Once a remote village in Kochi, Kerala, Kalady the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian philosopher of the 8^th century AD is now a famous pilgrim centre. He propounded the philosophy of Advaita. Adi Sankaracharya was born here in 788, as the only son of Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Kerala Brahmin couple.

At the age of 16 he completed his studies of the Vedas. There are two shrines in memory of Adi Sankaracharya. One dedicated to him as Dakshinamoorthi and the other to the goddess Sharada maintained by Sringeri Mutt.

The Sringeri Mutt is believed to be located at the place where Sankaracharya’s house was located. The black pole to the left of the entrance is said to mark the exact spot where Sankaracharya was born.

On the same premises there is also a spot (Brindavan) where Adi Sankaracharya’s mother Aryamba was cremated. The Shri Krishna temple close by was the family temple of Adi Sankaracharya.

The Crocodile Ghat, the bathing Ghat outside the temple is said to be the place where Sankara was caught by a crocodile. He took the opportunity to ask his mother if he could take up Sanyasa (renouncement). When she said yes, the crocodile let him go.

45 m away from the Mutt is the nine-storeyed Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapa which has illustrations in it that tell the story of Sankara’s life. It is open from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

By air: The nearest Airport is Nedumbassery (6km).

By train: The closest railway stations are Angamali (10km) and Aluva (23km).

By road: Kaladi is easily accessible by road.