Kanipura GopalaKrishna Temple holds a special place in the coastal town of Kumbla, situated approximately eight miles north of Kasaragod town. In ancient times, Kumbla was the original capital of the Raja of Kumbla before it was relocated to Mayipadi (Mayapuri). Even today, you can find the remnants of the Kumbla or Kotekar fort, as well as those of Arikadi, serving as a testament to the historical significance of Kumbla. The name Kanipura is a derivative of Kanvapura, and according to tradition, the installation of Sri Gopalkrishna Moorthi in the temple is attributed to Kanva Maharshi, from whom the place derives its name. Nearby places like Kannur more (also known as Kanva Peetah) and the well-known Kanva Teertha near Manjeshwar, associated with the Pejavar Mutt, further reinforce the legends of Sage Kanva's connection with the temple and its surroundings. The temple's Sthala-Purana narrates the story of Sage Kanva installing a magnificent idol of Balagopalakrishna in jet black granite. It is said that the sage performed an Abhishekam (ceremonial bathing) using the Manthrodaka, which he had preserved in his Kamandalu (water pot) for ages. This Manthrodaka flowed out as a stream, grew into a river, and eventually merged with the western sea, giving rise to the river known as "Kumbha Hole," also referred to as Kumbhini. This river, in turn, led to the town being called Kumbla.  The temple, which has undergone extensive repairs and renovations, is situated in the heart of Kumbla, at the base of an elevated hill. The Kumbha Hole river flows to its north. While Srimadanantheshwara and Sri Vinayaka of Madhur are the daily deities worshipped by the senior Raja of Kumbla, the coronation ceremony (patta Abhisheka) of the senior Raja used to take place at Kanipura Sri Gopalakrishna temple in ancient times. The Yuvaraja of Kumbla's Abhisheka, on the other hand, was conducted at Srimath Udaneshwara Temple in Perdala, which holds significant importance in the Kumbla Seema region. The praises of Kanipura Sri Gopalakrishna have been sung by Parthi Subba, the father of Yakshagana, alongside those of Madhur Sri Mahaganapathi, in numerous songs. Parthi Subba, born and raised in Kumbla between 1740 and 1800 A.D., composed all his Yakshagana prasangas in Kumbla, earning him the title of the father of Thenkku Thittu Yakshagana. He belonged to the Paatali family of the Kumbla temple and, in 1797, presented a copper "Dhara Battal" to the Madhur temple during the Moodappa seva, bearing his name in Kannada, which is still in use at the Madhur temple. Additionally, within the temple's southern courtyard, there is a subsidiary shrine dedicated to Sri Mahaganapathi. Thanks to the efforts of Sri K. Srinivasa Nayak, this shrine was consecrated, and Brahmakalasha was performed a few years ago. Sri Mahaganapathi receives daily pooja and naivedya, thanks to an endowment made by Sri K. Srinivasa Nayak. The temple also houses other subsidiary deities, including Vanashastha, with daily pooja, and Pilichamundi Daiva, with periodic thambila ceremonies conducted in their honor.