Built in 1425 A.D by the Raja of Palakkad Kombi Achan, Kalpathy Viswanathaswamy
temple is the oldest Shiva Temple in Malabar. The temple also known as
Kasiyil Pakuthi Kalpathy, situated on the bank of river Neela Bhagirathi
resembles the Banaras temple on the banks of the Ganges. The temple is
around 3 kms from Palakkad. Apart from the main deity of Viswanadhaswamy,
there are several other deities consecrated in the temple which includes
Subrahmanyaswamy, Nataraja, Vinayaka, Dakshinayana Murthy, Nandeeswaran
etc.
The temple rituals are performed by the Tamil Brahmins
which were earlier conducted by Kerala Brahmins. The annual chariot festival
known as Kalpathy Ratholsavam is associated with this temple.