Discover the sacred hilltop cross of Manapad, a religious landmark in India, where faith meets history beneath golden coastal sunsets.
History recounts that in 1540, a Portuguese shipwreck miracle unfolded near the shores of Manapad. A trading vessel, caught in a violent storm while rounding the Cape of Good Hope, suffered shattered sails and a broken mast, leaving it at the mercy of the sea. The ship’s captain, a devout believer in the Holy Cross Manapad, entrusted his crew’s fate to divine intervention. He vowed that, if they survived, he would erect a cross from the remnants of the broken mast on the very shore where they found refuge. After drifting for days, the ship finally reached the Coromandel Coast, finding safety in Manapad’s embrace.
Faith Unshaken A sunset illuminates the holy cross and its modest counterpart, casting them in a radiant glow.
Nature’s Bond A father and daughter atop a hill, silhouetted against the vibrant sky.
People say a miracle occurred while the mast was still a simple log washed ashore. A villager, unknowingly stepping onto it to cleanse his foot, experienced sudden pain and swelling. That night, a vision revealed to him that his ailment resulted from defiling a sacred object.
Silent Contemplation A man sits on a rock, silhouetted against a vibrant purple sky, gazing into the infinite horizon.
The message urged him to purify the log, anoint it with oil, and apply the same to his foot for healing. The next morning, as a crowd gathered, the man followed the vision’s guidance. In an instant, he healed and walked unaided. This event transformed the captain’s votive offering into a revered symbol of faith, leading to the sacred hilltop cross that stands today. Over time, devotees built a chapel, making Holy Cross Manapad a renowned religious landmark that attracts pilgrims from across India.
Fleeting Shadows A group of friends strolls by a cross, bathed in the glow of an otherworldly sky.
Even today, the sunsets atop the hill feel like moments of revelation, where Manapad sunset photography captures the sky transforming into a celestial masterpiece. The first image unveils the sacred hilltop cross, bathed in golden light, glowing like an ethereal crown. It seems as if divinity itself has reached down to touch the land. In another frame, power lines carve through the burning horizon—a contrast between human presence and nature’s overwhelming spectacle. A fleeting whisper of the ordinary against the extraordinary.
Man and Nature An electricity post cuts across the fiery horizon.
A father and daughter stand silhouetted on the hill, their figures dwarfed by an immense cloud, symbolizing an unspoken bond as vast as the sea before them. The scene returns to the Holy Cross Manapad, now set against a deepening purple sky. A smaller cross in the foreground stands as a humble echo, both testaments to enduring faith and devotion. Nearby, a group of friends walks past the sacred site, their silhouettes framed by surreal colors, embodying the fleeting nature of youth beneath a sky that seems eternal.
Through the gaps Dusk settles over Manapad’s rural landscape.
For the deeply religious community of Manapad, these magical sunsets atop the hill evoke a sense of divine presence. The sacred hilltop cross, standing resilient against time and tide, is more than a monument—it is a beacon guiding the faithful toward something unseen yet profoundly felt. Here, where the last light stretches like an open door, where the wind carries whispers of prayer, Manapad feels like a spiritual coastal journey, a gateway to heaven itself.
Heaven’s Glow A sacred cross stands against twilight.
Copyrights: All the photos and text in this post are the copyright of Kevin Navis,
Vellore and Creative Hut Institute of Photography and Film. Their reproduction is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
