Temples In Kerala: Most Famous Kerala Temples for Pilgrims

Known For : Ayyappa Temple Makaravilakku Malikkappuram Devi Temple

Best time to visit: November-January
Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, this is the most famous amongst all Sastha temples in Kerala. It is situated on the top of Sabarimala hilltop and is located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This temple attracts 45-50 million devotees every year. The temple is famous for its communal harmony with the Vavar Thara, a sub-deity, who was a Sufi saint, in the premises. 

Best Time: September to Apr

6 Sabarimala Attractions

Best time to visit: October-November or April-May
The Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram brings together the architectural brilliance of the indigenous Kerala style and the Tamilian style. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple. The dress code is to be followed strictly. 

Best time to visit: February-March
The ancient Hindu temple in Kerala is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Vadakkunnathan Temple displays the splendour of Kerala's architectural style with its monumental towers and a Kuttambalam. Mural paintings depicting episodes from Mahabharata adorn the temple. The temple is declared a National Monument and legends say; it was the first temple built by Parasurama, the incarnation of Vishnu. Only Hindus are allowed inside this temple. 

Best time to visit: April
The Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple built in the midst of a lake and is believed to be the Moolasthanam of Ananthapadmanabha Swami. The 302 feet deep lake receives a perennial supply of pure spring water. The exquisite view of the hillocks from the temple attracts many visitors, and so does the legend of Babia, the vegetarian crocodile who is believed to be the temple guardian. 

Known For : Punnathurkotta Elephant Palace Mammiyoor Shiva Temple Guruvayur Temple

Best time to visit: October-February
This Hindu temple in Kerala is dedicated to the Hindu God Guruvayurappan, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is called the Bhuloka Vaikunta, "Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth". The presiding deity is Krishna whose idol is carved out with the Patalanjana stone known for its medicinal values. The temple is famous for its healing powers however only Hindus are allowed in the temple, and there is a strict dress code. 

Best Time: October to February

12 Guruvayur Attractions

Best time to visit: March-April or July
This 17th-century temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is believed to be built by the local ruler Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran. It is directly associated with the Guruvayoor temple. During Tipu Sultan's raids, the idol of Shree Krishna was brought for safekeeping from Guruvayoor temple to the Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple. 

Best time to visit: October-January
Dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, Chottanikara Devi Temple is a 5 feet tall temple famous for its healing powers. It is believed that the Goddess takes away all mental illnesses and disorders of the devotees leaving them with calm and peace. Surrounded by lush green farms, the temple is situated at the top of a hill.

Best time to visit: April
This ancient Hindu temple in Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The temple exhibits beautiful Mural paintings and carvings. It is the official family temple of the 500 Aryans who had migrated to Kerala. This is the only temple where the folk dance Poorakkali is performed during the festivals. 

Best time to visit: October-November
This internationally known ancient temple is known for being the pilgrimage centre for the devotees of serpent gods. Nestled in a forest glade, The Mannarasala Temple has 30,000 images of snakes and is especially visited by women seeking fertility. The temple is headed by a priestess and is open to all religions. 

Best time to visit: February-March
Also known as the Mahadev temple, the Thiruvanchikulam Temple in Kerala is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is said to have been constructed in the 8th century in true Kerala style of architecture. It is considered as a heritage building for the exclusive Mural paintings on the walls. 

Best time to visit: December-March
This Hindu temple is dedicated to Shree Muthappan, a personification of two Gods, Thiruvappana (Lord Vishnu) and Vellatom (Lord Shiva). The temple does not follow the Satvik, Brahmanical rituals like other temples. Instead, worship is performed through ritual enactment of the characters of Muthappan through the traditional dance, Muthappan Theyyam. 

Best time to visit: February-March
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a religious shrine dedicated to Goddess Bhagvathi, the mother of supreme power. It is known as the Sabarimala of Women and attracts women devotees in large numbers for its annual Attukal Pongal festival. It reached the Guinness Book of World Records of the largest annual gathering of women with 15 lakh women offering Pongala on February 23, 1997. 

Best time to visit: October or November
The Tali temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in Kozhikode. The main deity enshrined here is Umamaheswara, and it is believed that the sanctum was installed at the end of Dwaparayuga by Sri. Parasurama. The temple is replete with stories about the dark side of human nature: ego, black magic, curses, etc.

Best time to visit: September-March
Surrounded by mountains and green forests, Thrunelli, dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the only temple in the world where the devotees can perform all the rituals of life, from birth to death and even life after death. Devotees often come here to perform ancestral rites called Bali. 

Best time to visit: August-September
This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is an abode of peace. It is one of the "Divya Desams" that is the 108 temples of Vishnu. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the stops on the way of the procession to Sabarimala. It is built in Kerala style architecture and is famous for its boat races during Onam. 

Best time to visit: August-September
Established in the 19th century by the religious and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, the Shivagiri Mutt or temple in Kerala has been built in the modern architectural style with bathrooms and taps with no idol inside the mutt. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Sharada or Goddess Saraswati. 

Best time to visit: February-March
This is a major Shiva temple is famous for its Mural paintings with the most famous being the painting of Nataraja. The temple is also renowned for its annual Ezharaponnana that is the seven-and-a-half golden elephants kept in the temple vault, which are taken out once a year for darshan by the devotees on the Arattu festival celebrated on the Thiruvathira day. 

Best time to visit: December-January
The Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple is an important Shiva temple and is also called the Thrikkaviyoor Mahadeva Temple. The temple is also known for its Hanuman temple. It bears a resemblance to the Pallava style architecture. Legend says the temple belongs to the Treta Yuga, however, the actual time of construction is still a mystery. 

Best time to visit: Vinayaka Chathurthi, August/September
Situated at the East Fort, the Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy temple is located near the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple. This temple in Kerala is maintained by the Indian Army. Homam, Appam, Modakam along with breaking coconuts is the main form of offerings here. Coconut breaking symbolises the breaking of the human ego to open the mind to a higher realm. 

Best time to visit: Vinayaka Chathurthi, August/September
The Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple is another famous temple named after Lord Ganesha though it is a Shiva temple. Kottarakkara Ganapathy is also known as Vigneshwaran which means one who removes all obstacles. Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated with a lot of festivities and is marked with Mahaganapathy Homam using 1008 coconuts. 

Best time to visit: March to May
This temple with striking architecture and admiring turrets and gables is situated in front of the flowing River Madhuvahini giving the temple a mystic charm. The temple is dedicated to Srimad Anantheswara and is also referred to as Madhur Temple or Lord Shiva Temple. 

Vaikom Temple lies at the heart of the town and becomes very prominent during its Vaikom Ashtami celebrations during the month of November. This temple was constructed in the year 1594. It is also enclosed by a courtyard which is spread across 8 acres of land.

Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple is situated on the banks of Karamana River. It is known to be the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Parasurama. Located 1km from Sree Alukadu Devi Temple, 2km from Pazhanchira Devi Temple and 3km from Attukal Temple, this heritage is under the list of monuments that are of national importance. 

An epitome of art and architectural marvel of old times, this temple is considered to be one of the largest Devi temples. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga and it is a common belief that whoever worships here with true heart is granted his/her wished and is aided in realizing their dreams.