Kerala is not just famous for its backwaters and greenery, it is also home to some of the most beautiful and spiritually significant temples in India. Known for their traditional wood and stone architecture, unique rituals, and lively festivals, temples in Kerala attract thousands of devotees and tourists every year.
But with over 3,000 temples in Kerala, deciding which ones to visit can be confusing. To make your planning easier, here’s a Kerala temples list featuring some of the most famous and must-visit temples in the state:
1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kerala. It is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu), and is also regarded as one of the richest temples in the world. The temple is known for its magnificent reclining Vishnu idol, traditional Dravidian-style architecture, intricate stone carvings, and murals.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temple Timings:
- 3:30 AM to 4:45 AM
- 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM
- 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
- 10:30 AM to 11:10 AM
- 11:45 AM to 12:00 PM
- 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM
- 6:45 PM to 7:20 PM
How to Reach: You can fly to Trivandrum airport or take a train
Nearby Railway Station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station (1.4 km)
Nearby Bus Station: East Fort Bus Stand (500 m)
2. Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple, Pathanamthitta
The Sabarimala Temple in Kerala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India. Located around 3,000 feet above sea level, the temple welcomes devotees from all religions. Millions of pilgrims visit this temple every year, especially during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, after observing 41 days of austerity and climbing the 18 sacred steps leading to the shrine.
Best Time to Visit: Mid-November to mid-January (Mandalam-Makaravilakku)
Temple Timings: Open only on Mandala Pooja, Makaravilakku, Vishu, and the first day of every Malayalam month:
- 3:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
How to Reach: You have to reach Pamba by road and trek to the temple
Nearby Railway Station: Chengannur Railway Station (85 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Pamba Bus Station (8 km)
3. Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur
Vadakkumnathan Temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Kerala and is famous for its traditional Kerala-style architecture. Located at the centre of Thrissur city, the temple is closely associated with the grand Thrissur Pooram festival. The temple complex features beautiful murals and ancient wooden carvings.
Best Time to Visit: April to May during Thrissur Pooram, and October to March
Temple Timings:
- 4:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
How to Reach: You can reach the temple by taxi or auto
Nearby Railway Station: Thrissur Railway Station (1.2 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Thrissur KSRTC Bus Stand (1.1 km)
4. Chottanikkara Temple, Ernakulam
Chottanikkara Temple is among the most visited temples in Kerala. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy (Rajarajeswari), who is worshipped here in three forms – as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon, and Durga in the evening. The Goddess is believed to possess the power to cure mental illnesses and remove negative energies.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temple Timings:
- 4 AM to 12 PM
- 4 PM to 8:45 PM
How to Reach: You can reach the temple by taking a taxi, bus, or auto from Ernakulam
Nearby Railway Station: Ernakulam Junction Railway Station (16 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Chottanikkara Bus Stand (550 m)
5. Ananthapura Lake Temple, Kasaragod
This 9th-century temple is the only temple in Kerala that’s located in the middle of a lake. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is believed to be the original seat of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. The temple is known for its main idol, which is made with 70 medicinal materials and intricate wooden carvings that depict scenes from Vishnu’s 10 incarnations.
Best Time to Visit: November to February
Temple Timings:
- 5:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
How to Reach: You can reach the temple by bus, taxi, or train
Nearby Railway Station: Kasaragod Railway Station (14 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Kumbla Bus Stand (6 km)
6. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam
The Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Kerala. The temple is famous for Ezhara Ponnana, which is a set of golden elephant statues. Every year, the temple holds a grand procession with these elephants on the 8th day of its annual celebrations, making it one of the most popular attractions of Kerala’s temple festivals.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temple Timings:
- 4 AM to 12 PM
- 5 PM to 8:30 PM
How to Reach: You can reach from the Kottayam district (12 km) by bus or taxi
Nearby Railway Station: Ettumanoor Railway Station (2 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Ettumanoor Bus Stand (1 km)
7. Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur
The Guruvayur Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kerala. It is dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan, a form of Lord Krishna and is often called the Dwarka of the South. It attracts hundreds of devotees every year, especially during the Guruvayur Ekadashi. Many devotees visit to see the Guruvayur Aanayottam (elephant race), which marks the beginning of the annual celebrations.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Temple Timings:
- 3 AM to 12:30 PM
- 4:30 PM to 9:15 PM
How to Reach: You can easily reach by bus or take a train to the nearest railway station
Nearby Railway Station: Guruvayur Railway Station (1 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Guruvayur KSRTC Bus Stand (500 m)
8. Parassinikadavu Sri Muthappan Temple, Kannur
Located on the banks of the Valapattanam river, this famous temple in Kerala is dedicated to Lord Muthappan and is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Northern Kerala. The temple is unique because Theyyam (the sacred ritual dance) is the main form of worship here. Dogs are also considered sacred at this Kerala temple.
Best Time to Visit: First week of December during the Puthari Thiruvappana festival
Temple Timings: 5: 30 AM to 9:30 PM
How to Reach: You can reach the temple by auto, local bus, or by train to Kannur
Nearby Railway Station: Kannur Railway Station (20 kms)
Nearby Bus Station: Parassinikadavu Bus Stand (1 km)
9. Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
This famous temple in Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy and is popularly called the Sabarimala of women. The temple is famous for the Attukal Pongala festival, which was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the largest gathering of women for a religious festival.
Best Time to Visit: February to March during Attukal Pongala
Temple Timings:
- 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
How to Reach: You can take a flight to the Trivandrum airport and then a bus or taxi to the temple
Nearby Railway Station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station (3.4 km)
Nearby Bus Station: East Fort Bus Stand (2.3 km)
10. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Alapuzzah
This 1,500-year-old temple in Kerala is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is famous for the Thripootha Arattu Festival, which celebrates the menstruation of the Goddess. This makes the Kerala temple famous among devotees seeking blessings for fertility.
Best Time to Visit: September to February
Temple Timings:
- 4:30 AM to 11 AM
- 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
How to Reach: You can reach the temple by taking a local bus or taxi
Nearby Railway Station: Chengannur Railway Station (1 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Chengannur KSRTC Bus Stand (1.2 km)
11. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Pathanamthitta
This famous temple in Kerala is believed to be one of the 5 temples built by the Pandavas in the Chengannur area. Lord Krishna is worshipped at this temple in the form of Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Arjuna. The temple is also well-known for its intricate wooden carvings on the roof and pillars, and Valla Sadya (grand feast held in the month of Chingam).
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temple Timings:
- 4:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- 5 PM to 8 PM
How to Reach: You can take a bus or an auto to reach the Aranmula village by road
Nearby Railway Station: Chengannur Railway Station (11 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Chengannur Bus Stand (10 km)
12. Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple, Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple is a well-known temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is believed to be one of the oldest temples in the region and remains a beautiful example of Kerala temple architecture with ornate pillars and wooden carvings.
Best Time to Visit: During Vinayak Chaturdashi (August/September)
Temple Timings:
- 4 AM to 11:30 AM
- 5 PM to 8 PM
How to Reach: You can reach Kottarakkara by road (bus/taxi) and rail
Nearby Railway Station: Kottarakkara Railway Station (500 m)
Nearby Bus Station: Kottarakkara KSRTC Bus Stand (1.6 km)
13. Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam
Popularly known as the Kasi of the South, this famous temple in Kerala is believed to have been built by Parasurama. It is famous for the Vaikom Ashtami festival, which attracts hundreds of devotees from all over India.
Best Time to Visit: October to March (Nov-Dec for the festival)
Temple Timings:
- 4:30 AM to 12 PM
- 5 PM to 8 PM
How to Reach: You can take a bus, auto, or cab from the station/airport/bus stand
Nearby Railway Station: Vaikom Road Railway Station (12 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Vaikom KSRTC Bus Stand (1 km)
14. Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, Mannarasala
Among the various serpent temples in Kerala, this one is the most famous. Lord Nagaraja (the Snake God) is worshipped here. The Ayilam festival is celebrated at this temple every year to appease the Snake God, and devotees visit the temple to seek fertility blessings. The temple is also known for having a female priest, which is rare among major temples in Kerala.
Best Time to Visit: October to March (festival falls during Oct-Nov)
Temple Timings:
- 5 AM to 11 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Mon to Sat)
- 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Sunday)
How to Reach: Take a bus or an auto from Haripad town to the temple
Nearby Railway Station: Haripad Railway Station (3 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Haripad KSRTC Bus Stand (4.5 km)
15. Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple, Malapurram
Although this famous temple in Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Kiratha Parvathy, it does not have an idol inside. Rather, all daily ceremonies, poojas, and rituals are performed in a hole. It is believed that the goddess disappeared into the hole after appearing to Adi Shankaracharya. At the temple, devotees break coconuts and offer Thecchi flowers as offerings.
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Temple Timings:
- 4:30 AM to 12 PM
- 3:30 PM to 7 PM
How to Reach: Take a local bus, cab, or auto to reach the temple from the airport or train station
Nearby Railway Station: Kuttippuram Railway Station (16 km)
Nearby Bus Station: Kadampuzha Bus Stand (500 m)
Things to Know When Visiting Temples in Kerala
Remember these things if you are planning to visit Kerala temples to make your pilgrimage feel smoother:
Dress code: Wear traditional and modest clothes while visiting Kerala temples. Some temples have a strict dress code (mundu for men and sarees for women), so check carefully before visiting.
Footwear: Remove slippers and shoes before entering the temple premises.
Photography: Avoid taking photos inside sanctum areas unless permitted.
Temple timings: Plan your visit around early mornings to avoid crowds and pray in peace.
Offerings: Carry some cash for poojas, prasadam, and donation counters.
Entry rules: Some Kerala temples may only allow Hindu devotees inside, so remember to check before you go.
FAQs
What are the unique architectural features of Kerala’s temples?
Kerala’s temples are known for their wood and stone architecture, intricate carvings, mural paintings, and multi-tiered roofs to withstand monsoons. Many temples also have pathways lit with lamps and temple ponds.
Which is the oldest temple in Kerala?
The Vaikom Mahadev Temple is believed to be the oldest temple in Kerala.
What festivals are celebrated at Kerala temples?
Kerala’s temples celebrate various festivals throughout the year, the main ones being Onam, Vishu, and Thrissur Pooram. Apart from these, each temple also celebrates its own annual festival with grand processions, music, and more.
What is the best time to visit temples in Kerala?
The best time to visit Kerala’s temples is generally during the months of October to March, when the weather is cool and pleasant. You can also plan your visit during the festival season to see the temples beautifully decorated and experience traditional cultural performances, rituals, and celebrations.
Are there any restrictions for visitors at Kerala temples?
Yes. Some of Kerala’s temples may have strict dress code policies, and some may be open to only Hindu devotees.
