Places of Spiritual in Kerala
Manarkadu
Manarkadu is a small village in Kottayam district of kerala state, south India. It is located 5 miles from Kottayam town. It is famous for St. Mary"s Syrian Jacobite Church, which runs a hospital, educational institutions like school, ITI, Nursing school. Manarkad Sri Bhagavathy Temple is a prominent place of worship in Kottayam District, Kerala. Pathinonnu Garudan is a prominent offering in the Temple.
Beema Palli
Beema Palli,dedicated to Beema Beevi - a pious muslim lady believed to have divine powers, is a mosque situated nearly 5 kms south of Thiruvananthapuram city, on the coast.]
Attukal Bhagavathi Temple
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, one of the ancient temples of South India, is popularly described as Sabarimala of the Women, as women form the major portion of devotees. The Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother, creator of all living beings and the mighty preserver as well as destroyer of them all.
Aryankavu
Aryankavu Ayyappa temple is situated around 70 km from the city head quarter,Kollam . The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The story behind this temple is similar to that of Sabarimala shrine and the idol was brought by the Pandya Raja of Madurai. The temple is situated about 35 ft below the road level and sorrounded with forest.
Achan Kovil
One of the main temples of Lord Ayyappa, it is believed that the idol here is consecrated by Lord Parasurama himself. The temple is similar to the famous shrine at Sabarimala. The Manalar Falls and the Kumbuvurutty Falls, which also has a Nature Interaction Centre, are along the way to this temple.
Aranmula
Aranmula is a suburb of Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta District in the state of Kerala in south India. Nearby important places are Pathanamthitta (10 km) and Chengannur (10km). The nearest railway station is at Chengannur and airports are at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. It is the venue of the annual snake boat race on the Pampa river. Aranmula is also famous for its metal mirrors, known as Aranmula kannadi. Vijnana Kala Vedi, a school of traditional art founded by French artist Louba Schild, is in Aranmula, on the way to Kozhencherry.
Ambalapuzha
Ambalappuzha is a small town in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, south India. The town is famous for its Sri Krishna temple. The Ambalappuzha temple is one of the three important Sri Krishna temples in the state of Kerala.Velakali is a group dance held in the open air as an exhibition of the martial feats in front of the raja (king) of Ambalapuzha (erstwhile Chempakassery), who wanted to see how his soldiers had performed in the way
Christ Church
The history of Christ Church,Trivandrum goes back to the year 1817. Divine services for the European residents started in 1817. At that time services were conducted once a month by the Military Chaplins of Quilon as per the instructions from the Madras Government. In 1837 a Tamil congregation consisting of employees of the Government Printing press and those working in the homes of Europeans stationed in Trivandrum was formed under the leadership of Mr Christian David, a clerk in the Government press. They met regularly for divine services at the residence of Mr David , while the English congregation met for their worship at the Residency. The need for a permanent place for worship was keenly felt by the members of the two congregations. The Travancore Government was pleased to donate a plot of Land for the construction of a Church building, and on the 13th of December 1858 General Cullen the Resident, laid the foundation stone of the church building in the presence of a distinguished
Chottanikkara Temple
It is the most important Temple among the 393 shrines spread over 3 Districts of Kerala and coming under the administration of Cochin Devaswom Board. The Divine Mother known as Rajarajeswari (Adiparasakthi) is worshipped here in three forms Saraswathy in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. There is an Idol of Mahavishnu on the same pedestal and so the Deity is called Ammenarayana, Devinarayana, Lakshminarayana and Bhadrenarayana also. Along with Lakshmi & Narayana there are idols of Brahma, Siva, Ganapathi (Ganesh), Subramanya and Sastha on the same pedestal.
Edathua
Situated 12km from Tiruvilla town the famous St. George Church which celebrates its feast during the month of May is an important location for the Christian Pilgrims. During this month between the 1st to the 7th people from throughout the state as well as from the neighbouring states visit it. St. Aloysius college which is under Mahatama Gandhi University is located here.
Ettumanoor
is a major town in Kottayam District of Kerala state, south India, strategically located 12 Kilometers north-east of Kottayam town, 65 KM off from Cochin and 73 KM off from Cochin International Airport.The state Highway No.1 popularly known as the Main Central (MC) Road passess through Ettumanoor, and is a major connecting link between Palai and beyond to the Western Ghats and to the commercial capital of Kerala - Kochi. Ettumanoor Ettumanoor is en-route the tourist resort at wagamon
Guruvayur
Guruvayur is the most revered and sacred pilgrimage centre of Hindus in Kerala. On any given day, the place witnesses thousands of visitors from India and abroad. The main temple in the town is dedicated to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'.
Guruvayurappan Temple
According to the legends, the idol worshipped here is more than 5000 years old. But there are no historical records to establish it. In the 14th century Tamil literature 'Kokasandesam', references about a place called Kuruvayur is made. As early as 16th century (50 years after the Narayaneeyam was composed) many references are seen about Kuruvayur. In ancient Dravidic, Kuruvai means sea, hence the village on the coast may be called Kuruvayur.
Kaladi
Legend holds that one day, the widowed mother of Little Sankara, Aryadevi, fainted after walking three kilometers for her daily bath in the Periyar river. Feeling helpless, Little Sankara prayed to Lord Krishna. The tears of the child moved Krishna, who blessed him thus: 'the river will flow where your little feet marks'. The Periyaar river took its new course in the place marked by the little boy's feet. That place came to be called Kalady.
Kanjiramatoom
This mosque, 25 km from Kochi, is believed to have been built as a memorial to Sheikh Fariduddin. The festival of " Kodikuthu" commences on January 2 . During the " Chandanakkudam" ritual held at night, pilgrims carrying pots covered with sandalwood paste proceed in a procession to the mosque. Six caparisoned elephants and folk performances accompany the procession. Traditional Muslim art forms like Oppana and Mappilappattu are also staged during the festival. Kochi is well connected by rail and road to different other tourist places in India and also has an airport.
Kalpathi
Kalpathi or Kalpathy also known as Dakshin Kasi or the "Varanasi of the South is an early Tamil Brahmin settlement (agraharam) in the Palakkad District of Kerala state, south India. Kalpathi is very famous for Kalpathi Ratholsavam, Temple car festival held annually at the Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy temple where the deity is Lord Siva (Lord Viswanatha). Kalpathy is located 3 km from Palakkad town and consists of Old Kalpathy and New Kalpathy.
Kadampuzha Temple
Kadampuzha is a small town in Malappuram district of Kerala. It is the major town of the Marakkara Panchayath. Kadampuzha is famous for the Bhagavathi Temple, which is one of the famous pilgrim centres in Kerala. Kadampuzha is 2 km east from the Vettichira Junction in National Highway -17, between Valancheri and Kottakkal. Kadampuzha also makes the shortest route between Tirur and Perinthalmanna (through Pang-Padapparamb-Puzhakkattiri), though bus services are very less in the route. Poomoodal(Covering the idol with Thechi flowers) is the main offering in this temple. It is done twice in a week ( Tuesdays & Fridays). And this offering is already booked for another 25 years. Also, irrespective of the seasons, Temple never faced scarcity of the Thechi Flowers used for this.
Kottakkal
Kottakkal is a village in Malappuram District in Kerala, south India. It is an Eranadan village located 12 km south-west of Malappuram, the district head quarters, and 12km from Tirur. Kottakkal is one of the oldest Panchayath in Kerala, and is known for its ayurvedic institute, Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, as well as its temple festival, Kottakkal pooram, celebrated over seven days during during March-April.
Kondotti
Kondotty is famous for the Nercha (Malayalam for 'offering') in the Pazhayangadi Mosque. Kondotty is the birthplace of the great Mappila poet, Moyinkutty Vaidyar. He popularised Mappilapattu (Mappila songs) by his poems on non-religious and romantic themes. A memorial for this poet has also been built in Kondotty. The history of Kondotty is connected with that of the 18th century Kondotty Thangals, the Sufi exponents. Tipu Sultan of Mysore brought the first Thangal Muhammad Shah, to bring the Mappilas on his side. The Thangal first resided at Areekode and later settled in Kondotty. When the British arrived, putting an end to the reign of Tipu Sultan, the Thangal switched sides and joined the British. Hence, during the 1921 upsurge, the Mappila mob attacked the house of the seventh Thangal, Nasiruddin Shah. Kondotty Nercha is held every year at Pazhayangadi Mosque, which contains the tomb of the first Thangal, Muhammad Shah. Thousands of devotees attend the Nercha, which consists
Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy Temple
Lokanarkavu Temple is situated 5 km from Vatakara, a small town in Kerala state of south India. Lokanarkavu is a short form of Lokamalayarkavu which means lokam (world) made of mala (mountain), aaru (river) and kavu (grove). It is the official family temple of the five hundres [Aryan] Nagariks who had migrated to kerala and their successors. temple can be reached by train by getting down at vadakara,which is 4km from temple. By air the nearest airport is calicut airport which is 87kilometers away. pooram is the important festival here and it is conducted with great pompo and show. The week-long festival begins with Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) and concludes with Arattu. The temple dedicated to goddess Bhadrakaali has great historical importance as Thacholi Othenan, the legendary martial hero of Kerala, used to worship here every day.
Manarkadu
Manarkadu is a small village in Kottayam district of kerala state, south India. It is located 5 miles from Kottayam town. It is famous for St. Mary"s Syrian Jacobite Church, which runs a hospital, educational institutions like school, ITI, Nursing school. Manarkad Sri Bhagavathy Temple is a prominent place of worship in Kottayam District, Kerala. Pathinonnu Garudan is a prominent offering in the Temple.
Malayattur
Malayattoor is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. The Malayatoor Church of Cochin attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but also all over India. St. Thomas the Apostle was the one who took initiative to begin a Christian community in Kerala. He also set up the church here which has been designated by the Vatican as an International Shrine. It is believed that St. Thomas held prayer at this church when he landed in Kerala. The hilltop church is located 10km away from the town of Kalady, near Neeleeswaram.
Mangaladevi Temple
The Mangaladevi temple is an ancient shrine which is more than 2000-years-old. The temple is located 15 km from Kumily, a popular destination of Idukki. Built in the Pandya style of architecture, the temple remains closed for the entire year except for the annual Chithra Pournami festival, celebrated in the month of April- May. Hundreds of pilgrims reach the temple from Kerala and the nearby state of Tamil Nadu after making a painstaking journey through the forest. The temple has as its deity Kannaki, an epic character of the classical Tamil text Chilappadikaram written by Elankovadikal.
Mampuram
A major pilgrimage centre of Muslims, shrine and burial sites of the Thangals (the religious leaders).
Padmanabha Swami Temple
Padmanabhaswamy temple is a famous Hindu temple of Lord Vishnu, located inside the Fort in city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The temple is one of the 108 divya desam,the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu. The main deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anananthasayanam posture (in eternal sleep of yognidra).This is an ancient temple and the city of hiruvananthapuram derives its name from the name of the presiding deity enshrined in the temple.
Palayam Juma Masjid
The Palayam Mosque is one of the most important mosque in Thiruvananthapuram. Situated at the heart of the city, the mosque has a temple and a Christian church as its neighbours, establishing the communal harmony of Keralites. Imam of the Palayam mosque opened the doors of the mosque for women for the first time in south Kerala.
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta, a hilly terrain of pristine beauty is popular as the headquarters of pilgrim worship in Kerala. More than fifty per cent of the total area of this land of temples, rivers, mountain ranges and coconut groves is covered by forests
Parumala
Parumala is famous for the Orthodox Church of Mar Gregorious (Parumala Thirumeni). It is here that Gregorios Geevarghese the declared saint of The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church died. The ormapperunnal celebrated on the first and second of every November, is very famous at this time, as a large number of people flock to this place for worship.
Panachikadu Temple
The Saraswathi temple in the Panachikadu village of Kottayam district, Kerala is known as Dakshina (Southern) Mookambi. Eventhough many Saraswathi temples perform pooja only during the ' Navarathri period', this temple offers pooja throughout giving ' darshan' to the devotees. This village resembles the famous Kodajadri,.
Punarjani Guha
Punarjani Guha is a natural tunnel 150 meters long in the rocky cliff. It is in the Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. Punarjani Guha is situated 2 km from the Thiruvilwamala Temple and the chief presiding deity is Sri Rama. The idol is believed to be ‘swayamboo’ ie. born on its own. It is believed that by performing ‘noozhal’ or crawling through the tunnel from one end to the other will wash away all of one’s sins and thus attain rebirth. Only men are allowed to do the ‘noozhal’ and women can only visit the cave. This ritual is practised only one day in a year on Guruvayur Ekadashi.
Parassinikadavu
Parassinkkadavu Snake Park is about 16 km from Kannur town in Kannur district of north Kerala, south India. The Snake Park is a famous landmark in the district of Kannur at Parassinikkadavu, en route from Kannur to Taliparamba, 2 km from National Highway(NH) 17. Here one gets to see a large variety of snakes and other small animals and there is even a live show, where trained personnel play and "interact" with a variety of snakes, including cobras and vipers, and seek to quell mythical fears and superstitions about snakes. The Snake Park, set up by the Visha Chikista Kendra at Pappinisseri, has been a centre of attraction to both foreign and domestic tourists. This Kendra (centre) offers effective treatment for snake bites with almost 100% cure. The snake park here houses about 150 varieties of snakes including the Spectacled Cobra, King Cobra,Russell"s viper, Krait and various pit vipers. There is also a large collection of non-poisonous snakes including Pythons. The park is
Pullumadu
The rolling hills, velvet lawns and rare flora and fauna cascading the Holy Shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala and The Makara Jyothi illuminations are the main attractions of this place.
St.Joseph Church
The (Latin) diocese of Trivandrum was established by His Holiness Pope Pius XI on July 1, 1937 through the Bull "In Ora Malabarica". On 14th June, 1996, a new Archdiocese by name Neyyattinkara was created out of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum by His Holiness Pope John Paul II through the Apostolic Bull "Ad Aptius Provehendum".
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a renowned pilgrim centre atop the rugged hills of the Western Ghats. This holy shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The sanctum sanctoram nestles 914 m above sea level, amidst the virgin forest wilderness of the Western Ghats
St. Francis Church
Kochi, popularly regarded as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea", is also famous as Cochin. Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam, about 220 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The commercial and industrial capital of Kerala it houses one of the finest natural harbours in the world.
Santa Cruz Basilica
The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church in Kochi, Kerala built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984. This magnificent church is a must see destination for tourists who come to Kochi. Santa Cruz Basilica, a Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the finest and impressive churches in Kerala. It is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur and colours of the gothic style. Located close to St. Francis Church it is the "capital church" of the diocese of Cochin.
Thazhathangady Mosque
Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is a mosque situated in Thazhathangady, one of the Heritage Zones of Kerala, India, near the town of Kummanam. It is one of the oldest mosques in India and is more than 1000 years old. It is famous for its richness of architecture, wood carvings and the beauty. This mosque is situated on the banks of the Meenachil river.
Thirikkakara Temple
Thrikkakara Temple (Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple) is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord Vamana. It is situated in Thrikkakara, a village panchayat near Cochin in the state of Kerala, South India. The temple houses some lithic records of historic significance. The most important event of the religious calendar here is Onam. The Onasadya or the Onam feast is held in a grand manner in the temple with a large number of people cutting across religious barriers participating in it.
Thrissur
The cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur, gained prominence under the reign of Raja Rama Varma in 1790. Trichur or Thrissur as it is called locally, is well known for Vadakkumnathan Temple, the Thrissur Pooram an annual festival held in the city, the Kerala Kala Mandalam, the Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.
Tirunelli Temple
Thirunelli Temple (also Tirunelli) is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu on the side of Brahmagiri hill in Kerala. Inscriptions in this temple date back to the period of Bhaskara Ravi Varma I (962–1019 CE). Thirunelli temple located in what is now the Wayanad district of Kerala, near the Papanasini River. The name Thirunelli derives from the nelli, the Malayalam word for Indian gooseberry of the Amla tree. According to tradition, Lord Brahma was travelling the earth upon Hamsa the swan when he became attracted by the beauty of the area now known as Brahmagiri Hill. Descending in that spot, Brahma noticed an idol set in an Amla tree. Brahma recognized the idol as Lord Vishnu and the place as Vishnuloka. With the help of the Devas, Brahma installed the idol and called it Sahyamalak Kshetra. At Brahma’s request Vishnu promised that the waters of the area would wash away all sins. (Thus, the spring and river near the temple is called Papanasini—“washes away all sins”).
Trichambaram
Trichambaram Temple is situated 20 km from Kannur district of Kerala state, south India. It is near Taliparamba town, famous for its spices trade. The temple is believed to have got the name from Thiru Shambara or the holy shambara in reverence to Maharishi Shambara. The deity of the temple is Krishna. The sculptures on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum are a class by themselves. The temple also contains one of the most exquisite collection of mural paintings in south India. Trichambaram Temple has three ponds attached to it, with the temple for Durga being surrounded by water on all sides. The annual temple festival (Utsavam) is a colourful event. The fortnight-long festival begins on Kumbham 22 of Malayalam calendar (which generally falls on March 6) every year with the kodiyettam (hoisting of a religious flag) and comes to an end on Meenam 6 (which generallay falls on March 20) with Koodipiriyal (Ending of this festival). In between these dates, for 11 days, thitambu nriththa
Tirunavaya
Varkala
Varkala is small town in Kerala, located at Pythal Mala hill station out 45 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Varkala is an important Hindu pilgrimage center. It is also known for the Papasnanam Beach and the 2000 years old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple.
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is bounded by the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam. Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam, and among the oldest in South India.
Vadakkumnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 8-9 acres. Inside this fortification there are four gopurams indicating the four directions - North, South, East and West. Apart from these four gopurams there is a multi-shrined complex in the center with three principal shrines dedicated to Shiva or Vadakkunnathan, Shankaranarayana and Rama. In the northern side there is a circular structure with the deity facing west. The figure of Shiva-Parvati faces east and is just behind Shiva, in the same shrine. The two-storied shrine of Sri Rama facing west is located in the south. Between these two srikovils stand a third one, circular and double storied in shape, dedicated to Sankaranarayana and facing west. There are mukhamandapams in front of all the three central shrines
Valiya Juma Masjid
Valiya Juma Masjid is an important pilgrim centre of the Muslims of Kerala.The four day annual festival at the mosque(nercha) is celebrated in April. Adjoining the mosque is the mausoleum of the Malappuram shaheeds (martys) whose brave exploits have been immortalised in the Mappila ballads.
