Temples of Kerala

Gods and goddesses abound in the Hindu mythology. Architecturally elegant temples of Kerala make this mythology even richer. There are temples across the lengths and breadths of Kerala. The traditional architecture of these temples also points to the rich heritage legacy that Kerala boasts of. The architecture of these Kerala temples is done so as to provide a sanctified and simplified look, keeping naturalism a prevailing factor. These temples are constructed from a mix of stone, brick, laterite and wood. Most of the olden days temples of Kerala are dedicated to either Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva. Others stand in dedication of Hindu deities like Ganesha, Kartikeya etc.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Trivandrum)

It is one of the most ancient as well as the most visited temples in Kerala. Round the clock, devotees can be seen making a beeline for a ‘darshan’ of the deity. The idol of the deity is 18 feet in length, installed in a reclining posture. The idol of the principal deity at the Padmanabhaswamy temple remains buried in gold and various precious stones.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple (Sabarimala)

The temple is dedicated to Mother Attukalamma. Due to the deity being a female, most of the devotees at the temples are women, hence referred to as the Sabarimala of Women. It is almost held as blasphemy if someone on a pilgrimage tour to Kerala does not make a visit to the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Sabarimala. Attukal, the Supreme Mother, is believed to be the creator, preserver and destroyer of all human beings.

Ayyappan Temple (Sabarimala)

The pilgrimage town of Sabarimala has yet another world famous temple – Ayyapan Temple. According to a legend, Parasurama Maharshi brought back Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe into it. Later, he installed Lord Ayyappa idol at Sabarimala for worshipping. Pilgrimage to Ayyappan Temple is organized between the months of November and January.

Sabarimala Temple (Sabarimala)

An interesting legend is associated with the construction of the Sabarimala Temple. In fact when you hear about Sabarimala, you are about to know that Kerala was retrieved from the sea. But who was it that got back Kerala? It is believed that Parasurama Maharshi got back Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe into it.

Sree Krishna Temple (Ambalapuzha)

As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. ‘Palpayasam’ (milk porridege) is distributed to devotees at the temple on a regular basis. In the ancient times, human sacrifices (known as ‘Pallipana’) were also done at the temple. Today, however, cocks are killed in place of humans. The temple stands at a distance of 8 miles from the much popular backwater town of Alappuzha.

Guruvayoor Temple (Guruvayoor)

If you are making a pilgrimage in the southern Indian state of Kerala, how can you miss a visit to the ‘Dwarka of South’? The most frequented pilgrimage destination in the state, Guruvayoor Temple is located 29 km northwest of Thrissur.

Sree Krishna Temple (Guruvayoor)

Guruvayoor happens to be one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations in Kerala. Aptly referred to as the ‘Dwaraka of the South’, Guruvayoor attracts huge number of devotees to Sree Krishna Temple. The pilgrimage town is positioned at 29 km from Thrissur.

Other Famous Temples

There are hordes of other temples and shrines in Kerala. Apart from Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, these temples are dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, Sri Rama, Vamana and Goddess 'Durga' among other deities. Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple (Ettumanoor), Tali Temple (Kozhikkode), Lokanarkavu Bhagawati Temple (Vadagara), Sri Rama Temple (Triprayar), Tirunakkara Mahadeva Temple (Kottayam) and Trikkara Temple at Trikkara (Alwaye) are the other much visited temples in Kerala.