Kalady is a village located east of the Periyar river, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Notably, it is the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankara, and thus is a popular destination for pilgrims. Kalady started featuring in the spiritual map of India only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent consecration of a temple for Sri Adi Shankara in 1910.

TEMPLES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS

• Shankara Temple
• Sree Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram
• Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthampa Mandapam
• Sree Krishna Temple
• Manickamangalam Karthyayani Temple
• Mattoor Thiru Vellaman Thulli Siva Temple
• Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple
• Thekke Madhom
• Aryadevi Samadhi Mandapam

ANCIENT GHATS

• Kalady Kadavu (Aaraattu Kadavu) The Kalady Kadavu is the place where the river took its turn, and where Kalady was born. It was also the place where Sankara had first performed Aaraattu (a river bath of an idol) for his ancestral deity before installing it at its current location. For centuries, during the festival at Sree Krishna Temple, the Aarattu has been carried out at this ghat. Crocodile Ghat
• The "Muthala Kadavu," or Crocodile Ghat, is where Sankara's life turned to Sanyasam (Ascetic life). His mother, Aryadevi, did not agree with his desire to become a Sanyasin. Legend says that one day, Sankara was touched by a dog and, as per custom followed by the community, Sankara had to take bath. Accompanied by mother, Sankara went to river Poorna to bathe. While in the water, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. The drowning Sankara told his mother that the crocodile would leave him alone if she would allow him to take up Sanyasa. Helpless, his mother agreed, and the crocodile freed Sankara.
• Ghat of the Post-Funeral Rites of Mother Aryadevi Here is the ghat where Sree Sankara Acharya performed the Ápara Kriyas (the rituals after death and cremation as per Nambudiri rituals) for his mother, Aryadevi. Today, the ghat is within the temple complex of Sree Sringeri Mutt.