The legend has it that the place Nagar Kovil, or Nagarcoil as it is called today, derived its name because the Naga tribe established a temple for the snakes in this place thousands of years ago. It was then called Nagaraja Kovil.
The town Nagar Kovil has a temple exclusively assigned for the snakes even now and it is believed that this temple is guarded by snakes even today. Though these are poisonous snakes there has not been a single death due to snake bite in this town for over centuries. The World Religious Relics Encyclopedia published in US has mentioned this fact years ago.
The story goes like this. This place was a dense forest and villagers from the nearby village came to this forest to cut wild grass as fodder for cattle. this was may be about three hundred years ago. One day when a lady was cutting the grass she suddenly found that there was blood coming our from one spot. He got scared and collected the villagers to inspect the place. It revealed that there was snake with five hoods having been injured by the sharp cutter the lady had used.While they were contemplating on the further course of action the snake vanished. the villagers then with reverence made a dummy snake and built a thatched temple and started worshipping the same.
After some time a King from Kalakat who was suffering from an unknown disease for a number of years got cured by worshipping here. This made him to establish a temple for the snake but when he covered the roof with proper roof the snake appeared in his dreams and suggested that the roof should remain the thatched one only. Even today the roof of the sanctum sanctorum has a thatched roof only. the name of the town had been Nagar Kovil because of this temple since then.
Getting There:
Nagar Kovil, or Nagarcoil has a Railway Junction.
The nearest airport is Trivandrum, which is 70 odd kilometers from town centre.
The city offers hotels to suit all budgets.
