Temples of Thrissur
The temples of central Kerala, from a village near Thrissur
Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala, and some of the oldest and most important temples in the state are within a day's drive of it. Our Temples of Thrissur programme is built around them: guided visits to the temples at its centre, quiet days in between, and Neelambari, a village stay with traditional buildings on the Karuvannur river, to come back to each evening.
The programme is designed for Indian and Indian-origin guests with an interest in the history, traditions and architecture of these temples. Several of them admit only Hindus.
More than the temples
The visits are the centre of the programme, and we add to them:
- An introduction to the history of Thrissur, with the emphasis on its temples and traditions.
- Visits to the monuments of Thrissur that are closely tied to those temples and traditions.
- One or more performances of the temple arts connected to the temples you visit.
- Ayurveda massages, in the spa at Neelambari, to go with the days of travelling.
- If you would like them, a homam (a fire ritual), a puja, a visit to an astrologer, or yoga.
The temples
Arattupuzha Sastha temple
Arattupuzha is small, quiet and rural. Our village takes its name and its identity from this temple: aratt is the bathing that ends the temple festival, and puzha is the river. The presiding deity is Sastha, and it is believed that the deity carries the spiritual force of the sage Vasishta. The temple is a short walk from Neelambari across the river, so we go by boat and on foot. If you would prefer a vehicle, we can arrange one.
Vadakkunnathan, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi
The Vadakkunnathan temple is the monument around which the city of Thrissur grew, and it is still at the centre of it. The presiding deity is Siva, and the city takes its name from him. The temple is about half an hour, 12 km, from Neelambari.
If time and opportunity allow, we add a short visit to the Brahmaswom Madom, an ancient school of Vedic studies with a legacy that goes back to Adi Shankara. As it is a school, we need its permission beforehand, so this visit cannot be guaranteed, though we make every effort.
The Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples are within the city and have the central roles in the Thrissur Pooram festival. We visit them on the same morning, and how early you are willing to set out from Neelambari decides how much fits.
Koodalmanikyam and Kodungallur
Koodalmanikyam, in Irinjalakuda, is one of the ancient temples of Kerala. Its earliest known record, a stone inscription, dates to about 854 CE, and the temple is thought to be older than that. The presiding deity is believed to be Bharata, prince of Ayodhya and younger brother of Rama. It is a Vaishnavite temple, and as interesting for its architecture and its history as for its religious significance. It is about 8 km from Neelambari, a short and pleasant drive.
From Koodalmanikyam we go on to the Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple, one of the ancient and most important Goddess temples (kavu) in Kerala, closely linked to the Sangam-age epic Chilappathikaram. Kodungallur, once known as Muziris, was the seat of the Cheras, the kingdom from which present-day Kerala takes its name. We can add a visit to the Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva temple, the tutelary deity of the Cheras, once considered the most important temple in Kerala.
Peruvanam and Urakam
Peruvanam Mahadeva temple is one of the oldest Siva temples in Kerala. It was once one of the richest and most powerful religious institutions in the state, and its riches and power waned with the tides of history. It stands today in the small town of Cherpu, on the edge of Thrissur, as a reminder of that period. With it we visit the Urakam temple, an ancient temple of the Goddess. Both are less than 5 km from Neelambari.
Triprayar and Guruvayur
On the way to Guruvayur we stop at the Triprayar Sree Rama temple, another important Vaishnavite temple of central Kerala.
Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple is perhaps the most visited place of worship in Kerala. It rose to prominence in the medieval period, when the Zamorins of Calicut patronised it. We take a short guided tour of the temple complex, and then visit Punnathur Kotta, the elephant sanctuary administered by the Guruvayur temple. Guruvayur is about 40 km, an hour's drive, from Neelambari.
How the days run
The programme runs over three nights and four days:
- Day 1. Introduction to the programme, boating on the river, and the visit to the Arattupuzha temple.
- Day 2, morning. Thiruvambadi, Paramekkavu and Vadakkunnathan.
- Day 2, afternoon. An Ayurveda massage.
- Day 2, evening. The Peruvanam and Urakam temples, and a performance of Sopana Sangeetham (the devotional singing of Kerala's temples, sung at the steps of the sanctum).
- Day 3, morning. Triprayar, Guruvayur and Punnathur Kotta.
- Day 3, evening. The Koodalmanikyam and Kodungallur temples.
- Day 4, morning. Check-out. If you would like to, visit the Ayurveda Museum and the Shakthan palace first.
Shorter or longer
You can take it slower or faster. The shorter version is two nights, and we trim some of the temples and experiences to fit. The longer version is four nights and five days, with a more leisurely schedule and room for more activities. The price changes with the length, so please ask us when you register.
What the programme includes
- Full board at Neelambari, on single or double occupancy.
- A guiding session before each temple visit, with an accompanying guide for three or more guests.
- At least one performance of the temple arts, with a briefing and an introduction.
- Transport by air-conditioned sedan to all the temples and points of interest.
We can add other things in the area to suit you: the Ayurveda Museum, historical monuments, or shopping. The Athirappilly waterfalls are an hour's drive from Neelambari, and are an easy addition.
Planning your visit
Message us on WhatsApp, call +91 94005 25150, or use the enquiry form. We will take it from there.