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Thirunelli Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad Valley brings out prayers from the deep core of the hearts. The temple is encircled with Udayagiri, Brahmagiri, Karimala and Narinirangimala range in Kerala while the Papanasini mountain spring flows by it. The temple is at an altitude of 900 meters, facing east. Therefore, the first rays of the sun fall on the temple, creating a celestial atmosphere. The Thirunelli Temple worships Lord Vishnu.

thirunelli-temple

History and Legend of Thirunelli Temple

The Thirunelli Temple opens up another golden page of South Indian religious life and beliefs.

  • It is one of the oldest temples of Kerala. As per folklore, Lord Brahma built the temple. The temple also has other names, like, Sahyamala Kshetram and Kashi of the South.
  • There is an old artificial water channel that brings water to the temple. It helps people to understand the age of the temple. The wife of Chirackal Raja once visited the temple. When she asked for some water to dissolve the sandal, the priest was not able to provide water. The lady understood the scarcity of water at the temple and ordered her attendants to discover a water source. They found a water source, varaham, within the forest. Water was brought from the place using bamboo halves. She built the stone water channel to ensure uninterrupted water service to the shrine. This water channel has mural decoration and comes with pillars.
  • Thirunelli comes from the Malayalam/ Tamil word, nelli. It means gooseberry in English and amla in Hindi. As per myth, Lord Brahma was moving around the world one day. He saw an idol of Lord Vishnu resting on an amla tree. The tree was at the Wayanad Valley. Lord Brahma installed this deity. The place was Vishnuloka, the heaven of peace. Therefore, the Thirunelli Temple was built. For this reason, people also know the temple as Amalaka Temple and Sidha Temple.
  • It is also a belief that the Lord Vishnu blessed the place with sacred waters which can wash away the sins both of mortal life and life after death.
  • As per myth, Lord Brahma visits the place every day. The temple performs five worships in a day. But they arrange items for sixth worship before leaving the temple at night. Every morning it is found that the puja items have been used at night. People believe that Lord Brahma has used the items for worshipping Lord Vishnu. The priests swear thrice before entering the shrine in the morning that they will not disclose what they saw inside.
  • Veda Vyasa has also mentioned the temple in his book, Padma Purana.
  • Another myth states that Chera king Kulasekharan made the temple. The king was in power from 767 AD to 834 AD. Then he became a saint and practised Vaishnava order. He is also the writer of Mukundamaala. The book is written in Sanskrit.
  • The temple has an incomplete walkway. It is said that the Coorg king once started the renovation work at the temple. The Vellattiri king owned the temple at that time. He objected to the work and hence the walkway is incomplete.
  • Locals also believe that Lord Shiva lives at the temple premises. He started his journey to Kottiyur from here to kill Dhakshan. Dhakshan was the father of Devi Sati. She was the wife of Lord Shiva.
  • There is a holy rock at the temple where devotees perform the funeral rites of their ancestors. People believe the rock is actually the bone of a demon. His name was Pazhana-bhedi and he was killed by Lord Vishnu. He prayed during his death to Lord Vishnu to divide his body into three parts so that devotees could use it for offerings to the departed souls. The head is at Gaya, middle part at Godavari and feet at Thirunelli. Lord Rama and his brother Laxmana performed funeral rites of their father, King Dasaratha at this rock.

Significance of the Thirunelli Temple

The Thirunelli Temple is unique with its different rituals and as a treasure of historic relics.

  • Only at this temple, a devotee can perform rituals from life to death and for life after death.
  • The temple has three deities, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. People call them trinity. There is a separate cave temple at the western side of the main temple. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity here. This is Gunnika temple. It represents Kongu-Chera style of handiworks.
  • The temple showcases Kerala architectural style. The inner sanctum has a tilted roof and an open courtyard. Another feature of the temple is the granite lamp post. You can also see the hole of a flag post but the flag post is missing.
  • The outer wall also has granite pillars. The pillars are cubical in shape. This part is different from the standard Kerala architecture.
  • As per recent excavations, Thirunelli was an important business hub. The copper plates describe the history of the Thirunelli temple. From land allotment for the temple to details of expenses, everything is there in these plates.
  • As per the inscriptions, the Kunhikutta Varman VeeraKurumpurai was the first donor for the temple construction, while the Sankaran Godavarman is the second donor.
  • An elaborate description of the Thirunelli temple is also mentioned in the Unniyachi Charitham. This is a popular poetical work. The writer is Thevan Chirikumaran.
  • The lord Vishnu is Chaturbhuja at the Thirunelli Temple. The Panchatheertham water tank has the marks of Lord Vishnu feet. This is known as Vishnupad.

Thirunelli Temple Timings

Pilgrims can visit the temple both in morning and evening.

  • It is open from 5.30 am to 12.00 pm in the morning.
  • The aarti is magical. It takes places at 11.30 am.
  • At evening the temple is open from 5.30 pm to 8.00 pm.

Thirunelli Temple Food Timings

Prasadam is served after the evening prayers. You can also have meals at the temple. Visitors can also have free coffee and upma, both in morning and evening.

Dress Code at Thirunelli Temple

Devotees generally come in traditional wear. Men need to enter the temple without shirts. Leather apparels and items cannot be brought into the temple complex. Worshippers need to wear dhoti which is available at the priest office.

Festivals celebrated at Thirunelli Temple

Puthari, Chuttuvilakku, Navarathri, Shivarathri and Sreekrishnajayanthi are the major festivals of the temple.

Poojas and Rituals at Thirunelli Temple

  • Ritual at the Papanasini River: Pilgrims from all over the world gather at the Thirunelli Temple to perform the ancestral rites. The rituals rake place at the banks of the river. Locals believe that the holy waters can wash away all the sins of the mortals.
  • Pithrukarma: Also, there is a holy rock at the temple complex where worshippers pray for their forefathers.
  • The temple also practices various customs related to the complete life cycle. Bali Tharpana, Oraalpindam are the other funeral rites that people do here.
  • Another unique custom of the Thirunelli Temple is Brahmanas play musical instruments during food offerings to Lord Vishnu.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

A trip to Thirunelli Temple is just not a pilgrimage but an immemorial journey through the Wayanad Valley. The place is easily accessible as it is a tourist hotspot. If you are coming from outside Wayanad, you can come from Calicut. The route from Calicut passes three cities, which are, Thamarasserry, Kalpetta and Mananthavady.

By Air: The Calicut International Airport is the nearest airport to the Thirunelli Temple. Another name for the airport is Karipur airport. This airport is at 161 kms from the Thirunelli Temple. Tourists can book cars directly to the temple. You can also use the Bangalore route to reach Thirunelli Temple. After reaching the Bangalore International Airport, tourists need to come to Mysore. From here proceed to Thirunelli via Hunsur and Nagarhole. The temple lies at 280 kms from Bangalore airport and 121 kms from Mysore.

By Rail: The nearest railhead to the temple is also at Calicut. From the railway station, tourists first need to reach Mananthavady and then to Thirunelli. There are many taxi and bus available from the station. The distance from Calicut to Mananthavady is 137 km if you are coming through the Koyileri – Mananthavady road. You can also take the 4th mile – Mananthavady road to reach the temple, but the distance is more; 141 kms.
The next nearest railway station to the temple is Mysore railway station. This is at 121 kms from the shrine.

By Road: You can enjoy the most if you are travelling to Thirunelli Temple via road. There are various ways in which you can reach the Thirunelli Temple via roadways.
From Calicut: After an hour journey from Calicut through the National Highway 212, you start climbing the hairpin slopes. There are 9 hairpin bends and the last bend gives a breathtaking view of all the Calicut valleys. You pass through the Vythiri and Chundale towns and then comes Kalpetta. This is the headquarters of the Wayanad district. From here you turn 2 kms left to the Mananthavady town.
From Kannur: The temple is 121 kms from Kannur. You can get a glimpse of the simple lifestyle of the locals as you pass the small towns of Koothuparamba, Nedumpoyil, Periya, Thalappuzha and Mananthavady to reach the temple. Moreover, there is a shorter through from Kannur. This route takes you through Kelakam, Kottiyur, Boy’s Town and Manathavady.
From Mananthavady: From this medium town, tourists head towards the Mysore Road, which is just at 10 kms. Then from Kattikulam tourists ride through a dense forest area till Thettu Road junction. This is an 8 kms ride to the junction and again a 13 kms ride to the temple. This path is idle for wildlife lovers, as bison, jumbo monkeys, peacocks and dear more around freely in the jungle.
From Kerala- Karnataka Border: From this place you need to ride till the Mananthavady road. After driving for almost 7.4 kms you will reach the Thetturoad Junction. Take a U-turn to reach the temple, which is 13 kms from the junction.

Hotels in Wayanad Valley: Where to stay

The temple has its own tourist accommodation. Panchatheertham Vishrama Mandiram is the name of the accommodation. Besides this, pilgrims can also stay at Himagiri Homes and Agraharam Resorts.

Where to eat

Besides having a meal, you can try out the food at Century Restaurant. The eat out is at 13.9 kms from the temple.

Nearby Temples

The Thirunelli Temple is closely related to the other nearby temples.

  • Trisillery temple: As per mythology, Pinnappara continues from Thirunelli to Trisillery. Hence devotees who perform ancestral rites at Thirunelli first visit Thrissilery. They also make a Vilakkumaala offering at Thrissilery.
  • Kottiyur Temple: This temple is at the dense forests of the Brahmagiri Valley. Earlier rice was brought from Thirunelli Temple to the Kottiyur Temple to meet the puja expenses. After the festival rice was returned to the Thirunelli Temple.
  • Kalpetta: This region in Wayanad is a Jain pilgrimage. The place has various Jain temples and institutes.

Thirunelli Temple is also renowned for its Ayurveda treatments. You can also get organic honey and bamboo toys here. There is a shop just adjacent to the temple which sells these stuff. Besides visiting the Thirunelli Temple, tourists can also go for trekking at the Pakshipathalam. This trekking site is just 10 kms from the shrine.

Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple is located in Kollam district of Kerala. Kottarakkara Ganapathy is often referred to as ‘Vigneshwaran’ which means the one who removes all obstacles. The outlook of  Sri Ganesha is described as yellow-skinned, short with a big round belly, elephant-headed with one trunk, four arms, large ears and bright shining eyes. Apart from the presiding deity, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Ayyappa, and Lord Nagaraja are also worshipped here.

Kottaram means Palace and Kara means Land. The last queen of the Elayidathu Swaroopam voluntarily surrendered to king Marthanda Varma of Travancore in the 18th century. Kottarakara is the place where the classical art form of Kathakali was conceived. It is a famous pilgrim centre for the Hindus as the seat of the famous Ganapathy Temple.

History and Legend of Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple

  • The place that we now call Mahaganapathy temple is actually Kizhakkekara Shiva temple.  The main deity is none other than Lord Shiva himself. Shiva is facing eastward. In fact, Ganesha is only a minor deity here. But Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple today is famous as a Ganesha temple rather than a Shiva temple.
  • This legend is associated with Perumthachan. The royal sculptors Perumthachan (Master Carpenter) had a son. He mastered and excelled in carpentry and architecture like his father.
  • His son soon excelled his own perfection. The fame of Perumthachan soon spread far and wide. This is said to have caused a sort of professional jealousy in Perumthachan. According to the Aithihyamala, Perumthachan dropped his chisel on his own son faking it as an accident.
  • After the death of his son, Perumthachan started wandering. One day he reached Kottarakkara. The Padinjattinkara temple was under renovation at that time. He saw a big piece of jack tree root inside the Sarppakkavu.
  • It is believed that he sculptured a beautiful Ganapathy idol from the root of the jack tree. Perumthachan had sought the permission of the tantri (chief priest) of Padinajattinkara temple to install the idol there. The tantri denied permission because there is already one Ganapathy idol.
  • Perumthachan changed his plans and later, having secured the permission of the tantri of Manikandeswaram Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple installed the idol there. The melsanthi (head priest) was preparing nivedyam (offerings for the Lord) there.
  • He had asked the head priest what the nivedyam for Ganapathy will be. The priest suggested unniyappam and Perumthachan readily agreed. It is said that Perumthachan immediately offered half a dozen unniyappams in a plantain leaf before the deity. And still, koottappam is considered the favourite nivedyam of Ganapathy.
  • Perumthachan had then predicted that even though the principal deity is the father (Shiva), the son (Ganapathy) will become more famous. The kitchen where Unniappams are prepared is situated in front of the Ganapathy shrine.
  • Another story associated with this temple is that Kottarakkara Thampuran’s daughter was getting married.  He requested Zamorin of Kozhikode to send a dance troupe from Malabar to perform in his daughter’s wedding.  But the Zamorin sarcastically denied sending the troupe saying that people of South Kerala cannot appreciate fine art like Krishnanattam.  This insulted the Kottarakkara Thampuran and he prayed to  Lord Ganapathy at Kizhakkekara for a way out.
  • Sri Mahaganapathy appeared in the dream of the Thampuran and gave him the idea to create a new art form.  It was Saraswathi Kadaksham and the Thampuran wrote the Ramanattam. He designed the costumes and in record time performed the Arangetram during the marriage of his daughter.  This was a fitting reply to the arrogance of the Zamorin of Kozhikode.

Significance of Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple

  • Kottarakkara Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple is beautiful and magnificent. A number of rituals is being done here by the priests. Different schedules are followed to worship and to perform the rituals devoted to the presiding deity of the temple.
  • Kottarakkara was the capital of the famous ‘Ilayidathu swaroopam’. As the name explains, there existed about seven palaces and the place was called ‘The land of palaces’ – “Kottarakkara”. ‘Kottarakkara Kovilakam’ was the younger ‘thavazhy’ of the ‘Venad’ dynasty.
  • So this was known as the Ilayidathu (younger) swaroopam, and also as Kunninmel. The land spreads from Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram and Nedumangad to Shencottah in the east.

Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple Timings and Poojas

  • Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple remains open from 4:00 AM to 11:30 AM in the morning and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evening. Palliyunathal is performed followed by Nadathurakkal at 4:30 AM. It is the opening of the sanctum sanctorum to enable the devotees to venerate the holy portrait of the deity.
  • Then there is Nirmalyam at 4:40 AM which is intended for seeking the permission of Dwasthhas and the deity for entering the sanctum. Then the doors are opened and the lights are lit.  Divine worship of the idol at this stage is known as Nirmalya Darshana.
  • There are different important rituals that are performed in the morning. It includes Abhishekam that is conducted at 4:50 AM which is followed by Ashtadravya Ganapathyhoman. Abhishekam is conducted by priests, by pouring libations on the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras.
  • The first worship of the day is Usha pooja or pooja at dawn. Though generally, the time of Usha pooja is thirty minutes after the sunrise, there are variations in the timings on various temples. It is performed at 6:00 AM. Ethrtiheu pooja is conducted at the moment when the rays of the sun are in front of the deity or garbha dwara and it is conducted at 7:00 AM.
  • Pantheeradi pooja is elaborate in nature and done only in major temples. This is done 2 hours after sunrise and it is performed at 9:00 AM. Navaka Pooja is done only in major temples especially in Siva temples. Here it is performed at 10:00 AM.
  • After the Ucha Pooja that is performed at 10:30 AM the temple closes in the morning at around 11:30 AM.
  • Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple opens again at 5:00 PM and there is an evening pooja that is Deeparadhana that is performed by the priest at 6:30 PM. Deeparadhana is the worship with lamps, performed at dawn and dusk. Pyramidal lamps with seven tiers, lamps with five wicks and plain lamps with a single wick are lightened and waved several times in front of the Lord, from head to foot. Similar waving is then done with lighted camphor. It is considered to be an auspicious act to pray during deeparadhana time. Athazha pooja vis the last pooja conducted in a temple on a day.  This is done between one and two hours after sunset. It is performed at 7:45 PM and the temple finally closes at 8:00 PM.

Dhara, Chathussatham for Mahadev, Archana for Goddess Parvathy, Lemon garland for Subramanya, Unniyappam for Ganapathy and 41 days Mandalam Chirappu is also very important. Unni Appam is the offering that is specially prepared to offer to the deity of Kottarakkara Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple.

Festivals celebrated at Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple

  • Vinayaka Chaturthi: Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September). This particular day is marked with great Mahaganapathy Homam, using 1008 coconuts. Mahaganapathi is believed to remove obstacles not only in the material world but also in one’s spiritual progress. The Mahaganapathi Homam is performed by people desiring progress in various material pursuits as well as those seeking liberation and spiritual awakening.
  • Navaratri: Navratri is traditionally celebrated at the beginning of autumn every year when everything in nature starts undergoing a transformation. These nine nights are said to be precious as there are subtle energies in the creation that are enriched at this time of the year. Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as a powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. Thousands throng to the temple to perform the Vidyarambham.
  • Vishu: Vishu is the first day of the Hindu calendar and is the beginning of Meda Rashi, the first zodiac sign. It usually falls in the second week of April according to the English calendar. It marks the beginning of new hopes and aspirations and is celebrated widely all across the state. People start with early morning prayers at dawn on this auspicious day by visiting the temple.
  • Sivarathri: Sivaratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is celebrated on the moonless night of the month of Phalguna.  the night time is considered sacred and suitable for the worship of the feminine aspect of’ the deity and the day time for that of’ the masculine. The people who observe this Sivaratri- Vratha take only a single meal during the day previous to the Vratha day. The observance of the Vratha is believed to secure for the devotee immunity from the effects of sin.

How to reach Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple?

By Road: Buses and Taxis can be boarded from Kottarakkara, Kollam, Trivandrum and Kottayam that takes the passengers directly to the Kottarakkara Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple.

By Rail: The Nearest Railway station is Kottarakkara station. Board a train passing through Kottarakkara, Kollam and Trivandrum railway stations to reach the temple. Kollam station is at a distance of  28 Km and Trivandrum at a distance of 70 Km.

By Air: The Nearest Airport is Trivandrum Airport that is 70 Km from the temple. Kochi Airport is at a distance of 191 Km.

Where to stay near Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple?

There are many hotels as well as guest rooms near the hotel. The rooms are well equipped with all the basic amenities.

  • Ambalakkara Regency Hotel Contact: Pulamon Junction, Kottarakkara
  • Harisree Residency Contact: Kottiyam Kundara Road, Perumpuzha, Kottamkara
  • Hotel Indraprastha Pattazhy Contact: Market Junction, Pattazhy P.O., Kollam
  • Hotel Midhuna International Contact: Enathu, Kottarakara – Adoor Road
  • Park Residency Contact: Paracode, Kayamkulam Pathanapuram Highway
  • Hotel Vrindhavanam Inn Contact: Near KSRTC Bus Station, Punalur

Where to eat

Kottarakkara Unniyappam (small appam) is as famous as Ambalapuzha Palpayasam. If you start eating one, you feel like having more. Cooked in special taste the unniyappam comes with sprinkled sugar on it. The grace of Lord Ganapathi makes unniyappam as double sweet to the believers. It is said that unniyappam was the first offering given to the Ganapati temple which was installed by Peruthachan. Besides, there are many restaurants nearby that offer amazing food of Kerala cuisine.

Nearby Temples

Mannady Temple: Mannadi is a small village situated in Kollam (district of Kerala). It is believed that the Kali Ma of this temple is very powerful and if worshipped with devotion all the wishes will come true. The Kerala Institute of Folklore and Folk Arts functions here. Madanthampuran and Yakshiamma were positioned as Safe Guard to Devi. The ancestors who had brought Devi to the temple were worshipped in the Nomenclatures of Manthramoorthy and Yogeeshwaran after their Death. Poojas were not been performed systematically. Hence, the youth adopted the management of the temple from the Pallithanam Family. They appointed a Priest and thus Poojas performed regularly.  

Pattazhy Devi Temple: Pattazhi is a small village in the eastern part of Kollam District in Kerala. It is located just 10 kilometres away from Kottarackara and just 9 kilometres from Pathanapuram. The temple is an ancient temple and the legend. The land of Pattazhy consists of two panchayat areas and was given as a gift to Goddess Pattazhy Devi by the King of Travancore. Pattazhy has a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for growing the longest bamboo. The temple has been taken care of by nine families once. Then a man called “kambithan” came there. He was very powerful and had many divine powers too. He took care of the administration of the temple. There is a Shiva Temple which seems to be older than this Devi temple which is located near to this temple.

Pallickal Devi Temple: Pallickal Devi Temple is one of the famous temples in Kollam District. This is one of the sub-temples of Mannadi temple. Pallikkal Maha Devi temple has a rich history of more than a thousand years. Pallikkalamma is a mother goddess with sathvika bhavam. There are a number of incidents to illustrate her kindness.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple located in Kerala is a heaven for people seeking peace. Lord Krishna is the main deity of the temple. People call the deity as Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy at this temple. Also, Lord Krishna is Lord Vishnu’s other image. There is also a story behind the name of God. Lord Krishna rode the chariot of warrior Arjuna during a battle. Hence people call Him Parthasarathy.

The place is a world heritage site. United Nations has recognized Aranmula as a global heritage site.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple History

As per myth, the temple was originally built near Sabarimala. The famous Tamil classic, Divya Prabandha mentions this temple. This classic dates back to the 6th to the 9th century.

Planning to visit Sabarimala? Find out Sabarimala Opening Dates for 2019.

This temple is out of 5 temples built by the Pandava brothers in Chengannur. The five temples are Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple built by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple built by Bheema, Aranmula built by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple built by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple built by Sahadeva.

After leaving their capital city, Hastinapur for pilgrimage, the Pandavas arrived at the banks of River Pampa. These temples were built at that time. Every temple has an image of Lord Krishna.

As per legends, Arjuna built the temple as a penance of killing Karna. As it is against ethics to kill an unarmed warrior.

Also, here Lord Vishnu provided information about creating the world to Lord Brahma. This took place when Madhukaitaka demons stole the Vedas from Lord Brahma. Lord Vishnu also came in front of Vedavyasa here.

There is also a story behind the image of Parthasarathy that is present at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. During the great Mahabharata battle, Arjuna did not want to fight against Bheeshma. Lord Krishna was angry and took up his discus. Seeing this Bheeshma surrendered. This image of Parthasarathy with discus is present at the temple. This pose is the Vishvarupa pose.

Another myth states that the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple image was brought on a raft. The raft was made of six bamboo pieces. Therefore, people call the temple as Aranmula. The word Aranmula means six bamboo pieces.

There is also another myth regarding the name. The place derives its name from the word arin villai. This word means a land near the river.

Aranmula is popular for its metal mirrors. The story of these mirrors begins from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. As per myth, once the Travancore king decided to donate a crown to Lord Krishna. He was looking for a crown of rare metal. At this time, he got a rare combination of copper and lead.

Also, there is a myth regarding the boat race of Aranmula. When Arjuna was returning with Lord Krishna’s image after long penance, there was a huge flood. At this time, he crossed the river on a raft. A low caste Hindu gave him the raft to cross the river. The raft was of six bamboo pieces. This annual boat race commemorates the help of the low caste Hindu.

Significance of Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is important in the Hindu religious history as:

  • It is one of the 108 Vaishnava temples of India. Moreover, the temple is mentioned in Tamil classics.
  • There is a sub shrine in the temple complex. People worship Lord Balarama in this shrine.
  • The temple shows Kerala construction style. It is similar to the Ettumanor Mahadeva Temple structure. The whole temple is on a raised platform. People need to climb 18 steps to reach the eastern tower. The northern tower is 57 steps high. Sreekovil is the main part of the temple that houses the deity.
  • The base of the central temple is granite while the entire structure is laterite. The conical roof represents terracotta art. There is a kalasam at the temple which is copper.
  • The temple has four towers over its gateways on the outer wall. It has a double storied gopuram. The gopuram is a gateway tower. The upper part has wooden trails. There is a hall on the upper part, the Kottupura. Drum beating takes place during festivals in this hall.
  • The outer wall has places for lamps. These lamps are lit during the festivals. Also, there is a rectangular wall around the temple. This wall protects all the temples which are within the complex.
  • There is a metal flag post in the temple complex. This is the Dwajasthambam which is at the axial to the temple tower. There is also a light post at the temple. It is Deepastamba.
  • There is an outer pavilion to the temple. It is Chuttuambalam. The main temple and the hall is within a rectangular structure. This is the Nallambalam. This hall has pillars and corridors. The Namaskara Mandapa is a square platform. The Mandapa roof looks like a pyramid.
  • There are other parts to the temple as well. The kitchen, Thevrapura is at the left of the Namaskara Mandapa. Balithara is the altar used to make offerings to demigods during festivals.
  • The temple is also famous for its mural paintings. These paintings belong to the early 18th century. The doors have paintings of Dwarpalakas. They are the guardian deities.
  • The temple also has beautiful carvings. The carvings show stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. These intricate carvings are present at the pillars. These are wooden and stucco carvings.
  • Besides Lord Krishna, the other deities present at the temple are Sastha, Yakshi, Nagaraja and Erangavil Bhagavathy Balarama.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Timings

  • Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple opens at 4 am and closes at 8 pm. The afternoon break timings are from 11 am to 5 pm.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Food Timings

Devotees can get prasadam after the morning Pooja.

Dress Code at Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

The dress code of the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is quite similar to the other temples of the state.

  • Men have to be in dhoti. Shirts or upper clothing has to be deposited at the temple counter before entering the temple.
  • Ladies have to be in traditional dress. Sari, salwar kameez and half sari are some examples.

Festivals celebrated at Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple celebrates Lord Krishna festivals with great pomp and grandeur.

  • Ashtamirohini: This is the birthday of Lord Krishna. The temple celebrates this festival with great pomp and grandeur. A large feast takes place on this date. This feast also has a name, ‘vallasadya.’ It is one of the largest vegetarian feasts in the world. The festival includes 64 types of dishes. The devotees offer the food to Lord Krishna. Besides feasting, the deities are carried around Aranmula on this day. Another important part of the festival is the boat rides. A special boat, Palliyodam sails over River Pampa. These boats look like snakes and many people ride them. This custom of boat race also has a name, Vallam Kali. People worship the boat before the race starts as locals believe these boats are vehicles of Lord Aranmula. People use many types of flowers to worship the boats. 100 rowers take part in the race. Also, 25 singers take part in this race. They sing songs as the boats sail on the river. The boats sail in pairs. People also play music. The festival goes on from July to October. This is also the time of Onam festival in Kerala.
  • Procession: A large procession on the Garuda Mount to the Pampa River takes place during the Meenam month. Along with Lord Parthasarathy, Goddess Bhagavathy also participates in the procession. The idol of the goddess comes from the Punnamthode temple.
  • Khandavanadahanam: This festival takes place during Dhanus month. Devotees create an artificial forest at the temple front. People use dried plants, leaves and twigs to make the forest. A bonfire is lit after this. This festival shows the fire that took place at the Khandavana forest. This is also a story from Mahabharata.
  • Fasting: This custom takes place during Thiruvonam. Three Brahmin families in Aranmula fast at this time. Brahmin families from Nedumprayar village also fast at this time. This is a two centuries old custom. As per myth, one Brahmin vowed to feed one pilgrim every day. Lord Krishna was pleased with the vow. Thus, He came to bless the priest. The Brahmin was very happy and he started to conduct a feast every year. This feast takes place after the boat race.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Sevas and Poojas

The temple has its own customs, like:

  • Only Thantri and Melshanthi can enter the Sreekovil. Thantri refers to the main priest while Melshanthi refers to the second priest.
  • Thiruvonathoni: This is a famous custom of the temple. The ritual takes place during the Onam festival.

How to Reach Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

Aranmula is easily reachable from all parts of the state as it is just 116 km from Trivandrum. Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala.

Here’s how to reach Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple:

  • By Air: The Trivandrum airport is very close to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Kochi International Airport is also a choice for the tourists who want to visit the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Taxis and buses are available from the airport which can directly take the tourists to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.
  • By Train: The nearest railway station is at Chengannur. Tourists can hire cabs from the railway station. Buses are also available here.
  • By Road: Besides planes and railways, you can travel to Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on roads. There are many buses and other transport available which connect the various cities of Kerala to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Chengannur is only 10 km from the temple. Pathanamthitta is 15 km and Pandalam is 14 km from the shrine.

Where to stay nearby

Hotel All Season, Hotel Santhi Palace, Bessota International Hotel, Club 7 Hotel, CGA Elite Continental and Contour Backwaters are just 21 km from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. These hotels also have all basic facilities.

Where to eat

There are some good eat outs near the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Favourite, Hotel Aryaas Park, J’ Mart Arabian Restaurant, Khyber Pass Bake & Grill, Union Bakery, Arabian Restaurant and Vensec Kitchens serve delicious food. The eat outs are also clean.

Nearby Temples

Besides the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, this temple village has some other shrines and groves.

Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple: This temple is also worth a visit. It is just 4 km from Aranmula. As per myth, this was the worship place for the Pandavas. The Pandavas are the main characters in a great Indian epic. This great epic is Mahabharata. The temple worships Lord Shiva. Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti looks after the temple.

River Pampa flows by Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple and you can spend some relaxing moments sitting on its banks. The village is also famous for its mirrors. These mirrors are metallic. People call these mirrors as Aranmula Kannadi. Hence visiting Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is just not a pilgrimage but a trip to refresh your inner soul.

Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple is situated about 15 km east of Pampa in Kerala. The holy river Pamba flows through the northern part of Nilakkal. During Sabarimala pilgrimage, lots of devotees visit this temple. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa on his way to the forest to eradicate the demon got the blessings from his father Haran from Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple.

Pilgrims on their way to Sannidhanam seek the blessings from Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple. The deity here is believed to be in two moods fierce Ugramoorthy and auspicious Mangala Pradayakan. It is also believed that Lord Siva showered blessings to his son lord Ayyappa to fight against all evil spirit and save the people. There is also a Devi temple (Palliyarakkavu Devi Kshetram) near to Shiva temple. Lord Parameshwaran, Lord Kannimoola Ganapathi and Nandi are the three Prathishtana here.

History and Legend of Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

  • There were attempts to construct a church in front of the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple at Nilakkal (on the way to the temple). It was regarded as Poonkavanam (Garden) of Ayyappa. As is commonly followed by church planters, a Cross was found near the Nilakkal temple on March 24, 1983.
  • Media carried news of the discovery of the church claiming it was planted by none other than Jesus Christs’ disciple St Thomas. Christian pilgrims started flowing to the spot. Soon, the road to the temple was named St Thomas Road and the Christians started calling the Nilakkal hill as St Thomas Mount.
  • On May 19, within a month of the discovery, the Kerala government approved a grant of 1 hectare of land to build Church in Nilakkal. This was fiercely opposed by organizations and thousands of believers took to protests. And the planters had to shift the cross to a new location.

Significance of the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

  • Famous Hindu pilgrim centre Sabarimala is located 23 kilometres North-East to Nilakkal and also it is a Sabarimala Idathavalam. Hence the pilgrims on their way to Sabarimala seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
  • During Sabarimala season, large vehicles drop pilgrims at Pamba and parks at Nilakkal in order to avoid the rush at Pamba. The parking ground’s at Nilakkal could accommodate more than 4000 vehicles.
  • St. Thomas ecumenical church here is believed to be the first ecumenical church in the world. Thus the Christian community in Kerala consider Nilakkal as a holy place. It is believed that an apostle of Jesus visited the place and established a cross here back in A.D 54.

Festivals celebrated at the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

Sivaratri: Puranas contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. During the samudra manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world and they ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from its evil effects, Shiva drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This made his throat turn blue, and he was given the name Neelakantha. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world. Shivaratri is one of the holiest nights of the year. It is the night dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.

Not eating too much, eating light and doing more meditation on this day helps in fulfilment of desires. Shivratri day is celebrated with Rudrabhishekam, singing of the ancient Vedic mantras. It is accompanied by a ceremony of washing the Shiva Linga with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc.

Navratri: During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform puja on small shrines representing different aspects of Goddess. A different form of the goddess is worshipped each day. Following the nine days of rituals and worship, the 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra. It is also known as Vijaya Dashami. It is celebrated to mark the victory of mythical King Lord Rama over the King of Sri Lanka, Ravana. People undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri.

The festival culminates on Mahanavami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Apart from the Navratri in September – October, there are three other Navratri in a year. The most important among the three is the Chaitra Navratri or the Navratri in March-April. This is also known as Vasant Navratri or Ram Navratri. Many devotees visit the temple to seek the blessings of the Lord.

Vinayak Chaturthi: Ganesha Chaturthi is also known as ‘Vinayak Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’. It is the day when all Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Sweets especially laddoos and sugary modaks, which are a favourite of the Ganesha are distributed. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is observed on the fourth day of Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha, of the Hindu lunar month of Magh. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Magh. And establishing an association between Ganesh and Chaturthi (four). A ritual known as Pranapratishhtha, that involves chanting of mantras by the priest, is a common sight during the occasion.

Poojas and Rituals at Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

There are 3 Poojas performed every day. Special poojas are performed on weekly days on Sunday, Monday and Friday. The following poojas are performed.

Usha pooja: The first worship of the day is Usha pooja or pooja at dawn. The time of Usha pooja is thirty minutes after the sunrise.

Ucha pooja: There is Ucha Pooja that is noon pooja. The Abhishekas named Panchagavya, Navakam and any special Abhishekas that is Holy Baths are ordinarily performed during the Ucha Pooja. Special Abhishekams and Poojas are performed on certain days

Athazha pooja: This is the last pooja conducted in a temple on a day.  This is done between one and two hours after sunset. Deeparadhana is done after the Athazha pooja. Deeparadhana is the worship with lamp with lamps, performed at dawn and dusk.

How to reach Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple?

By Air: Cochin international airport is 136 km and Thiruvananthapuram international airport 156 km from the temple. There is also a heliport at Perunad, near Nilakkal, which operates at times of Sabarimala pilgrimage.

By Road: Mannarakulanji – Chalakayam route (SH 67) is the main highway passing through Nilakkal and also the Adoor. Vandiperiyar highway passes through Plappally which is 8 km west to Nilakkal. During Sabarimala pilgrimage, state-owned K.S.R.T.C buses provide chain services from Pamba to Nilakkal at fair charges for the devotees. Private busses only operate through nearby places like Angamoozhy and Thulappally. Transportation is comparatively less in this region.

By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Chengannur which is about 68 km and Thiruvalla which is 73 km.

Where to stay

There are many hotels and guest rooms available that offers contemporary rooms and suites. They offer brilliant overall design, facilities and dining options. They are the centre point for a number of tourist destinations.

  • Hotel Mannil Regency Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Hotel Hills Park Contact: T K p.o, 689653, Kumbazha N Rd, Kumbazha, Mylapra, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Kizhakkedathu Tourist Home Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Hotel Hey-Day Contact: Thiruvalla-Kumbazha Hwy, Valamchuzhy, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Hotel Evergreen Continental Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Hotel Amala Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645

Where to eat

One of Kerala’s popular attractions is its delicious Kerala cuisine. Various locally available vegetables such as tapioca, cassava and yam form part of the cuisine of Kerala. Seasonal fruit such as papaya, jackfruit, mangoes and lime are eaten at different times of the year. Bananas and coconut are available year-round and are a staple of the Kerala diet. The refreshing juice of the tender coconut is a delightful drink, which you can enjoy on Kerala Tours with Kerala Backwater. There are many restaurants nearby that offer some amazing food for the tourists.

Pathanamthitta is an important pilgrim hub and thus is always flanked by devotees and nature lovers. For its tourists, the town offers several restaurants and eating joints all across the town. You will also find some nice Christian restaurant which serves alcohol and Syrian Christian food. Other than that, South Indian cuisine is the predominant cuisine of the town.

  • Parayil Restaurant Contact: Door No: 788, Near R.T Office, College Road, Azhoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • J Mart Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Aananda Bavan Vegetarian Restaurant Contact: Thiruvalla-Kumbazha Hwy, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Khyber Pass Bake & Grill Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Green Chillies Hotel and Family Restaurant Contact: Omalloor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689647
  • Hotel Evergreen Continental Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
  • Kream Korner Restaurant Contact: Opp.Karikkineth, JJ complex, K P Road, Adoor, Pathanamthitta
  • Teena Restaurant Contact: Mazhuvangad jn., M C Road, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta

Nearby Temples

Thazhoor Bhagavathi Temple: The temple is devoted to Sri Bhadra Devi (santham).This temple is the incarnation of Sri Parvathi who is the chief deity. Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram is a 300-year-old Hindu temple. It is located on the banks of the Achankovil river in Vazhamuttom. The temple is also famous for the folk arts and the Kettukaazhcha procession with Kaala. Three glorious hundika towers are lately built around the periphery of the temple. Bharani is considered as the birth star of the Thazhoor bhagavathi. The Bharani star came in Makaram, Kumbham, Meenam and Medam are celebrated in a grand manner. The temple is having very huge and glorious surroundings with scenic beauty. It is having a large and glorious Aanakottil. It has a boundary wall and towered entree with full of handicraft and sculptures both in stone and wood.

Kodumthara Subramaniyam Temple: Kodumthara Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple is located near Pathanamthitta. The annual pooyam ritual organized in at the Murugan Temple attracts hundreds of devotees. The shrine is dedicated to Subramanya or Muruga. Carrying Kavadi is the main ritual on the day. People carry various types of Kavadi to the temple in a procession. Traditional temple music is part of the procession. Unlike numerous Kerala temples, this one is well-known for its traditional architecture with well-defined conical-shaped roofing over the Srikovil. On the Pooyam day, people also pierce their body with a small lance or vel. This is done for getting desires fulfilled.

Bhagavathikunnu Devi Temple: One of the important and famous Goddess Abode in Thiruvitamkoor is the Bhagawati Kunnu Devi Temple. It is said that the Devi Vilippurathamma stood as the protector for the passersby and the bullock carts that cross the dangerous route. Some of the main attractions of the temple are a stone statue of Lord Krishna, the sanctum sanctorum, obeisance courtyard, sub gods and goddesses. The sub gods are Ganapati, Yakshi, Rakhshas  Valyacchan, Naga Rajavu and mala nada. The first flag hoisting ceremony was conducted on  24th February 1999 with much fanfare through the 10-day festivities. Padayani festival was also first celebrated then and continues to be celebrated every year on the day of Maheeram Star in the Malayalam month of Kumbham.

Anikkattilamma Temple: Mallappally Anikkattilamma Shiva Parvati temple is situated in Anicadu village. Agnimahakalan and Agniyekshi are symbolized in these idols. The temple is believed to date back to 1600 years during the early days of Edappally dynasty. It is situated by the bank of river Manimala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The ever flowering Kanikonna located in the courtyard of the temple. It gives flower offerings to the Lords every day in all seasons throughout the year. Mallappally Anikkattilamma Shiva Parvati temple celebrates its yearly festival (Utsavam) for eight days during the month of Kumbham. It concludes on the day of Pooram star which is believed to be Devi’s birthday.  Other deities such as Lord Bhadra, Lord Nagaraja, Goddess Yekshiamma and Rekshas are also worshipped here.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Vadakkunnathan Temple is located in Thrissur and is one of the oldest shrines of Kerala. It is also a national building. The temple is spread over a large area of 9 acres. It has a paved walkway. The shrine also has a lot of greenery. The vast area outside the temple is Tekkinkadu. This word means teak woods.

The temple is over a hill lock. Tourists can get a beautiful view of the complete Thrissur town. Locals also call the temple as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam. The temple won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award. It got the award in the Cultural Heritage conservation category in 2015.

Vadakkunathan Temple

History and Legend of Vadakkunnathan Temple

The temple is associated with the golden days of Kerala.

  • As per myth, Saint Parasurama built this shrine. After creating Kerala, the saint went to Lord Shiva. He requested Lord Shiva to make Kerala his home. Therefore, Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Subramanya and other Ganas came to Kerala. But Lord Shiva suddenly vanished after reaching Thrissur. Saint Parasurama saw the self-manifested Shiva Lingum under a banyan tree. Therefore, people call this place Sri Mula Sthana. Years after this incident, the Thrissur king built a temple to place this lingam. This beautiful temple is the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
  • The locals also believe that the Adi Sankaracharya birth history started here. His mother used to walk From Kalady to Thrissur distance to the temple to beget a son from Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva blessed her with a baby boy. The boy name is Adi Sankaracharya.

Significance of the Vadakkunnathan Temple

The Vadakkunnathan Temple has Kerala architectural style. The different features of the temple are:

  • Besides Lord Shiva, there are other deities here; Goddess Parvati, Lord Sankaranarayana, Lord Ganapati, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.
  • The temple is protected by a large stone wall. Also, there are four gopurams within the temple complex. Gopurams are gateways and have amazing carvings. The gateway base is granite. These gateways are at all four sides of the temple. They are at north, south, east and west.
  • The main temple and the gateways have wooden carvings and sculptures. The gopurams are like pyramids. They also have many roofs.
  • The Shiva temple is circular while the tower has one-tier. There are many pillars which are arranged in a unique way.
  • The Shankaranarayana Temple is also called the Harihara temple. This is just beside the Shiva temple. This shrine has two tiers.
  • There are three temples within the temple premises. One is for Lord Shiva, the other two for Sankaranarayana and Rama. There is also a separate temple for the Goddess. The temples have a square base.
  • The temple is beautiful with mural paintings. These paintings tell the stories from Indian religious books. It also shows stories from Puranas. The temple wall paintings show scenes from Mahabharata. It also has paintings of Lord Shiva in Tandava dance pose.
  • The temple also has a large theatre. People call it as Koothambalam. Enter the temple from the western gate to view this theatre. This building has a tilted roof, which is made from copper plates. The hall shows magnificent wooden carvings. It also has bracket figures. Chakyar Kuttu drama performance takes place here. This is a special drama that shows the rich culture of Kerala. This art started in the 9th century at Kerala.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Timings

  • The temple opens at 4.00 am and is open till 10.00 am.
  • It again opens at 5.00 pm and closes at 8.30 pm.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Food Timings

Devotees can have prasadam after worship. Moreover, the prasadam is free at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Dress Code at Vadakkunnathan Temple

There is a specific dress code at the temple.

  • Men have to be in white pancha and dhoti.
  • Short dresses are not allowed within the temple complex.
  • Furthermore, men need to remove shirts before entering the shrine.
  • Women have to be in a sari. Punjabi dress and churidar with a dupatta or half sari will also do.

Guidelines

  • You cannot bring children below 1 year within the temple complex.
  • You have to deposit footwear before entering the temple. There is also a free cloakroom here. People can also park cars.
  • Devotees can bring in mobiles but cannot do photography within the temple premises.

Festivals celebrated at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Thrissur is popular for its religious festivals and the largest festival takes place in the vast area outside the Vadakkunathan Temple.

  • Thrissur Pooram: This festival takes place during April or May. The festival started in 1750 AD to 1805 AD. Prince Rama Varma introduced this festival. Many devotees, almost in lakhs, visit the temple during this time. The unique part of this festival is that Vadakkunnathan Temple does not take part in the rituals or procession of the festival. There are other two temples that do the festival. One is the Paramekkavi Devi and the other is the Goddess residing in Tiruvambadi. At present many other temples also take part in the celebration. The fireworks during the festival are spectacular. Elephants are painted and decorated for the grand procession. Nettupattam is clothing sewn with almost six thousand gold plated metal pieces. Devotees place this at the forehead of the elephant. The elephant carries three people on it. While one person holds the silken parasol, the other two stand on the back. Music plays for two hours before the procession. The festival starts early morning. It goes on throughout the night and ends the next morning.
  • Shivaratri: Vadakkunnathan Temple celebrates Shivaratri with great pomp and show. This festival takes place during February or March. Devotees need to come in white dhoti to worship Lord Shiva. Tailored clothes are not allowed at this time.
  • Anayoottu: This festival takes place every year on the 1st day of the Malayalam month, Karkkidakam. It is in July. In this festival, people worship elephants and feed them.

Poojas and Rituals at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Vadakkunnathan Temple has some special customs.

  • There is also a defined process of worship at this temple. It is known as Pradakshina.
  • As you enter the temple you can hear the continuous chanting of ‘Samb Sadashiva.’
  • Every day priests offer 18.5 kilos of rice to Lord Shiva. This offering is Nivedyam.
  • Abhishekam takes place every day. Ghee is used to performing Abhishekam, lighting hundreds of oil lamps around the Shiva Lingum. This ritual is taking place for hundreds of years and this has led to a solid ghee mound encircling the Shiva Lingum. Devotees get a scrap of this mound as Prasada. Locals believe this ghee has medicinal and herbal properties.
  • Trippuka is the last ritual of the day. It takes place at 8 pm.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

The temple is just at the heart of Thrissur and hence easily accessible from all parts of the country.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Kochi International Airport. It is at Nedumbassery and approximately 53 km from the shrine.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Thrissur. It is at 3 km from the temple. All trains to Kerala pass through the place.

By Road: Thrissur is easily reachable through roads as well. You can drive from all parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Hotels in Thrissur: Where to stay

KTDC Tamarind Thrissur is a hotel sponsored by the Kerala tourism department. It is just within 2 km from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The Joys Palace, KTDC Nandanam Guruvayoor, Mayura Residency, Hare Krishna Inn and Hotel Kanoos Residency are the other options for the tourists at Thrissur. These hotels offer clean rooms and basic amenities. The rent at these hotels is also less.

Where to eat

Due to thousands of visitors every year at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, various eat outs are found near the shrine. Reach Us Hotel, Hotel Bharat, Ming Palace Chinese Restaurant, Pathans and Hotel Elite International are within 0.5 km. Ela adai, pazha payasam, appam, puttuand kadalai curry are some special Kerala dishes that you can enjoy here. Thrissivaperror Kaapi Club serves awesome coffee while Fruitage is popular for fresh fruit juice.

Nearby Temples

Thrissur is a pilgrimage with various temples in and around it. It is also the cultural capital of Kerala.

  • Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple: It is at 27 kms from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Every night numerous oil lamps are lit. It is also famous for Krishnattom dance form, which takes place every evening. The temple also features a unique ritual, Thulabharam offering.
  • Irinjalakuda Koodal Manickam Temple: This is just 21 km away. The presiding deity is Bharat. He was Lord Rama’s brother as per the Indian epic, Ramayana. This is a 9th-century temple. The temple celebrates Medam. It takes place for 10 days in April or May. Visitors also witness various Kerala art forms in this festival.
  • Paramekkavu Kshetram: This temple is at the foothill of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. This temple also participates in the Thrissur Pooram festival.
  • Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple: This temple is behind the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The deity also has other names, like Kannagi and Bhadrakali. Bharani is the main festival here. The celebration takes place in March or April.
  • Thiruvembadi Temple: This temple is in the middle of the Thrissur city. The shrine is for Lord Krishna. This temple also celebrates Navaratri and Sree Krishna Jayanti.
  • Peringottukara Somashekhara Temple: This temple worships Lord Shiva. It is at 22 km from the main Thrissur town. Also at this temple, Maha Shivaratri is the main festival.
  • Arattupuzha Temple: This temple is 16 km away. Lord Dharma Sastha is the main deity. Moreover, 41 temples participate in the temple festival. A gorgeous procession takes place in the festival. Decked up elephants carry the deities round the temple during the procession.
  • Shree Rama Festival: Lord Rama is in the form of Chaturbhuja in this shrine. Locals call the deity as Trimurthy. Furthermore, it is a combination of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
  • Urakam Amma Thiuvadi Temple: This temple is 12 km from Thrissur. It is the oldest temple of the place. There is a custom of cleaning the idol with peacock feathers at this temple. Moreover, locals believe that the Goddess can protect the place from disasters.

Besides worshipping at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, tourists can also check out the cultural life of Kerala at the Cheruthuruthy dance school. This is just at 30 km from the temple.

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