from there another bus to Pulpally.

So, we booked a prepaid Auto to KSRTC Bus Stand (Actually the Bus Stand is at a walkable distance only) and reached Bus Stand around 6:40 am. A Lottery ticket vendor suggested to board a Bus going to Mysore or Bangalore which will take us quicker to Sulthan Bathery and from there we could get Bus to Pulpally. So accordingly, we started looking for a Bus going to Bangalore and we found one to and asked the Conductor for seats (Nowadays KSRTC online booking is being used in good numbers so one can not be sure of whether we will get seats or not for long trips). Anyhow he gave us two seats till Sulthan Bathery and informed us that Bus will start at 7 am sharp. We decided to have Coffee in the meantime. I also relieved myself and then boarded the Bus again which started around 7 :10  am.

It was very chilly morning and I was totally unprepared. The Bus passed through Thamarassery, Vythiri, Kalpetta, etc before finally reaching Sulthan Bathery at around 9:45 am. From here we had to stand just outside the Bus Stand to catch the next Bus going to Pulpally. On reaching Pulpally around 10:30 am. We enquired with a person at a store selling Pooja items about the two temples. The one ‘Moolasthanam’ would close early by 11:30 am so we asked him how we could arrange to visit both. He then hailed an auto rickshaw driver and told us to go with him and he would take us to both places.

The ‘Moolasthanam’ has the spot where Seeta Devi is supposed to have gone inside the Earth and also the place where Ram did penance. The priest informed us that the Temple was almost 200 years old. The main temple was holding two marriages it seems but still I would say it wasn’t crowded. We quickly took darshan and got out.

We had good Darshan at both places and the Auto driver charged us totally Rs 50 which surprised us both. I don’t know if that person told him to do so or it was normal but we felt it was pretty less considering he waited us at one of the temples for us to have a visit and return.

After the darshan we then boarded a lone bus at the Pulpally Bus Stand for Sulthan Bathery. The Bus reached around 1 pm and we went to a hotel to have meals. It was a duplicate ‘Udupi’ Hotel but nevertheless satisfied our appetite. So, then we boarded a Bus for Kozhikode which took us to the KSRTC Bus Stand. Here we parted ways after having ‘Ghee Roast’. I decided to walk to Railway Station as I had ample time. My return train was scheduled to arrive at 7:30 pm. So, I reached the Railway Station a lot earlier and got my phone charged (Battery was almost drained off) at the Waiting Room. Around 7:40 pm my Train arrived and I reached Coimbatore around 11:40 pm. Late by almost half an hour sleep was affected but the trip had been thoroughly enjoyable.

Bus upto Sulthan Bathery from Kozhikode : Around 131 per head for Buses going to Mysore, Bangalore. A TT Bus fare will be around 118 per head

Bus upto Pulpally from Sulthan Bathery : Rs 35 per head

For Temple Priest name and Contact Number : Sudeendaran 9446253712