Shivalaya Ottam of Kanniyakumari Distirict

Sivalaya Ottam means running from one Siva temple to another. On Sivarathri day, the pilgrims at Kanyakumari district worship at 12 siva temples covering a distance of 82 km within 24 hours by foot.
Pilgrims who cover the distance by foot observe ‘vridha’ for a week. Those who cannot run this distance, visit the temples in vehicles. Package tours are available at Trivandrum on Sivarathri day.
The temples are covered in a particular sequence starting from Thirumalai Siva Temple which is near Marthandam (40 km from Kanyakumari).  The distance between the temples are as follows.

Thirumalai – Thikkurichi                    9 km

Thikkurichi – Thripparappu            14 km

Thriparappu – Thirunanthikkara -  8 km

Thirunanthikkara – Ponmana   -     7 km

Ponmana – Pannippakam  -           11 km

Pannippakam – Kalkulam -             6 km

Kalkulam – Tirumelankode -          3 km

Tirumelankode – Thiruvidaikode - 5 km

Thiruvidaikode – Thiruvithamkode – 6 km

Thiruvithamkode – Thirupannikode – 8 km

Thirupannikode – Thirunattalam -     5 km

Total distance covered is 82 km