Some destinations are rich in culture and uniqueness with fascinating history and vibrant traditions. Such places remain in our hearts forever. Sree Vadakkunathan temple in Thrissur is one such place that is very special. A visit to this ancient temple gave us a peaceful and divinely experience. The blessings of Sree Vadakkunathan (Siva) we felt in our souls is remembered forever.
While making our trip planner, we came to know about this timeless temple of Shiva at Thrissur. As the temple is on the way to Guruvayur and closes by 11 a.m. And the time of drive from Kochi to Thrissur is around one and half hours. So there was time constraint and we have to reach the temple before it closes. So we skipped breakfast and refreshed ourselves with just a hot cup of filter coffee outside the airport and headed to Guruvayoor in our pre-booked cab. This is a sacred Shiva temple which is rich in history with the timeless presence of Sri Vadakkunathan.
We drove with our minds filled with the rhythm of devotion. The driver was too good and covered the distance just in one hour and so we reached the destination at the nick of the moment. We rushed into the temple after taking tickets at the main entrance gate and as we stepped inside we were awed at the timeless marvel of the temple with ancient and exquisite mural paintings on the outer walls. The air inside was filled with the fragrance of fresh flowers, chandan and agarbattis. This was the first time we experienced the Kerala culture which was too impressive with spiritual energy. As it was Day 1 of our Kerala tour, we were eager to explore and soak into the rich culture of Kerala.
As it was closing time, we were on our toes running to the main Sree Kovil / main shrine. Our minds focused on having the darsan of Sree Vadakkunathan while our eyes busy having a glance at the timeless marvel of the temple and the Kerala style architecture which look very much different from the Dravidian style temple architecture. We lost ourselves in the peaceful ambiance and walked fast in the corridor and hurried to the Sreekovil where there was a queue. Here, I noticed some devotees lighting ghee deepams in front of the main kovil. On enquiring, one of the temple persons helped us in purchasing the earthen ghee lamps and we lit them in front of the main temple. Though there was language problem as we don't understand Malayalam but being South Indians (Telugu), we somehow managed to understand what the person was communicating in Malayalam. The local people in the temple were too kind and helpful giving proper guidance to us. The line moved fast and we felt blessed to have the darshan of Sree Vadakkunathan. The Sivalingam looked quite different from the usual Sivalingams. It looked something like this as in the picture below
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises, so we couldn't take pictures inside the temple though we carried our mobiles. After darshan we walked to the place where prasadam was being distributed. The priest was giving little bit of chandan paste, few flowers and little ghee on a small plantain (banana) leaf. For the first time I saw such a prasadam and was surprised. We saw devotees licking the ghee as prasadam. We too did the same and then went round the temple. We halted at Ganapathi shrine where we saw a devotee purchasing something at the counter. On enquiry we came to know that prasadam - a special type of payasam almost similar to the famous Ayyappa prasadam, is being sold at the counter. The temple staff and the locals were kind and helped us in purchasing the prasadam. Though there was only language problem we somehow managed to communicate with mixed Tamil and Telugu added with signs and gestures.
Sri Vadakkunathan Temple — also known as Vadakkumnathan Kshetram — is one of the oldest Siva temples in India which is believed to have been founded by Sri Parashurama himself who is the creator of Kerala. The temple is built in typical traditional Kerala architecture, featuring multi-tiered gopurams (gateways), slanting tiled roofs and finely carved wooden structures. Inside the temple complex, there are shrines of Parvati Devi, Ganapathi and Vishnu. The temple is a timeless monument of divine presence which continues to attract devotees with its magnificent architecture and sacred ambiance.
The temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing a lush green compound due to which it is peaceful inside inspite of being located in the heart of the city. The main deity of Vadakkunathan is housed in the Sreekovil which is in the Lingam form which is a 'swayambhu' lingam. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple, so we couldn't take the pictures inside the temple premises. Actually my daughter is very much fascinated on seeing the ancient murals on the walls and she wanted to take pics and videos of those murals but she couldn't.
It has also connection with Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya, a great Hindu philospher who believed / preached Advaita philosophy. His father Sivaguru and mother Aryamba worshipped Sri Vadakkunathan and were blessed with a son (Adi Sankara). Hence this temple is considered very revered. The temple reflects the rich cultural heritage and architectural tradition of Kerala.
Our visit to Sri Vadakkunathan Temple was not just a spiritual halt but was a journey into Kerala’s soul. From the legends of Parashurama to the silent power of the ghee-covered lingam, every moment felt like a bridge between the ancient and the eternal.
As we left the temple and stepped back into the rhythm of travel, we carried with us more than memories, we carried a sense of stillness, a whisper of divinity and the quiet joy of having touched something sacred.
For fully exploring the temple Vadakunnathan, visit at least one hour before the closing time which is 11 a.m.
Devotees can purchase prasadam, a special kind of payasam.
Though mobiles are allowed inside the temple, photography is strictly prohibited inside the premises. Maintain lines in silence and focus on the Sree Vadakkunathan and seek His blessings.
Day 1 of our Kerala Tour in Mar 2025
Our Kerala tour in March 2025 was one of the most soothing and cherishable family trips. In the early hours on 12th March, we started from Hyderabad and landed at Kochi airport at around 9.30 in the morning. The airport small yet rich in showcasing the cultural heritage of Kerala. Unlike other airports with international standards, this airport is in typical Kerala style with pagoda-style / pyramid type roofs. We walked out looking at the beautiful airport that was soothing to the eyes. We looked at every minute thing with appreciation which reflects the rich culture and tradition of Kerala and the history of God's Own Country.
While making our trip planner, we came to know about this timeless temple of Shiva at Thrissur. As the temple is on the way to Guruvayur and closes by 11 a.m. And the time of drive from Kochi to Thrissur is around one and half hours. So there was time constraint and we have to reach the temple before it closes. So we skipped breakfast and refreshed ourselves with just a hot cup of filter coffee outside the airport and headed to Guruvayoor in our pre-booked cab. This is a sacred Shiva temple which is rich in history with the timeless presence of Sri Vadakkunathan.
From Kochi Airport to Vadakkunathan Temple
We moved on and on looking at and clicking the beautiful yellow blooms called ponna flowers hanging from the trees on either side of the road. These flowers are very dear to Guruvayoor Sri Krishna
We drove with our minds filled with the rhythm of devotion. The driver was too good and covered the distance just in one hour and so we reached the destination at the nick of the moment. We rushed into the temple after taking tickets at the main entrance gate and as we stepped inside we were awed at the timeless marvel of the temple with ancient and exquisite mural paintings on the outer walls. The air inside was filled with the fragrance of fresh flowers, chandan and agarbattis. This was the first time we experienced the Kerala culture which was too impressive with spiritual energy. As it was Day 1 of our Kerala tour, we were eager to explore and soak into the rich culture of Kerala.
As it was closing time, we were on our toes running to the main Sree Kovil / main shrine. Our minds focused on having the darsan of Sree Vadakkunathan while our eyes busy having a glance at the timeless marvel of the temple and the Kerala style architecture which look very much different from the Dravidian style temple architecture. We lost ourselves in the peaceful ambiance and walked fast in the corridor and hurried to the Sreekovil where there was a queue. Here, I noticed some devotees lighting ghee deepams in front of the main kovil. On enquiring, one of the temple persons helped us in purchasing the earthen ghee lamps and we lit them in front of the main temple. Though there was language problem as we don't understand Malayalam but being South Indians (Telugu), we somehow managed to understand what the person was communicating in Malayalam. The local people in the temple were too kind and helpful giving proper guidance to us. The line moved fast and we felt blessed to have the darshan of Sree Vadakkunathan. The Sivalingam looked quite different from the usual Sivalingams. It looked something like this as in the picture below
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises, so we couldn't take pictures inside the temple though we carried our mobiles. After darshan we walked to the place where prasadam was being distributed. The priest was giving little bit of chandan paste, few flowers and little ghee on a small plantain (banana) leaf. For the first time I saw such a prasadam and was surprised. We saw devotees licking the ghee as prasadam. We too did the same and then went round the temple. We halted at Ganapathi shrine where we saw a devotee purchasing something at the counter. On enquiry we came to know that prasadam - a special type of payasam almost similar to the famous Ayyappa prasadam, is being sold at the counter. The temple staff and the locals were kind and helped us in purchasing the prasadam. Though there was only language problem we somehow managed to communicate with mixed Tamil and Telugu added with signs and gestures.
A temple wrapped in calmness
The ancient temple of Wadakkunnathan located in the heart of Thrissur in Kerala, is one of the oldest and most revered Siva temples in Kerala. The temple has its connection with Parasurama (the 6th Avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu) and Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. A visit to the temple offers a feast to the eyes with its ancient temple architecture and old mural paintings on its outer walls. There is spiritual depth in the temple with cultural significance. It stands as a symbol of architectural spiritual and cultural ethos of Kerala. It’s not just a place of worship but a living monument of the heritage of Kerala.Sri Vadakkunathan Temple — also known as Vadakkumnathan Kshetram — is one of the oldest Siva temples in India which is believed to have been founded by Sri Parashurama himself who is the creator of Kerala. The temple is built in typical traditional Kerala architecture, featuring multi-tiered gopurams (gateways), slanting tiled roofs and finely carved wooden structures. Inside the temple complex, there are shrines of Parvati Devi, Ganapathi and Vishnu. The temple is a timeless monument of divine presence which continues to attract devotees with its magnificent architecture and sacred ambiance.
The temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing a lush green compound due to which it is peaceful inside inspite of being located in the heart of the city. The main deity of Vadakkunathan is housed in the Sreekovil which is in the Lingam form which is a 'swayambhu' lingam. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple, so we couldn't take the pictures inside the temple premises. Actually my daughter is very much fascinated on seeing the ancient murals on the walls and she wanted to take pics and videos of those murals but she couldn't.
The Kerala-style temple architecture
The temple is in typical Kerala-style architecture with monumental gopurams, multi-tiered slanting roofs, intricate wooden carvings and sprawling compound. The main Sreekovil houses the massive Sivalingam which to our surprise has layers of ghee covering offered by devotees. This feature remineded me of the moola virat (main deity) of Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam, which is fully covered with coats of sandalwood paste. And surprisingly, this ghee neither spoils nor melts even in summers. Whether there is a scienfific reasoning behind this or is this a miracle of Siva, is a question mark. There are few small shrines which include Ganapathi shrine.Temple History and Sthalapuranam
The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 8th or 9th century CE (Current Era) and is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. According to Sthalapurana, it is said that Parasurama, the 6th avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu, has installed the Siva Lingam at this temple after reclaiming the land of Kerala from the sea.It has also connection with Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya, a great Hindu philospher who believed / preached Advaita philosophy. His father Sivaguru and mother Aryamba worshipped Sri Vadakkunathan and were blessed with a son (Adi Sankara). Hence this temple is considered very revered. The temple reflects the rich cultural heritage and architectural tradition of Kerala.
Reflections from our visit to the temple
As it was closing time, the temple staff were asking the devotees to exit. So after a hectic visit of the temple we walked out at around 11.45 a.m and literally we felt as if we were walking on a hot pan. This is the only difficulty that we faced here. After few clicks in hot weather in front of the temple we were about to proceed to Guruvayur, when one of the locals suggested us to visit yet another very famous and important temple in Thrissur, Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Amma temple which close to Vadakkunathan temple. As per his suggestion we proceeded to Bhagavathi Amma Temple and really felt extremely blessed to have visited this temple. If not for the suggestion of the local person, we would have missed this powerful temple of Paramekkavu Bhagawathi Amma. We felt much more blessed to have watched the festival celebration at this temple with vibrant drum beats in typical Kerala style and also savoured delicious lunch (prasadam) in the temple.Our visit to Sri Vadakkunathan Temple was not just a spiritual halt but was a journey into Kerala’s soul. From the legends of Parashurama to the silent power of the ghee-covered lingam, every moment felt like a bridge between the ancient and the eternal.
As we left the temple and stepped back into the rhythm of travel, we carried with us more than memories, we carried a sense of stillness, a whisper of divinity and the quiet joy of having touched something sacred.
Travel Info
Unlike in most of the temples in Kerala, there is no strict dress code at Vadakkunathan temple. Women can wear any traditional dress and not strictly Kerala type white sari. Men can wear pants but should enter with bare chest only.For fully exploring the temple Vadakunnathan, visit at least one hour before the closing time which is 11 a.m.
Devotees can purchase prasadam, a special kind of payasam.
Though mobiles are allowed inside the temple, photography is strictly prohibited inside the premises. Maintain lines in silence and focus on the Sree Vadakkunathan and seek His blessings.
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