Kerala is a hub of beautiful beaches and backwaters. The food is fresh, the views are breathtaking and the people are amazing. Whilst these are already big attractions for millions of tourists every year, Kerala is also very well famed for its multicultural nature. The churches, temples, and mosques of this place are ethereal and the worshippers live together harmoniously. This state boasts many crowns, one of them being ‘God’s own country’. The religious sites are all deeply entrenched with stories, legends, and bits of history and are major sources of tourists taking a Trip to Kerala to dive deep into a sense of spirituality. 

Kerala houses some of the most prized and architecturally magnificent temples in the world. It would be inappropriate to rate a temple over another considering they’re all a doorway to the higher power but here is Nitsa Holidays’ list of some spots that you cannot miss on your Kerala Tour Plan.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Located in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The temple houses a large idol of Lord Vishnu reclined on a coiled serpent and a lotus flower sprouting from his belly. Renowned as one of the richest places of worship in the world, this temple is gorgeously decorated with shrines, walkways, and courtyards, all aiding its rich history and beauty. 

Visiting Hours: Daily 3:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Location: West Nada, Fort, East Fort, Pazhavangadi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple

A beautiful blend of Dravidian and Vedic architecture, The Mahadeva Temple of Ettumanoor is the host of gorgeous wall paintings and murals. The intricate wood designs and the extraordinary painting of Lord Shiva in his Tandava Stance with his head stomping a demon’s head is another glorification of the message “good over evil”. 

A popular spot amongst Shiva worshippers and knowledge seekers, you should not miss to include this in your Kerala Travel Package.

Visiting Hours: Daily 8 AM - 5 PM

Location: Ettumanoor Temple Road, Ettumanoor, Kerala

Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple

Built by worshippers of Lord Krishna, this temple is a sacred yet theatrical venue. The Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple is famous for its 8-day-long festival of Vrischikolsavam held at the end of the year that includes Kathakali performances, beautiful classical music, and a procession of 15 magnificent elephants parading with the beats of the chenda drum.

Visiting Hours: Daily 4 AM - 8 PM

Location: Poornathrayeesa Temple, Kottakakom, Thrippunithura, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala

Sree Thirunelli Temple

Possibly the most scenic temple anywhere in the world, the Sree Thirunelli Temple is a mix of South Indian and North Indian styles. Located in the gorgeous town of Wayanad, surrounded by lush green forests and beautiful mountains, this temple is celebratory for visitors. 

Said to have been built by Lord Brahma himself to wash off his sins, worshippers are seen taking a dip in the sacred Papanasini river nearby to follow his path.

Visiting Hours: Daily 5:30 AM - 8 PM

Location: North Wayanad, Thirunelli Road, Thirunelli, Kerala

Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple

This unique and iconic temple is a sacred spot of serpent gods. Housing more than 10000 images of snakes and helping in the conservation of multiple species, this temple is a glorious example of how mythological beliefs and sustainable practices can go hand in hand. 

Visiting Hours: Daily 5:30 AM - 7:30 PM

Location: Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple, Haripad, Alappuzha, Kerala

Sabarimala Sastha Temple

Whichever part of the country you are from, you must have definitely heard of the Sabarimala Sastha Temple in Kerala. This temple possibly receives the highest number of pilgrims which is believed to be nearly 5 million per year. Believers of the temple dress in blue and black clothes, smear Chandan on their foreheads, remain unshaven for the entire journey, and walk towards this holy site. This temple is devoted to Lord Ayyappan who was believed to have meditated in this location after destroying demoness Mahishi. However, only males are allowed into this temple and women of menstruating age aren’t.

Visiting Hours- Daily 3:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location- Sannidhanam, Sabarimala, Kerala

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Just 2 km away from Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. This is another popular temple in the capital city and unlike the Sabarimala Sastha Temple, this temple actually sees thousands and thousands of women coming in to offer their prayers to Goddess Khanki, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the creator of all human beings This temple also holds the Guinness book world record for housing and hosting the maximum number of women coming in for religious gatherings and activities. This temple is an unmissable spot when you are in Trivandrum.

Visiting Hours- Daily 5:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Location- Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram 

Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple

The story goes as, Srikrishna had asked and blessed the Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple to serve Pal Payasssam as long as the temple stands, to anyone and everyone visiting. Today a large number of people visit this very beautiful temple in Ambalapuzha to offer their prayers to Unni Krishnan, who is also the child form of Lord Krishna. Apart from a holy environment and an enchanting emotion, you will also be served the most delicious and scrumptious Prasad, the infamous Pal Payassam of Kerala.

Visiting Hours- Daily 3:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Location- Ambalapuzha, Kerala

Chottanikkara Temple

This temple worships the Goddess Chottanikkara, and it is also a very unique place of worship. In the morning, the goddess Chottanikkara is worshiped as Goddess Saraswati, in the afternoon she is worshiped as Goddess Lakshmi, and in the night she is worshiped as Goddess Durga. If You Are in and around Chottanikkara during your trip to Kerala, you must try to, at the least, visit the temple during the evening when the guru puja is held to invoke the Goddess, this site is extremely breathtaking to witness!

Visiting Hours- Daily 5:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Location- Kochi, Kerala

Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple

For Sri Krishna Bhaktas the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple is a must-visit spot when coming to Kerala on a trip. The temple is one of the most famous worship places in the entirety of the country and the deity is the four-armed, standing, Lord Krishna. On one arm, Lord Krishna is holding a conch Panchajanya, on the second he is holding the Sudarshan chakra, on the third he is holding the mace Kaumodoki and on the fourth he is holding a lotus and a holy basil garland. This place is also believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva’s family worshiped Lord Vishnu near the pond of the temple. For not just Hinduism followers and believers, but also any curious minds across the world and peace seekers, this place is a must-visit

Visiting Hours- Daily 3:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Location- Guruvayur, Kerala

Tali Temple, Kozhikode

For the Lord Shiva followers, this place is undoubtedly topping the charts when coming to Kerala. The temple not only stands tall with a layer of devotion, calmness, peace, and serenity but the architecture of the place is also wonderful to look at. The brass work and brass carvings on the wooden walls, roof, and floors are something that catches the eye of everybody visiting the temple and one can never stop complimenting every inch of this temple on their visit.

Visiting Hours- Daily 4:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Location- Palayam, Kozhikode, Kerala

Vadakkunnathan Temple

This temple is not only described as one of the most famous temples in Thrissur but it is also recognized as a national monument by the government of India. It is believed that it was one of the first temples built by Parshuram and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is not just a place to learn its glorious history and to bask in holiness but it is also decorated with the most exquisite mural paintings and also the architecture of the monumental towers, the walls, the roof, the floors and everything else is spectacular to look at.

Visiting Hours- Daily 4:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Location- Thekkinadu Maidan, Thrissur

Thirukadaiyur Mahadeva Temple

The story goes that when Lord Rama had defeated Ravana and was returning to Ayodhya from Lanka, he himself placed the Shiv Ling in this location. Today this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Hanuman. This temple is believed to be one of the oldest temples in Kerala and the amazing Kerala style of architecture also catches the eye of visitors. It is the perfect blend of history, religion, spirituality, and beauty and is also a must-visit for everyone.

Visiting Hours- Daily 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Location- Thirukadaiyur

Tips for visiting the temples in Kerala

♦ Remember to dress modestly at all times, men or women, when entering the temples of Kerala.

♦ Be respectful to everybody around you.

♦ Do not litter anywhere since there are fines imposed.

♦ If you wish to take photographs, make sure you check with the authorities of the Temple before doing so.

♦ If you are traveling during the monsoon seasons, remember to carry umbrellas and raincoats along with you.

♦ If you are traveling in Kerala during the summer season, do carry sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats to protect yourself from the humidity and the daunting sun.

♦ Around the remote villages of Kerala, you will not be able to pay online or via credit cards. So keep some cash handy with you.

How to travel to Kerala? 

There are multiple options of flights, trains, buses, and cars that one can choose to reach Kerala from any part of India or the world. But the option is yours, if you wish to reach there quicker, opt for the flights. If you like enjoying scenic views, you can choose the infamous train ride.

What is the budget required to go to Kerala?

The minimum budget in which one can spend a minimum of seven days in Kerala is approximately INR 15,000 per person.

What is the best time to go to Kerala?

When you are visiting Kerala or probably any other place in the world, the weather must be ideal and suitable to allow you to comfortably explore the location. When it comes to Kerala, you must try to avoid the extreme summer and monsoon seasons. So we recommend that you visit Kerala during the months of September to March.

How to travel inside Kerala?

For shorter distances, one can always opt for the public commute such as cabs and taxis or you can even rent two-wheelers and cars. However, for longer distances and interstate travel, we recommend you to either choose the bus or the scenic and infamous train rides of Kerala.

Where should you stay in Kerala?

Kerala has multiple accommodations available some of which are on top of the water and some of which are on top of a tree. What we are trying to say is there are hundreds and hundreds of options available for you to choose from depending on your preference, your budget, and your itinerary. Here is a list that Nitsa Holidays has created of some options that you can choose from

Budget Friendly Hotels- Kalyani Retreat, Hotel Sea View Palace, Marayoor Holidays

Mid-range Hotels- Srivar Hotels, Blackberry Hills, Hotel Arcadia

Luxury Hotels- Grand Hyatt Kochi, The Leela Kovalam, Taj Bekal Resort and Spa

Unique Hotels- Tree House Munnar, Priyoor Treehouse, Casino Houseboats, Kera Houseboats 

Why should you choose Nitsa holidays?

You may not have had the opportunity to understand, know, and learn about Indian travelers and Indian locations, especially Kerala. Kerala is a beautiful destination with multiple places to see, activities to try, and things to know. However, Nitsa Holidays knows every little inch and detail about Kerala and we can assure you that we can plan your trip perfectly. We are a travel and tour agency based out of Delhi and we have had the privilege of planning multiple tour packages for Indian travelers and we wish to do the same for you. Our packages are extremely reliable, comfortable, safe, budget-friendly, and reasonable, and we can even customize your packages based on your preferences. Our Kerala tour packages start from Kerala family tour packages from Delhi, Kerala group tour packages from Delhi, and Kerala couples tour packages from Delhi. All of these packages are expertly created to ensure you have the best time of your life. 

Let Nitsa Holidays be your travel guide from the beginning until the very end. Let us help you create the most amazing memories that you will cherish for all your life.