Pilgrim Tourism

Important Pilgrim Tourism Locations

Sheikh Masjid
Karunagappally Sheikh Masjid [Taj Mahal of Kerala] Sheikh Masjid in Karunagapally is designed like the Taj Mahal. The dome is semicircular, providing an area of 8,000 square meters where 3,000 devotees can offer namaz at a time.
Amritapuri
Located in Vallickavu,10 km from karunagappally is the internationally famous Amritanandamayi Amma’s Ashramam. She is known by “AMMA” all over the world. The nearest towns are Kayamkulam , 12 km from Amritapuri & Karunagappally.You can reach here by bus,train or autorickshaws.The nearest airport is Trivandrum.This is a major pilgrim centre as National & International pilgrims visit here for seeing Amma .
Padanaayar Kulangara Sree Mahadeva Temple
This 1000 years old temple is situated in karunagappally town near mini civilstation. There is an interesting story behind the temple.
Thevalakkara Devi Temple
Situated 14 km from Alumkadavu. You can see an inscription in black stone made by the Portugese, when they tried to rob the temple.Their attempt failed as their ship did not move from the sea after the robbery.This inscription can be seen between the sanctum sanctorium & the main entrance of the temple.you can read the apology made by the portugese to the deity of the temple.There is also a palm tree in the front of the temple. Locals believe that a lady demon lives on top of this tree.
Vadakkenadayil Bhagavathy temple
Situated opposite twin temples.This temple is 1800 years old. The deity is Kannagi & the present temple was built 10 years ago.The idol was bought from Kaveripoompattinam off the east coast of TamilNadu.On the second week of May, Thottampattu utsavam is celebrated, where the story of kannagi is enacted. The name of the epic is Silppadhikaram.
The Twin temples at Cheriazheekal
In one temple , the deity is Lord Shiva & in another it is Lord Vishnu. There is a myth behind the shiva temple. One Priest had bought the shivalingam from Ganges, which he found in the ganges,quite unexpected.This temple is called Kashi Vishwanathar temple. There is another myth behind the Vishnu temple.It is believed that there was a Vishnu temple situated here 2000 years ago. It was washed away & the present temple was built 150 years ago.
In Shiva temple , Shivarathri & in Vishnu temple Sree Krishna Jayanthi are celebrated.
Oachira Temple
This temple is situated in oachira, 8 km away from karunagappally. Here you can find large trees, below which small idols are placed & workshipped. Some of the idols represent female forces, while some of them oachirakali in the month of June-July. During the festival, bulls called Oachirakala are decorated .They symbolize Nandi , the bull of Lord shiva, who is given significance here. Then men dressed as warriors enact mock war on the lake side.
On the right side of Oachira temple is an ayyappa temple like sabarimala temple.
On the left side is a mosque. Another festival called Panthranduvillakku mahotsavam is also conducted here.
Dharmasastha temple at Sasthamcotta
Sasthamcotta is a place in karunagappally,where you can find a freshwater lake which provides drinking water to the people of karunagappally. It neither dries up in summer nor gets frozen in winter.On the banks of this lake is the Lord Ayyappa temple. You can find a lot of monkeys outside the temple. In order to protect the roof from monkeys ,corrugated GI sheets are placed.Here,most of the devotees walk through droppings of the monkeys.
Panmana Asramam
Located 18 km north of kollam city.It is believed to be the Samadhi of Chattambi Swamikal.It is considered to be an unique & sacred learning centre due to the divine presence of SREEpanmanaashramam VIDYADHIRAJA PARAMA BHATTARAKA CHATTAMBI SWAMIKAL and SREE MAHA THRIPURASUNDARI DEVI. The person who is responsible for the present architecture is a famous devotee Sri Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai. He was also popular as a freedom fighter & a political & social reformer..