Kerala Voyages

Kerala Pilgrimage

Kerala has a mixed population of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews. All these religions have important shrines and places of pilgrimage in Kerala. Some of the important pilgrimage centers in Kerala, India are:

Sabarimala:
The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, 80 kms. from the Pathanamthitta district head quarters, is a National Pilgrim Centre. This famous shrine of Lord Ayyappa is surrounded by hazardous hills like Karimala and Neelimala. Devotees visit Sabarimala after undergoing 41 days of ‘Vritha’ i.e., self-imposed devotional penance. They, with irumudikettu (bundle with offerings to Ayyappa) on their head, climb the mountain ranges and cross the forest bare footed repeatedly chanting ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ which means we seek refuge in Ayyappa. This is probably the only famous temple in Kerala, which does not restrict anybody from visiting it for not being a Hindu.

Guruvayoor Temple:
Located in Trissur district of Kerala, Guruvayoor is Kerala's best-known temple and is the center of the worship of Lord Krishna, in Kerala. Known for its distinctive Kerala Temple architecture, popular rituals carried out by pilgrims at Guruvayoor include weighing children against fruit, jaggery or rice and offering the resulting quantity to the temple.

Vadakunnanthan Temple:
Located in Trissur district, this is the venue of an annual temple festival. In this grand event, two rows of magnificently decorated tuskers, stand facing each other, while drummers beat out a traditional rhythm and representatives of the temples raise colored parasols over the elephants, bearing the images of the deities of neighboring temples. It is both an intense religious event and a colorful tourist attraction in Kerala that concludes with a grand display of fireworks.

Malayattoor:
Malayattoor Church, a Christian pilgrim centre situated 52 kms from Kochi beside the Periyar River at the top of a hill. The pilgrims can reach the place only by foot. This church which was established in AD 900 is believed to have been blessed by St.Thomas, one of the Apostles of Christ.

Agastyakudam:
Agastyakudam, near Thiruvananthapuram, a prominent peak of the Western Ghats, is a pilgrim centre of the Hindus. This place is also noted for it’s abundant Ayurvedic herbs.

Varkala:
This famous Hindu pilgrim centre is situated at 48 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram. It is noted for it’s mineral springs.

Sivagiri and Aruvippuram: Aruvippuram of Thiruvananthapuram district is famous through the consecration of the 'Siva Idol' by Sree Narayana Guru. Sivagiri is a major pilgrim centre that attracts not only the local tourists but also travellers from abroad.
Ochira: A unique pilgrim centre in Kollam district known for its Advaita Philosphy. Here there is no temple or idol for the presiding deity ‘the Parabrahma’. The ritual performance ‘Ochirakali’, which is usually held in June gathers a huge crow

Maramon Convention: Every year in the month of February, banks of river Pamba plays host to a famous religious convention of Christians for 7 days. This convention is addressed by the speakers of international repute and attended by people from various other communities.

Cherukolpuzha Convention:
The famous Hindu religious convention held on the banks of river Pamba. It is attended by a large number of people and addressed by prominent religious scholars and cultural personalities.