The ancient land came into being with the strike of the axe of the legendary mythological figure Rishi Parashuram, which is Kerala-God’s own country. With the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on its east, Kerala is a treasure trove of indigenous cultural practices and art forms that have mesmerized people worldwide. Be it the age-old Kathakali, the newly rediscovered Mohiniattyam, or the knowledge of Ayurveda. Basking in the generosity of the sun and rain, Kerala is home to a host of centuries-old temples dedicated to Hindu deities flocked by millions of pilgrims every year.
The temples of Kerala, known for their innovative architecture and simplicity, are frequently visited by tourists.
Kerala Temples Architecture
The early temples of Kerala (up to the 3rd century B.C.) essentially carry influences from the temples of neighboring Tamil Nadu, known for their imposing Gopurams. The temples built after that period are mainly dominated by the power of the local climate and agrarian economy characterized by rainfall. Instead of the more common conical roof covered with copper plates, the wooden pyramidal roof is the most distinctive feature of the temples of Kerala. The entrance is a gopura that opens into a courtyard that ends in the Mukha Mandapam, the beginning of the main temple building. The central sanctum, known as the Sree Kovil, is the seat of the deity, overlooking the namaskara mandapam, where the visitor is allowed to worship and view the idol. Every Keralite temple has a Kuttambalam, or theater hall, where Kathakali performances and holy recitals occur.
Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple
Ananthapura in Kumbla in the Kasaragod District is home to the Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple which is brimming with the spiritual force of Lord Mahavishnu. The shrine is referred to as the moolasthanam, or original source, of the Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Kerala State’s capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, which is located in the extreme south.
- Timings: 6:00 am–12 pm, 4:30 –9:00 pm
- Entry Fee: Rs.150 for Special Darshan
Aranmula Temple, Kerala
Aranmula Parthasarathy, a member of the Divya Desams, constructs yet another significant temple in Kerala. Parthasarathy, another name for Krishna given to him because of his role as Arjun’s charioteer in the Mahabharata, is worshiped as Lord Krishna (a Vishnu avatar) in the temple. The temple has gained notoriety for serving as one of the pit stops on the annual procession of precious gems known as the Thiruvabharanam of Ayyappan to Sabarimala.
Additionally, the King of Travancore contributed the Thanka Anki, Ayyappa’s golden clothing, which is preserved at this temple. The annual snake boat races kerala on the neighboring Pamba River is another event that makes Aranmula well-known.
- Timmings: 4:00 am to 11:00 am, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.
Chottanikkara Temple
The Chottanikkara temple is near Ernakulam in Kerala. When it comes to the design of Hindu temples, Chottanikkara Temple is one of Kerala’s most well-known temples. Chottanikkara Devi, the temple’s presiding deity, is worshiped here in three different guises throughout the course of the day: as Saraswati in the morning; as Lakshmi at noon; dressed in crimson; and as Durga in the evening.
In this temple, Lord Shiva is also revered. It’s amazing to see the Guruthi Pooja, which is performed every evening to entreat the Goddess, at the temple on the east side of Chottanikkara known as “Keezhkkaavu.”
The Ernakulam Railway Station is about 15 km from the temple.
Kochi Airport is about 36 km from the temple.
- Timings: 04.30 am to 12.00 pm, 04.00 pm to 08.00 pm
- Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.
Ettumanoor Temple
Located amidst the serene, natural beauty of the region is the ancient Ettumanoor Temple’s Kottayam, one of the most respected temples in the world. Constructed around the 16th century, the Ettumanoor Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the most important deities in Hinduism. The present temple, with its Gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 1542.
- Timings: 04:00 am to 12:00 pm, 05:00 pm to 08:30 pm
- Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.
Guruvayoor Temple Kerala
The Guruvayoor Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is the most popular and most visited Hindu pilgrimage spot in Kerala.
The eastern nada is the main entrance to the shrine. The Sri kovil (sanctum or the seat of the idol) is adorned with exquisite murals and paintings. The history of this temple is shrouded in mystery. The temple is said to be 500 years old. The legend goes that the temple was created by “Brihaspati,” the teacher of the gods, and “Vayu,” the god who controls the winds, after Lord Vishnu ascended the Vaikuntha.
- Timings: 03:00 am-1230 pm, 4:30 pm-09:15 pm.
- Entry Fee: There is no entrance fee for visiting the temple.
Sabarimala Temple Kerala
Sabarimala Sastha Temple, maybe one of Kerala’s most well-known temples, is close to Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is also one of those locations where a lot of people go on pilgrimages. It is estimated that 50 million pilgrims come here each year. After killing the demon Mahishi, Hindu God Ayyappan is said to have meditated in Sabarimala.
In contrast to other holy treks, the Sabarimala pilgrimages are unique. The visitors to Sabarimala dress in blue or black, apply sandal paste to their heads, and refrain from shaving until their journey is complete.
- Timings: 4:00 am- 11:00 pm
- Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee for visiting the temple.
Sivagiri Temple Kerala
One of Kerala’s top temple destinations is Sivagiri Temple, a revered center of pilgrimage. Sree Narayana Guru, a social reformer and sage, is memorialized in the temple. The Samadhi is extremely significant, to the point where a pilgrimage is made here every year between December 30 and January 1.
During the pilgrimage days, pilgrims who are dressed in yellow visit the temple. According to reports, millions of devotees visit Sivagiri every year.
- Timings: 5:00 am- 12:00 pm, 4:00 pm- 9:00 pm
- Entry Fee: There is no entrance fee for visiting the temple.
Thirunavaya Temple, Malappuram
Located on the banks of the River Bharathapuzha, the ancient Thirunavaya Temple is one of the major tourist attractions of Malappuram, where the history of Kerala has been written over the centuries. The soft murmur of the Bharathapuzha is a mute witness to the political importance of the Thirunavaya Temple, Malappuram, where a grand assembly of all the influential rulers of Kerala was held once every 12 years. Thus, if you are planning a holiday in Kerala, make sure you include a tour to Thirunavaya Temple, Malappuram, as a significant part of your itinerary in Kerala.
- Timings: 05:00am- 11:30am, 05:00 pm- 07:30 pm
- Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee for visiting the temple.
Thirunelli Temple Wayanad
Nestled amidst the thick tropical forests of Kerala, the ancient Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad, is one of Kerala’s most important pilgrimage centers. Considered to be one of the most sacred temples in Kerala, the Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the most influential powers of the Hindu Trinity.
The architecture of the Thirunelli Temple, Wayanad, lies as a mute witness to the ancient lineage of the temple, with its impressive pillars spellbinding the devotees who enter the sacred premises of the temple with their divine charm.
- Timings: 5:30 am to 12 pm, 5:30 pm to 8 pm
- Entry Fee: No Entry Fee
Vaikom Temple Kottayam
One of Kerala’s most respected temples, Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, is a crucial component of the trifecta formed by the addition of two more Shiva temples, Ettumanoor Shiva Temple and Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva. A widespread misconception is that if a devotee worships at one of these three temples prior to the “Ucha pooja,” all of his requests will be granted.
One of the few temples that is frequented by both Shaivite and Vaishnavite Hindus is Vaikom Mahadeva. The presiding Shivling in this location is thought to be one of the oldest in Kerala, having been built during the Treta Yuga.
- Timings: 4am–12pm, 5–8pm
- Entry Fee: No Entry Fee
If you are planning to explore temples in Kerala, then you can check out our Kerala tour packages.
