In our concluding part of a three-part series on the temples of Kerala, Biju Warrier introduces us to these 11 places of worship.
PART 1 Kerala temples: 11 famous Hindu temples in God’s own country
PART 2 Kerala Temples: 8 must-visit Hindu temples in Thrissur
1. Thiruvalathur Randu Moorthy Temple, Palakkad
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Known for its grand architecture and sculptures, the Thiruvalathur Randu Moorthy temple is believed to have been founded by Parsurama. The temple is a shrine to two goddesses — the passionate Mahishasuramardhini and the peaceful Annapurnneswari — and is spread over two hectares.
Protected by huge stone walls, there are four entrances to the temple though the two main entrances face east and west.
The temple is open from 5.30 am to 9.30 am and 5 pm to 8 pm on all days.
On the Karthika day of Vrischika (November/December), the temple hosts a festival and comes to life.
Traditional temple art forms are presented on the specially designed stage called Koothamabalam inside the temple.
How to reach:
Nearest railway station: Palakkad is about 15 km away.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport is about 60 km away.
2. Sri Ayyappan Kavu Temple, Cherpulassery, Palakkad
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Over a thousand years old, the Sri Ayyappan Kavu Temple in Cherpulassery, Palakkad is also known as Women’s Shabarimala or Malabar’s Shabarimala or Valluvanad’s Shabarimala. This is one of the biggest Ayyapa temples in the state and hosts thousands of pilgrims all year round. Mandala Pooja and Theeyattu are the temples biggest festivals and are held in November.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Palakkad is about 40 km away.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport is about 110 km away.
3. Sree Emoor Bhagavathy Temple, Kallekulangara, Palakkad
Photograph Courtesy: http://sreeemoorbhagavathy.org/
The Sri Emoor Bhagavathy Temple, Kallekulangara in Palakkad is also known as the Hemambika Temple after the goddess who vanished after an eager devotee called the entire village to see her. Legend has it that the small crowd that had gathered to see her only managed to catch the glimpse of her upraised hand. And so, the idol in the temple is just that — an upraised hand! The deity takes three forms in a day: Saraswati in the morning, Laxmi in the noon, and as Durga in the evening.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Palakkad is about 10 km away.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport is about 65 km away.
4. Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple, Palappuram, Palakkad
Standing in the middle of a huge ground that serves as the venue for the Chinakkathoor pooram, the Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple has two shrines, thazhekkavu and melekkavu. The upper shrine or melekkavu is believed to be older of the two. The priests of the upper shrine traditionally come from the ‘kuLangara nair’ family of Palappuram. The lower shrine is under the charge of Namboothiri priests who also take charge of the upper shrine during the ten-day Chinakkathoor pooram.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Palakkad is about 50 km away.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport is about 90 km away.
5. Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple, Angadipuram, Malappuram
Photograph Courtesy: httpwww.thirumandhamkunnutemple.com
An important place of pilgrimage in the Malappuram district of Kerala, the Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple is also the venue for the annual Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram that is held around March/April. Located atop a hillock, the temple paints a picture of solitude.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Angadipuram is about a km and Tirur is about 40 km away.
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport is about 40 km away.
6. Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple, Malappuram
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Malappuram’s Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple has no idol even though it is dedicated to Durga. The Karthikai day in the month Vrishchikam (November–December), is considered the most auspicious when food is offered as prasadam.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Angadipuram is about 23 km and Shoranur is about 46 km.
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport, about 41 km
7. Thali Mahadeva Temple, Kozhikode
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Like almost all temples on Kerala, the Thali Mahadeva Temple is also associated with Parsurama who is believed to have prayed to Shiva here. In its heyday, it would host the Revathi Pattathanam, a prestigious annual assembly of scholars. The temple was all but destroyed during the rule of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan but was renovated in the 18th century. The sanctum has stone and wood sculptures that depict scenes from ancient scriptures. And surrounding the temple are shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Narasimha, Saasta and Krishna.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode is about 2 km away.
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport is about 30 km away.
8. Trichambaram Shree Krishna Temple, Taliparamba, Kannur
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The temple is named after Thiru Shambara or the holy Shambara, the sage who is believed to have meditated here. Krishna sitting in a rudra (angry) posture is the presiding deity here. The sanctum of the Trichambaram Shree Krishna temple has beautiful carvings and murals that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and the temple complex also has a Durga shrine located in middle of a water tank.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Kannur is about 23 km
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport is about 140 km
9. Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple, Wayanad
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Probably the only temple in the world where devotees perform all rituals — from birth to death — Wayanad’s Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple is one of Kerala’s oldest temples. While the exact dates of the temple’s construction cannot be ascertained, there is recorded proof of Thirunelli’s existence during the rule of the Tamil Chera king Bhaskara Ravi Varma I between 962 and 1019. The Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple draws pilgrims who pray for their dead ancestors.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode and Mysore are both about 130 km away.
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport is about 160 km away.
10. Ananthapura Lake Temple, Kasaragod
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Dedicated to Vishnu, Kasaragod’s Ananthapura Lake Temple dates back to the 9th century is located in the middle of the picturesque Ananthapura lake. Accessed by a footbridge, the temple’s outer walls have murals depicting scenes from the Vedas. In the lake is a crocodile called Babia that supposedly guards the temple. Legend has it that the lake is inhabited by just one crocodile at a time. The moment one dies, another one mysteriously reappears.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Kasaragod is about 18 km away.
Nearest airport: Mangalore International Airport is about 60 km away.
11. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Pathanamthitta
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
One of the five shrines that were built by the Pandavas during their time in exile, Pathanamthitta’s Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is also one of the 108 Vishnu temples that the 12 poet saints of Alvars revere. The temple finds mention in their works between the 6th and the 9th centuries AD. The temple is believed to have been built by Arjuna. The other four shrines built by the Pandavas include Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple (by Yudishtira), Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple (by Bhima), Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple (by Nakula) and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple (by Sahadeva). The temple is constructed in the Kerala style of architecture.
The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the stops for the annual procession that carries the sacred ornaments of Ayyapa also called Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam to Sabarimala. It is also where the Thanka Anki, Ayyappa’s sacred golden attire donated by the king of Travancore is stored and taken to Sabarimala in December.
Aranmula also hosts an annual snake boat race during Onam.
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Chengannur is about 12 km away.
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport is About 125 km away.
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