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Kerala Craft, Culture, Churches, Temples, Festivals and Heritage

Getaway | Experiential Getaway

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
Theyyam Dance
Theyyam Dance
Ettumanoor Shiva temple (photo courtesy: Rklystron)
Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral (photo Courtesy: irvin calicut)
One of the many Churches seen on Kanjurapally - Thodupuzha route

Craft, Culture and Heritage forms essense of a Kerala experience especially for an Inbound and experiential traveler.

Fort Cochin Stay - Fort Cochin at about 15 kms from Mainland (Ernakulam) and 40-45 kms from Cochin Airport is a designated heritage area where know for its small charming heritage hotels around the Island (some overlooking the Arabian sea). Guests here love to walk around, enjoy bicycle ride, visit heritage monuments, enjoy a quiet dinner at one of the many small and charming restaurants and visit Greenix cultural centre for a round of Kerala culture and craft.

For those who prefer something exclusive, CGH run Chittoor Palace is a "private palace" where only one guest get to rent it out (upto 4 persons) for a most exclusive heritage experience by the backwaters.

Craft, Culture, and Festivals - Across Kerala, there are festivals and cultural events happening on specific days every year involving elephants, boat races, temple rituals and various art / dance forms. Some guests like to be just a witness to it, which often is nothing short of a spectacle. Area around Thrissur is generally considered home of craft & cultural and where a lot of festivals happen. Some of the stays around Thrichur look to compliment the cultural experience.

Kerala Kalamandalam Arts Academy near Churthuruthy is what guests like to visit alongwith Pottery making and Handloom making units.

Alleppey backwaters are home to several boat races during monsoon which are an amazing spectacle to witness. While on a backwater cruise or otherwise, coir making units are very interesting.

One could plan the trip looking at the Kerala Festival Calendar to customise itineraries to include one of the festivals.

Theyyam is one of the rituals in North Kerala that is extremely popular and anyone staying at one of the homestays in Kannur would be able to witness Theyyam being performed nearby. Guests like to get oriented with different village activities around the area. Kalarippayattu (the martial art of Kerala) can be arranged on request.

Tenples and Churches – Kottayam District is generally considered a hub for many renowned Shiva temples and some very architecturally renowned Churches. A Drive from Kanjirapally to Thodupuzha is most spectacular where one can see rich planters homes and many impressive Churches. 

Related Destination

Related Things To Do

  • The Catholic Church at Pallippuram known as Church of "Our Lady of Snow" or "Manjumatha" is an more

    Access

    Cochin (Vypeen) ( 1 Kms ), Cochin (Cherai) ( 5 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 20 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 20 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 25 Kms )
  • Kannur Fort

    Heritage Site
    St. Angelo Fort is an early 16th century fort facing the Arabian Sea 3 km from the town of Kannur. more

    Access

    Kannur ( 3 Kms )
  • Payyambalam Beach is a renowned Kannur beach with a coastline that is few kms long. Its located more

    Access

    Kannur ( 4 Kms )
  • Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach is located parallel to NH-17 between Kannur and Thalassery. This more

    Access

    Telicherry ( 10 Kms ), Kannur ( 14 Kms )
  • Thottada Beach

    View Point
    Thottada Beach is situated just about 2.5 km from the NH 17 connecting Kannur town and more

    Access

    Kannur ( 8 Kms ), Telicherry ( 14 Kms )
  • Rajarajeswara Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    The Rajarajeswara temple is a Lord Shiva temple located at Taliparamba. The temple is regarded as more

    Access

    Kannur ( 22 Kms )
  • Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple is a Hindu temple on the banks a river at about 10 km from more

    Access

    Kannur ( 17 Kms )
  • Sree Kottiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram is a Lord Shiva Temple at Kottiyoor and is is one of the renowned more

    Access

    Wayanad (Mananthavady) ( 23 Kms ), Kannur ( 68 Kms )
  • Oliyankara Juma Masjid

    Mosque or Dargah
    Oliyankara Juma Masjid at Cherukunnu, 14 kms from Kannur is a renowned Mosque of North more

    Access

    Kannur ( 14 Kms )
  • The Thavam Church is a renowned Latin Catholic Church of North Malabar at 17 kms from more

    Access

    Kannur ( 17 Kms )
  • Annapoorneshwari Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Annapoorneshwari Temple is a renowned devi temple at 14 kms north of more

    Access

    Kannur ( 14 Kms )
  • Peralassery Sri Subrahmanya Temple is a renowned Lord Muruga temple located at more

    Access

    Telicherry ( 13 Kms ), Kannur ( 14 Kms )
  • Trichambaram Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Trichambaram Temple is a Lord Krishna Temple at 20 km from Kannur. The temple contains one of the more

    Access

    Kannur ( 20 Kms )
  • Moonnu Pettumma Palli

    Mosque or Dargah
    Moonnu Pettumma Palli popularly known as "Kattile Palli" is a popular Mosque of North Malabar. The more

    Access

    Telicherry ( 9 Kms ), Kannur ( 16 Kms )
  • Aaron Church, Pappinisseri is a beautiful Church set on NH-17, 9 km from more

    Access

    Kannur ( 9 Kms )
  • Vadakkunnathan Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Vadakkunnathan Temple is an ancient Lord Shiva temple at Thrissur. This temple is a classic more

    Access

    Trichur ( 2 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 4 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 10 Kms ), Guruvayoor ( 25 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 30 Kms )
  • Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple is located in Kerala. The temple is one of the two rival groups more

    Access

    Trichur ( 2 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 30 Kms )
  • Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple at Thrissur is one of the largest Bagavathi temples in Kerala, more

    Access

    Trichur ( 2 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 30 Kms )
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral at Thrissur is one of the largest more

    Access

    Trichur ( 1 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 29 Kms )
  • Our Lady of Dolours Basilica is a minor basilica of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Thrissur more

    Access

    Trichur ( 1 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 29 Kms )
  • Guruvayur Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Guruvayur is renowned pilgrim destination visited for the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, a more

    Access

    Guruvayoor, Trichur ( 29 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 42 Kms ), Cochin (Cherai) ( 64 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 95 Kms )
  • Nattika Beach

    View Point
    Nattika Beach is an Idyllic beach front 25 kms from Thrissur. Beach is popular with locals and more

    Access

    Trichur ( 25 Kms ), Cochin (Cherai) ( 40 Kms )
  • Lord Rama Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Thriprayar home to an ancient Lord Rama Temple and is believed to the largest Lord Rama temple in more

    Access

    Guruvayoor ( 24 Kms ), Trichur ( 25 Kms )
  • Kalamandalam

    Arts Crafts Culture
    Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture, is a major centre for learning Indian more

    Access

    Cheruthuruthy ( 1 Kms ), Trichur ( 30 Kms ), Palakkad ( 56 Kms )
  • The Elephant Camp is located in Punnathur Kotta, at a distance of 3 km from the Guruvayur Temple. more

    Access

    Guruvayoor ( 3 Kms ), Trichur ( 30 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 40 Kms ), Palakkad ( 91 Kms )
  • Peechi Dam

    Lake or Riverside
    Peechi Dam is is a reservoir situated at 22 kms from Thrissur. It offers excellent views and more

    Access

    Trichur ( 20 Kms )
  • A complex spread over 54 acres. The complex has an archaeological Museum, a Heritage Museum, a more

    Access

    Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 13 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 19 Kms )
  • Matancherry Palace

    Heritage Site
    Mattancherry Palace known as the Dutch Palace features Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 2 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 11 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms )
  • Jewish Synagogue at Fort Cochin was built in 1568 and is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 1 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 14 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms )
  • Santa Cruz Cathedral was built in 1905. Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 1 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms )
  • Museum of Kerala History is where Important scenes of Kerala history are portrayed through more

    Access

    Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 4 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 12 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 17 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 25 Kms )
  • St Francis Church is a tourist attraction at Fort Cochin. It was built in 1503 and is the oldest more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms )
  • Chottanikkara Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Chottanikkara Temple is a renowned pilgrim centre of Hindu goddess Bhagawati near more

    Access

    Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 17 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 20 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 22 Kms )
  • Paliam Palace

    Heritage Site
    The Palace is over 450 years old having a typical Kerala Architecture and houses a collection of more

    Access

    Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 4 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 5 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 11 Kms )
  • 10 kms from Fort Cochin are a set of backwaters overlooking Kumbhalangi village, a fishermen more

    Access

    Cochin (Kumbhalangi), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 10 Kms )
  • An elephant training camp on Cochin - Munnar route and a popular for overseas travellers and more

    Access

    Thattekad ( 35 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 36 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 40 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 40 Kms ), Cochin (Cherai) ( 45 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 45 Kms ), Cochin (Vypeen) ( 50 Kms ), Thodupuzha ( 51 Kms )
  • At Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum one gets a glimpse of Kerala art and crafts. There are live more

    Access

    Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 4 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 10 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 12 Kms )
  • Greenix Village

    Arts Crafts Culture
    A craft village at Fort cochin that offers a wide ranging live performances. A visit here is very more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 9 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 11 Kms ), Cochin (Bolgatty Island) ( 16 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 21 Kms )
  • Kerala Kathakali Centre

    Arts Crafts Culture
    A place that offers a wide ranging live performances of art forms such as Kathakali, Indian more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 10 Kms )
  • Fort Cochin heritage walk is one recommended for any heritage traveller. The Fort cochin heritage more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 8 Kms ), Cochin (Kumbhalangi) ( 10 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 20 Kms )
  • Dharmanath Jain Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    The Dharmanath Jain temple at Mattancherry is over 100 years old and is one of the prime places of more

    Access

    Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 1 Kms ), Cochin (Willingdon Island) ( 7 Kms ), Cochin (Ernakulam) ( 21 Kms )
  • Ettumanoor Shiva temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is an ancient Lord Shiva temple dated mid-16th century. Ettumanoor more

    Access

    Kottayam ( 9 Kms ), Pala ( 16 Kms ), Kumarakom ( 19 Kms ), Vaikom ( 27 Kms )
  • Vaikom Mahadevar Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    The Vaikom Mahadevar temple is one of the most celebrated Shiva temples in Kerala and is one among more

    Access

    Vaikom, Kumarakom ( 22 Kms ), Kottayam ( 32 Kms )
  • Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple is a Lord Shiva Temple and one among the 108 Lord Shiva temples more

    Access

    Vaikom ( 14 Kms ), Kottayam ( 24 Kms ), Pala ( 26 Kms )
  • Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple is a Lord Shiva temple, one of the 108 Shiva temples created by Lord more

    Access

    Kottayam ( 1 Kms ), Kumarakom ( 11 Kms ), Pala ( 27 Kms ), Vaikom ( 31 Kms )
  • Chirakkadavu Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Chirakkadavu Mahadeva Temple is a renowned Lord Shiva temple 35 kms from more

    Access

    Kanjirapally ( 8 Kms ), Pala ( 25 Kms ), Kottayam ( 35 Kms )
  • Vazhappally Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Vazhappally Mahadeva Temple is Lord Shiva temple near Changanassery and is one of the 108 Lord more

    Access

    Kottayam ( 19 Kms )
  • Parippu Sree Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Parippu Sree Mahadeva Temple is a Lord Shiva temple in Kottayam area and one of the 108 Lord Shiva more

    Access

    Kumarakom ( 3 Kms ), Kottayam ( 8 Kms ), Vaikom ( 28 Kms )
  • Kadappattoor Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Kadappattoor Mahadeva Temple is a Lord Shiva temple near Pala and one of the prominent temples of more

    Access

    Pala ( 2 Kms ), Kottayam ( 24 Kms )
  • Thiruvayamkudy Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Thiruvayamkudy Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple in Kottayam district with dating back to more

    Access

    Vaikom ( 16 Kms ), Pala ( 24 Kms ), Kottayam ( 27 Kms )
  • Vezhanganam Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Vezhanganam Mahadeva Temple is a Lord Shiva temple situated in Bharananganam area dating back to more

    Access

    Pala ( 10 Kms ), Kottayam ( 32 Kms )
  • Kizhathadiyoor Thrukkayil Mahadeva Temple near Pala is an ancient Lord Shiva temple and is the more

    Access

    Pala ( 2 Kms ), Kottayam ( 24 Kms )
  • Lalam Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Lalam Mahadeva Temple an ancient Lord Shiva temple and is renowned as Dakshina Kasi (Kashi more

    Access

    Pala ( 1 Kms ), Kottayam ( 23 Kms )
  • Puliyannoor Mahadeva Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Puliyannoor Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Lord Shiva temple in Pala area. The temple is locally more

    Access

    Pala ( 4 Kms ), Kottayam ( 22 Kms )
  • The ancient St. Sebastian Church at Arthunkal was built by the Portuguese and is a popular centre more

    Access

    Marari ( 7 Kms ), Alleppey ( 21 Kms ), Cochin (Fort Cochin) ( 35 Kms )
  • Thrikodithanam Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Thrikodithanam Temple is said to be one of the five temples where the idol of Lord Vishnu, more

    Access

    Kottayam ( 21 Kms )
  • The 1000 year old St Mary's Church here is an important pilgrim centre in Kerala. The mortal more

    Access

    Pala ( 6 Kms ), Kanjirapally ( 21 Kms ), Kottayam ( 31 Kms ), Thodupuzha ( 32 Kms )
  • A prominent religious institution belonging to the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and a seminary more

    Access

    Thodupuzha ( 2 Kms ), Pala ( 25 Kms ), Kottayam ( 52 Kms )
  • St. Marys Church, the Valia Palli (the Big Church) was built in 1550 by Knanaya Syrian Christians more

    Access

    Vaikom ( 15 Kms ), Kottayam ( 24 Kms )
  • St. George Church, Puthupally, and the Vakathanam Palli are two ancient churches frequented by more

    Access

    Vaikom ( 9 Kms ), Kottayam ( 29 Kms )
  • Cherpunkal Church is a famous Church in the name of Infant Jesus and visited every First more

    Access

    Pala ( 6 Kms ), Kottayam ( 20 Kms )
  • St Marys Jacobite Syrian Church, Manarkadu is another very important and famous Christian church more

    Access

    Pala, Kottayam ( 26 Kms )
  • Panachikkadu Temple

    Temple or Holy Place
    Panachikkadu Temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati in Panachikkad. It is also known as more

    Access

    Kottayam ( 11 Kms )
  • Backwaters in Kumarakom

    Activity, View Point
    Kumarakom overlooks Vembanad lake and has its own stretch of Backwaters (much smaller than more

    Access

    Kumarakom, Kottayam ( 15 Kms )
  • The Malliyoor Sree Mahaganapathy Temple is an ancient Lord Ganesha temple in Kottayam more

    Access

    Vaikom ( 20 Kms ), Kottayam ( 25 Kms )
  • Chulanur is famous for peacocks and is declared as the peacock sanctuary, only peacock sanctuary more

    Access

    Palakkad ( 32 Kms ), Cheruthuruthy ( 34 Kms )
  • Mangalam Dam

    Lake or Riverside
    Mangalam Dam is set at about 45 kms from Thrissur and Palakkad surrounded by waterfalls, rubber, more

    Access

    Palakkad ( 44 Kms ), Trichur ( 47 Kms )