Kerala is renowned for its distinctive temple architecture, ancient rituals, colourful festivals and diverse pilgrimage traditions. From Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and Sabarimala to Guruvayur, Vadakkumnathan, Chottanikkara, Ambalappuzha and Thirunelli, the state has hundreds of important Hindu temples. Kerala Tourism maintains a dedicated directory featuring 100 famous temples across the state.
This guide from Hindu Temple Yatra brings together major Hindu temples, pilgrimage centres and temple circuits across Kerala.
Famous Temples in Kerala
1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
Deity: Lord Vishnu
Location: Thiruvananthapuram
One of Kerala's most famous temples, dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, the reclining form of Vishnu.
2. Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple – Pathanamthitta
Deity: Lord Ayyappa
Location: Sabarimala
Sabarimala is one of India's most important Hindu pilgrimage centres and is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The official Sabarimala website describes it as the most prominent among Kerala's Sastha temples.
3. Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple – Guruvayur
Deity: Lord Krishna
Location: Thrissur District
One of Kerala's most important Krishna temples and a major pilgrimage destination. Kerala Tourism identifies Guruvayur among the state's prominent religious destinations.
4. Vadakkunnathan Temple – Thrissur
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Thrissur
One of Kerala's historic Shiva temples and the central venue associated with the famous Thrissur Pooram festival. Kerala's government tourism information describes it as one of the oldest temples in the state.
5. Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple – Ernakulam
Deity: Goddess Bhagavathy
Location: Chottanikkara
A major Devi temple known for its traditional worship and the Makam Thozhal ceremony.
6. Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple – Alappuzha
Deity: Lord Krishna
Location: Ambalappuzha
A famous Krishna temple known for its distinctive traditions and association with the famous Ambalappuzha Palpayasam.
7. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple – Pathanamthitta
Deity: Lord Krishna as Parthasarathy
Location: Aranmula
Situated beside the Pamba River, the temple is closely associated with the Aranmula Vallamkali and Ashtami Rohini celebrations.
8. Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple – Alappuzha
Deity: Nagaraja
Location: Haripad
One of Kerala's important centres of serpent worship, set within a wooded temple environment.
9. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple – Kottayam
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Ettumanoor
An important Shiva temple famous for its Kerala-style architecture, murals and annual festival.
10. Vaikom Mahadeva Temple – Kottayam
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Vaikom
One of the important Shiva pilgrimage centres of Kerala and part of the traditional Shiva pilgrimage circuit.
Shiva Temples in Kerala
- Vadakkunnathan Temple – Thrissur
- Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple – Kottayam
- Vaikom Mahadeva Temple – Kottayam
- Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple – Kottayam
- Mahadeva Temple – Chengannur
- Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Sree Kashi Vishwanatha Temple – Cheriazheekal
- Kazhakuttom Sree Mahadeva Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
- Azhimala Siva Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
- Trikandiyur Shiva Temple – Malappuram
- Tali Temple – Kozhikode
- Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple – Kodungallur
- Kottukkal Cave Temple – Kollam
- Thrikkakkudi Cave Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple – Ernakulam
- Thali Nedumprayoor Siva Temple – Thrissur
- Annamalai Temple – Idukki
- Ayyappan/Neelakkal Mahadeva Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Kadampuzha-area Shiva shrines
- Sree Mahalingeswara Temple – Kasaragod
Kerala Tourism's official temple directory includes major Shiva temples such as Vaikom, Thirunakkara, Kaviyoor, Trikandiyur, Azhimala and others.
Devi & Shakti Temples in Kerala
- Attukal Bhagavathy Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
- Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple – Ernakulam
- Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple – Thrissur
- Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple – Alappuzha
- Malayalappuzha Bhagavathy Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Kadampuzha Devi Temple – Malappuram
- Kottankulangara Devi Temple – Kollam
- Kadammanitta Devi Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple – Alappuzha
- Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple – Thrissur
- Thiruvambady Temple – Thrissur
- Irinjalakuda Bhagavathy Temple – Thrissur region
- Varakkal Devi Temple – Kozhikode
- Pisharikavu Temple – Kozhikode
- Kalkulathukavu Devi Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
- Kottiyoor Temple – Kannur
- Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple – Malappuram
- Mangala Devi Temple – Idukki
- Kumaranalloor Devi Temple – Kottayam
- Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple – Kottayam
Kerala Tourism's temple directory identifies many of these as important Devi and Shakti pilgrimage centres.
Vishnu & Krishna Temples
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Thiruvananthapuram
- Guruvayur Temple – Thrissur
- Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple – Alappuzha
- Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Sree Vallabha Temple – Thiruvalla
- Thrikkodithanam Mahavishnu Temple – Kottayam
- Thiruvithuvakodu Temple – Palakkad
- Janardhana Swamy Temple – Varkala
- Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple – Malappuram
- Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple – Thrissur
- Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple – Ernakulam
- Trikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple – Ernakulam
- Trichambaram Temple – Kannur
- Ananthapura Lake Temple – Kasaragod
- Madhur Temple – Kasaragod
- Thirunelli Temple – Wayanad
- Sree Rama Temple, Kadavallur
- Sree Vilwadrinatha Temple – Thrissur
- Koodalmanikyam Temple – Irinjalakuda
- Parasurama Temple – Thiruvallam
Ayyappa & Sastha Temples
Kerala has a particularly strong tradition of Sastha and Ayyappa worship.
- Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Achankovil Sree Dharma Sastha Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Aryankavu Sastha Temple – Kollam
- Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple – Kollam
- Erumeli Dharma Sastha Temple – Kottayam
- Poonjar Dharma Sastha Temple – Kottayam
- Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple – Pathanamthitta
- Pandalam Valiya Koyikkal Temple – Pathanamthitta
The official Sabarimala website also identifies Achankovil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Nilakkal and Pandalam among important nearby pilgrimage places.
Subrahmanya & Murugan Temples
- Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple – Haripad
- Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple – Payyannur
- Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple – Kodumthara
- Kumaraswamy Temple – Haripad region
- Muruganmala Temple – Ernakulam
- Kaviyoor-area Subrahmanya shrines
- Cheriazheekal temple complex
Kerala Tourism's official directory specifically includes the Subrahmanya temples at Haripad, Payyannur and Kodumthara.
Unique & Special Temples in Kerala
Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple
A major centre of serpent worship near Haripad.
Koodalmanikyam Temple – Irinjalakuda
A distinctive temple dedicated to Bharata, making it particularly notable within India's temple traditions. Kerala Tourism describes it as the only temple in India dedicated to Lord Bharata.
Thirunelli Temple – Wayanad
An ancient Vishnu temple surrounded by the forests and mountains of Wayanad.
Ananthapura Lake Temple – Kasaragod
A unique temple situated in the middle of a lake and associated with Lord Vishnu.
Mangaladevi Kannagi Temple – Idukki
An ancient temple associated with Kannagi and situated in the Western Ghats. Kerala Tourism includes it among its temple destinations.
Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple – Kottayam
A famous temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and associated with learning and education.
Sree Krishna Temple – Guruvayur
One of Kerala's best-known Krishna pilgrimage destinations.
Temples in South Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
- Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple
- Azhimala Siva Temple
- Kazhakuttom Sree Mahadeva Temple
Kollam
- Oachira Parabrahma Temple
- Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple
- Kottukkal Cave Temple
- Kottankulangara Devi Temple
- Aryankavu Sastha Temple
Pathanamthitta
- Sabarimala
- Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
- Malayalappuzha Bhagavathy Temple
- Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple
- Kadammanitta Devi Temple
- Achankovil Sastha Temple
Alappuzha
- Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple
- Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple
- Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
- Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Haripad Subrahmanya Temple
Kerala Tourism's regional directory provides extensive temple listings for South Kerala.
Temples in Central Kerala
Thrissur
- Guruvayur Temple
- Vadakkunnathan Temple
- Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Thiruvambady Temple
- Koodalmanikyam Temple
- Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
- Arattupuzha Temple
- Vilwadrinatha Temple
Ernakulam
- Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
- Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple
- Thirumoozhikkulam Temple
- Iringole Bhagavathy Temple
- Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple
Kottayam
- Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
- Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
- Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple
- Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple
- Kumaranalloor Devi Temple
- Poonjar Sastha Temple
Palakkad
- Thiruvithuvakodu Temple
- Kalpathy Viswanathaswamy Temple
- Emoor Bhagavathy Temple
- Thirumittakode Anjaneya Temple
- Jainamedu Jain Temple — separate Jain heritage section
Temples in North Kerala
Malappuram
- Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple
- Kadampuzha Devi Temple
- Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
- Trikandiyur Shiva Temple
- Alathiyur Hanuman Temple
- Vettakkorumakan Temple
Kozhikode
- Tali Temple
- Pisharikavu Temple
- Varakkal Devi Temple
- Lokanarkavu Temple
- Azhakodi Devi Temple
Kannur
- Rajarajeshwara Temple – Taliparamba
- Trichambaram Temple
- Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
- Kottiyoor Temple
- Sree Subrahmanya Temple – Payyannur
Wayanad
- Thirunelli Temple
- Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Seetha Lava Kusha Temple
- Panamaram-area temples
Kasaragod
- Ananthapura Lake Temple
- Madhur Temple
- Mallikarjuna Temple
- Anantheshwara Temple
- Manjeshwar temples
Kerala Tourism's North Kerala temple directory includes Thirumandhamkunnu, Kadampuzha, Trikandiyur, Trichambaram, Thirunelli, Ananthapura, Madhur and several other temples.
Important Temple Circuits in Kerala
1. South Kerala Temple Yatra
Thiruvananthapuram → Kollam → Alappuzha → Pathanamthitta
Suggested temples:
Padmanabhaswamy → Attukal → Oachira → Ambalappuzha → Mannarasala → Aranmula → Sabarimala
2. Sabarimala Pilgrimage Circuit
Pandalam → Erumeli → Nilakkal → Pamba → Sabarimala
Additional temples:
Achankovil → Aryankavu → Kulathupuzha
3. Central Kerala Temple Yatra
Kottayam → Vaikom → Ettumanoor → Thrissur → Guruvayur
4. Guruvayur & Thrissur Temple Circuit
Guruvayur → Mammiyoor → Vadakkunnathan → Paramekkavu → Thiruvambady → Thriprayar → Koodalmanikyam
5. North Kerala Temple Yatra
Kozhikode → Malappuram → Kannur → Kasaragod
Tali Temple → Thirumandhamkunnu → Kadampuzha → Rajarajeshwara → Trichambaram → Ananthapura → Madhur
6. Wayanad Spiritual Circuit
Thirunelli → Valliyoorkavu → Seetha Lava Kusha → Regional sacred sites
Important Temple Festivals
Kerala's temples are famous for elaborate annual festivals and traditional rituals.
Major celebrations include:
- Thrissur Pooram – Vadakkunnathan area
- Attukal Pongala – Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
- Makaravilakku – Sabarimala
- Mandala Pilgrimage Season – Sabarimala
- Guruvayur Ekadasi – Guruvayur
- Aranmula Vallamkali – Aranmula
- Ambalappuzha Arattu
- Kodungallur Bharani
- Chettikulangara Bharani
- Vaikom Ashtami
- Ettumanoor Ezharaponnana
- Kottiyoor festivals
- Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram
- Kadammanitta Padayani
Festival dates and temple programmes can change each year, so individual temple posts should advise visitors to verify current schedules before travelling.
0 Comments