Kalady is a holy place for Hindus as Sri Adi Shankara was born here. There is a temple dedicated to Adi Shankara built in the year 1910 and his centenary was celebrated in May 2010. There are two important shrines in the temple, one dedicated to Sri Sankaracharya and the other one to Goddess Saradamba.

Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam is an eight story memorial built in the remembrance of Adi Shankara by Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. Other temples located in Kalady worth mentioning are Sri Krishna Temple, Manickamangalam Karthyayani Temple, Mattoor Thiru Vellaman Thulli Siva Temple, Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple, Thekke Madhom and Aryadevi Samathi Mandapam and the ancient ghats here are Kalady Kadavu, crocodile ghat and the ghat of the post-funeral rites of Mother Aryadevi.