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Attuvela Mahotsavam
Venue: Elankavu Bhagavathy Temple,Vadayar, 3 km from Vaikom.
Event
Date: 31 Mar 2006 21 Mar 2007 07 Apr 2008 28 Mar 2009 19 Mar 2010
Vaikom
is between Ernakulam (30 km) and Kottayam (40 km). Attraction: A procession of canoes carrying a huge replica of
the temple. The Goddess Bhagavathy is the presiding deity in this small temple.
During
the two day Attuvela, beautifully illuminated canoes,carrying a huge replica of the temple, glide down the waters accompanied
by hordes of colourfully decorated small canoes and temple percussion music. Legend has it that this water carnival is arranged
to welcome the Goddess of Kodungalloor who comes to visit her sister, the Goddess of Elamkavu. The procession of canoes starts
from Attuvela kadavu , 2 km away from the temple.
Getting there
Nearest
railway station: Kottayam, about 40 km.
Nearest airport: Cochin
Changanachery Thrikodithanam Temple
It is believed that this is one of the five temples where the original Vishnu image worshipped
by the Pandavas is kept. 'The Deepam" festival is celebrated here with great joy in the month of November or December.
DAKSHINA MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE
This temple, which is 10 km from Kottayam on the way to Changanacherry, is a famous one
dedicated to Goddess Saraswathy. The Navaratri festival here attracts quite a fascinating crowd
Erumelli
This is an important
pilgrim centre for Hindus and Muslims. Sree Dharmasastha Temple here is an ancient temple dedicated to lord Ayyappa and there
is also an ancient mosque dedicated to 'Vavar' who is considered to be the friend of lord Ayyappa. 'Petta Thullal' of Kanni
Ayyappa is an important festival held in
Ettumanoor
is located 12 Kms north-east of Kottayam town. The ancient Siva temple here has brought glory and fame to the place.
Myths have
it that the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa had worshipped at this temple. The name of the place had its origin from the word
'manoor', which means the home of deer. This is a famous temple in Ettumanoor,
It is well known for its murals, especially the painting of Nataraja in the Gopuram and Ezharaponnana (71/2 elephants finished
in gold). The arattu festival of this temple is celebrated on a grand scale
on the Thiruvathira day in Kumbham (February-March) every year. Large number of people flock to this temple on the 8th and
10th day of the festival when seven and half elephants made of gold (nearly 13 Kgms) will be held in public view. The temple,
the wealthiest Devaswom in Kerala, has many valuable possessions.
International Airport, about 50 km
Kottukkal Rock Cut Cave Temple
Separated from Chadayamangalam by a mere 11 km on
the M.C.Road between Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam this temple is an excellent specimen of rock cut architecture. Hundreds
of visitors come stand and admire
Pundareekapuram Temple
Pundareekapuram is a small temple atop a small
hill called Midayikunnam near Thalayolapparambu, in Kottayam District. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu mounted
on his vehicle Garuda. The temple at Pundareekapuram is famous for its Mural Collection.
.
SRI VALLABHA TEMPLE AT THIRUVALLA
It is a
famous place of worship. This temple is 35 km south of Kottayam on the rail /road between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.
This temple is famous for the traditional KATHAKALI performances almost every night of the year. Sri Krishnaswamy Temple
Just 8 km from Kottayam this temple is famous for the festival
Ezhunallathu procession in which Elephants have their own part to play along with humans. The festival goes on for 10 days
and so does the ritual procession. Kathakali, Ottamthullal and other classical art forms of Kerala come alive during the festival
Thirunakkara Maha Deva Temple
Venue: Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, situated in the heart of Kottayam town.
Event Date: 15 to 24
Mar 2006 15 to 24 Mar 2007 14 to 23 Mar 2008 15 to 24 Mar 2009 15 to 24 Mar
2010
The temple dedicated to Lord Siva is famous for the grandeur of its traditional architecture. The tenday annual
festival concludes with Arattu . Usually nine caparisoned elephants take part in
the Arattu procession which begins in the afternoon.
Folk arts like Mayilattom
(peacock dance), Velakali etc, are presented in the
temple compound in the evening. A major attraction is the allnight Kathakali presentation
on the third and fourth days of the festival. The fair, held in connection with the festival features exhibitions and agricultural
products besides the usual fair ground stalls.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 3 km.
Nearest
airport: Cochin International Airport, about 83 km
Vaikom Ashtami
i
Venue: Vaikom
Mahadeva Temple, 40 km from Kottayam.
Event Date: 24 Nov 2005,13 Dec 2006, 18 Nov 2007, 20
Nov 2008, 25 Nov 2009
The sacred Ashtami festival of the temple takes place during the dark lunar fortnight of the
Malayalam month Vrischikam Sagittarius) which concludes on the Ashtami day.
On
the Ashtami night Thidampu a symbolic idol of Lord Siva (known here as Vaikom Mahadeva)
is taken out in procession where many of the deities of the nearby temples ceremoniously arrive. The twelveday festival of
the temple falls in November-December, and is celebrated with classical dance and music performances.
On the seventh
day of the festival an idol of Lord Siva’s vehicle Rishabha (the
sacred bull) is taken out on a royal outing called Ezhunallathu. Cultural fare includes classical music and nightlong Kathakali
performances on the eighth and ninth days. Kshetra Kalapeetam , a training centre for temple
art forms, a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya ( Lord Siva’s son) at Udayanapuram,
3 km from Vaikom, famous for its wood carvings, stone sculptures and murals, are the major attractions nearby.
Situated in Vaikom, 40 kms from Kottayam, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple
is very famous for its typical Kerala style of temple architecture and is believed to have been constructed by Parasurama,
the mythological creator of Kerala. The 12 days 'Ashtami' festival is celebrated here in November or December and is renowned
for its elephant procession, religious discourses, traditional dances and important musical performance
' Panchavadyam'. Vaikom has figured prominently in the history of Kerala as the venue of the famous Sathyagraha, staged in
1925 with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi for the admission of the Harijans in the Temple.
Getting there
Nearest
railway stations : Ernakulam, about 36 km towards north; Kottayam, about 40 km towards south.
Nearest airport : Cochin
International Airport, about 56 km
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