Temples in Kerala

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Located in East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram district. This centuries-old temple is one of the richest temples in the world. The main deity of this temple is Anandapadmanabhan. The architecture of this temple is a combination of Kerala and Dravidian styles. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is known as the 'Mural Pagoda'. The main festivals are Murajapam, Bhadradeepam, Alpasi Utsavam, Painkuni Utsavam, and Swargavathil Ekadashi.

Sabarimala Sri Dharma Shasta Temple

The temple is one of the leading pilgrimage centers in the country. The main deity is Lord Ayyappan. This temple, which is open to people of all castes, religions and communities, is located in Pathanamthitta district. It is the temple with the highest income in a season in India. The main festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku, and the pilgrimage season is from November to mid-January.

Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple

Guruvayur Temple, known as the "Dwarka of South India", is located in Thrissur district. The temple, which is estimated to be about 5000 years old, and the decorative structures inside reflect the characteristics of Kerala architecture. The main festivals are Guruvayur Ekadashi and Guruvayur Aarattu.

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple

Located at Neerettupuram in Alappuzha, this temple is believed to have a history of 3000 years. The temple, which houses the eight-armed Vana Durga as its main deity, is surrounded by the Pampa and Manimala rivers on both sides. The famous Chakkulathukavu Pongala is held in the month of Vrischika (November - December). It is known as the 'Sabarimala of women' in Central Travancore.'

Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple

The daily offering of milk in this temple located in Alappuzha district is world famous. The temple is known as Dakshina Guruvayur. The deity here is the form of Lord Krishna standing in the Parthasarathy concept with a whip in his right hand and Panchajanya in his left hand. The Pallipanna of the temple, which is performed once in 12 years, is famous. It is believed that Kunchan Nambiar performed Ottan Thullal here.

Parassinikkadavu Sree Muthappan Temple

Parassini Madappura is also known as Sree Muthappan Temple. The main deity is the form of the Shaivite deity Sree Muthappan. This temple, where Theyyam is performed daily, is located on the banks of the Valapattanam river in Parassinikkadavu in Kannur district. Two main rituals, namely the waterfall and Thiruvappana, are the specialties of this temple.

Ananthapura Lake Temple

Ananthapura Lake Temple is the only lake temple in Kerala. It is believed to be the original seat (Moolasthanam) of Lord Padmanabhaswamy of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is the Ananthapura Lake Temple. Located in Kasaragod district, this temple was built in the 9th century. Babiya, a herbivorous crocodile, is a prominent presence in the lake of this temple before it died aged 75 on 2022.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

Ettumanoor Temple, famous for its wall paintings, is located in Kottayam district. The famous festival of this temple is the Ezhara Ponnana Ezhunnallathu. Held in the month of Kumbha (February-March), this Ezhunnallathu features seven elephants (2 feet tall) made of jackfruit tree wood and covered with gold leaf, and one elephant one foot tall. Other important festivals are Thiruvathira and Mahashivaratri in the month of Dhanu (December-January).

Sri Vadakkumnath Temple

This is one of the 108 Shiva temples built by Parasurama in Kerala. It is located in Thrissur district. In 2015, this temple received the 'UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award' for excellence in heritage conservation.

Mangala Devi Temple

The only Kannaki temple in Kerala is located in Kumily, Idukki district. The main deity of this temple, located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, is Sree Bhadrakali (Kannaki). This temple, which is one of the 108 Durga temples, is worshipped only once a year (on the full moon day of the month of Chaitra).

Sree Thiruvegappura Temple

It is located on the banks of the Thoothapuzha river in Palakkad district. The main deities are Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vishnu and Shankaranarayanan.

Thiruvairanikulam Mahadeva Temple

Located in Aluva, Ernakulam district. The main deities of this temple, located on the banks of Periyar, are Shiva and Parvati. The Nadathurappu Mahotsavam of Sree Parvati Devi in ​​this temple is famous for its history. Every year, the Nada of Sree Parvati Devi is open for only 12 days starting from Thiruvathira in the month of Dhanu (December - January).

Thiruvarppu Sri Krishna Temple

Located in the area of ​​Thiruvarppu in Kottayam district. The temple is famous in India because here the nada is opened and puja is held much earlier than the other temples and is first in India. The main idol is Lord Krishna. It is the only temple in Kerala where the nada is not closed during the eclipse.

Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

Located in Chottanikkara in Ernakulam district. In this temple, the goddess is worshipped in three forms, which are enshrined with Adiparasakthi Mahavishnu. Makam Thozhal is a very special ceremony in this temple. The nine-day festival, which begins on the day of Rohini in the month of Kumbha (February - March) and ends with the Aarattu on the day of Utram, is famous.

Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple

Located in Kodungallur, Thrissur district. The famous annual festival of this temple called Kodungallur Bharani is held in the month of Meenam (March-April). The main event of the festival is the Kavu Theendal, which is held on the day before Bharani, on the day of Aswathi. It was in this temple that 'Adiparasakthi' was first enshrined in the form of Kali in Kerala.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Known as the Sabarimala of women. It is located in the Attukal area of ​​Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram district. The Pongala of this temple, located on the banks of the Killiyar river, is world famous. Attukal Pongala has been named in the Guinness Book of World Records as the festival where the largest number of women (2.5 million) gather in the world. Attukal Pongala is held on the day of the Pooram star in the month of Kumbha (February-March). The Thalapoli and Kuthi Yottam held in connection with Pongala are very famous.