Which are the famous temples in Thrissur?
Thrissur is known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala because of its religious, spiritual, and cultural leanings throughout history. Thrissur was known as Thri-Shiva-Perur (Three-Shiva-Palace) means the place with Three Shiva temples which are said to be Vadakkumnathan Temple, Kottapuram Shiva temple and Poonkunnam Siva Temple. Other famous temples in Thrissur are Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple, Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple, Arattupuzha Sree Sastha Temple etc.
KOODALMANIKYAM TEMPLE
This temple is situated in Manavalassery village, Thrissur. Koodalmanikyam is the Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit word Sangameswara. This temple is dedicated to Lord Bharatha, who was the brother of Lord Sree Rama, this temple is an architectural wonder belonging to the ancient world with mural paintings on the wall and four massive ponds in the courtyard.
KODUNGALLUR BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE
This temple is also known as Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple situated in Kodungallur, Thrissur District. It is believed that the placement of the idol of Kannaki was done about 1800 years ago by Cheran Chenkuttuvan of the Chera dynasty. The deity of the temple is Bhadrakali.
THRIPRAYAR SHREE RAMASWAMI TEMPLE
This temple is situated in Triprayar in Thrissur district. The temple is situated on the bank of river Theevra (Purayar) and the deity is Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, with four arms bearing a conch, a disc, a bow and a garland.
THIRUVAMBADI SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE
Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple is located in Patturaikkal, Thrissur. The main deity Lord Krishna is in the form of a child. In addition to the main deity, the temple enshrined Goddess Bhagavathy also on the left side of Lord Krishna.
PUNKUNNAM SREE SHIVA TEMPLE
This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture. The main deity is Lord Shiva. Parvathy, Ganapathy, Sastha, Nagaraja and Partha Sarathi are other sub deities.
URAKATHAMMA THIRUVADI TEMPLE
An ancient Devi temple is situated in Urakam. This temple is one amongst the major 108 Durga temples, popularly called as “Ammathiruvadi Temple”.
SRI VADAKKUNNATHAN TEMPLE
Vadakkunnathan Temple is an ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the heart of Thrissur city of Kerala. UNESCO has observed the conservation techniques used in maintaining the ancient architecture of this temple. In the year 2012 the Archaeological Survey of India has recommended Vadakkunnathan Temple to include in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
PARAMEKKAVU BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE
Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple, located near the Vadakkumnathan Temple is considered as one of the largest Bagavathi temples in Kerala. This temple one of the participating temples in the Thrissur Pooram. The ceremonial procession with fifteen caparisoned elephants from Paramekkavu to the Vadakkumnathan Temple, where the Pooram is held, is a truly attractive sight.
ARATTUPUZHA SREE SASTHA TEMPLE
Arattupuzha Sree Sastha Temple is situated at Arattupuzha, a beautiful, quiet village located 15km away from Thrissur town. The antiquity of this temple dates back to 3000 years and the temple hosts the most ancient and the world’s second oldest festival “Devamela” at Arattupuzha.
THIRUVULLAKKAVU SREE DHARMA SASTHA TEMPLE
The deity is Lord Dharma Shastha in standing posture with arch and a bow. Thousands of devotees visit the temple with their children to help them enter the world of education with the blessings of Sree Dharma Sastha. Vidyarambham is the most important festival here. Another famous festival celebrated here is Peruvanam Arattupuzha Pooram.
MUTHUVARA MAHADEVA TEMPLE
This Shiva temple located in Muthuvara, Thrissur. Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu has installed the idol. The idol is in rowdrabhavam. The temple have one sreekovil for Lord Shiva and another one for Lord Vishnu.
PERUVANAM MAHADEVA TEMPLE
This temple is situated in Peruvanam of Thrissur District. The magnificent temple comprises of two shrines namely ‘Irattayappan Temple‘ on the North and ‘Maadathilappan Temple‘ on the South of the main temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the most famous festivals which are celebrated in the temple is the Peruvanam Pooram. The Archaeological Survey of India has been protecting the temple since 1982.
UTHRALIKKAVU BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE
Uthralikkavu is a Devi temple in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur. Uthralikavu Pooram is one of the spectacular temple festivals to be witnessed during summer. This festival is filled with excitements with the procession and marching past of a number of elephants with colorful decoration to the accompaniment of the resounding Panchavadyam and the Pandimelam.
GURUVAYUR TEMPLE
This temple is dedicated to the God Guruvayurappan, located in the town of Guruvayur, Thrissur. Gurvayoor is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim towns in India. This temple-town is extremely famous for its large Sree Krishna Temple, believed to one of the 108 most divine Vishnu temples of world.
MAMMIYUR MAHADEVA TEMPLE
Mammiyur Temple is situated at a walkable distance of North West to the famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple. This is also one of the famous temples in Thrissur. The main deity is Lord Shiva in the form of Uma Maheswara. Lord Vishnu is also given equal importance in a shrine Sanctorum near to that of Lord Shiva. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayur Temple is supposed to go to Mammiyur also, as the ritual goes.