Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple Thrissur — Attraction in Kerala

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HOME  KERALA  THRISSUR  PARAMEKKAVU BAGAVATHI TEMPLE, THRISSUR

Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple, Thrissur

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Visitor Information

Popular For: Pilgrims, Photographers and Cultural experience seekers

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Visiting Time: 4:30 am – 11:30 am and 4 pm – 9:00 pm daily.

Visit Duration: 1 hr

Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple, a renowned temple of Thrissur, Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. It is one of the few temples of Kerala where Goddess Durga is worshipped in this form. Situated on round east road in Thrissur, it is a foremost site of the popular Thrissur Pooram festival. This pious and sacred place is a pilgrimage for people all over India specially Hindus and they throng the place in large numbers. Legend has it that a Nair family head was an ardent follower of Goddess Bhagavathy and he visited the temple everyday but due to his oldage he decided to discontinue. On his last visit the goddess seemed to have imbibed in his umbrella, knowing this the temple was built on the premises where the man rested on his way. With regard to folktales and mythological stories it bears resemblance to the Jaganath temple of Puri. Here too the goddess visits his husband in the nearby Shiva temple and a huge procession takes place at that time. This is the Thrissur pooram festival. Thus, it is an interesting avenue for cultural experience seekers.  Apart from pilgrims and cultural experience seekers, photographers too have a gala time here. The architecture of the temple and local street photography of people and their habits draws them here.

Photo by Challiyan, CC BY 2.5

Traveller Tips

Make sure you maintain the decorum of the place. You are visiting a sacred place and hence don’t indulge in frivolous activities.

Adhere to the timings. Temples in the southern India are generally active in the morning and the evening. Make sure to visit at that time.

A large crowd gathers there in time of festivals. So be careful.

Don’t carry food packets and electronic gadgets inside the temple.

Accommodations are available for pilgrims here.

The temple trust takes online puja booking. Make sure you have opted for this one.

Things to Do

Explore the beauty of the place and relish the sculptures and architecture.

Take a look at the temple animals, from elephants to peacocks.

Offer a pooja service at the temple.

Look out for cultural activities and experiences. Visit their website and plan accordingly or take a cue from the locals.

Experience the exuberant Thrissur Pooram festival. Take a look at the local crowd and their ways of celebrations. This is an ideal venture for cultural experience seekers and photographers.

While you are here don’t forget to listen to the temple orchestra, panchavadyam as they call it. It is a tradition of Kerala temples. The Paramekkavu orchaestra is called “Palachottil Melom”.

Availability of Guides

Similar to other temples, this too is devoid of any guides. It is one of those places where you explore without any hindrance and seek the cultural and spiritual experience at your disposal. The temple complex isn’t that much large and hence can be explored on your own. Mostly it is restricted to offerings to the deity and for festival gatherings.

Best Time to Visit

Thrissur...

Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple

This is one of the largest Bhagavathi Temples in Kerala, India. Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple is located in the east side of Swaraj round in Thrissur,Kerala, India. The Bus Stop is just in front of the temple. The Vadakke Bus Stand is not far off. The radial road from the Round leads you to that temple.

The Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple is built in a distinctive Kerala temple architecture. The exact date of the temple’s origin is unknown but according to the locals, the temple is at least 1000 years old and is also evidenced by the archeological evidence.

Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the two rival temples that are involved in the Thrissur Pooram.

The main deity of this temple is Devi Vaishnavy, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The story behind the temple is that a Karanavar (an elder member) of Kuruppal family, used to visit every month the Bhagavathy at Thirumandhamkunnu temple (in Angadipuram, Malappuram). When he became old and weary in health, he felt that he won’t able to continue his visits to worship the Bhagavathy due to his old age. So he prayed with his whole heart on his last visit there and informed the Bhagawathi that this may be his last visit. The Bhagavathy pleased by his devotion climbed on his umbrella and travelled with him back home.

On his way home, he stopped to rest at Vadakkumnathan temple under the Ilanji tree. After resting he found that his umbrella was firmly fixed on the ground. So a Devaprasnam was done by astrologers who concluded that there was a presence of chaitanya or divinity of goddess at that site. The Karanavar decided to worship the Goddess there itself.

After the consecration of the Vadakkumnathan temple, the chaitanya or divinity of the Goddess was transferred to the present location of the temple under a Paro tree. This came to be known as Parokkavu Bhagavathy, which later became Paramekkavu Bhagavathy.

Even today during Thrissur pooram the famous Ilanjithara Melam is performed under the Ilanji tree to honor the divine presence of the Bhagavathy.

Open from 4.30 a.m to 11.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m daily. There is no entry fee to visit the temple. Parking is available in the temple complex.

The Paramekkavu temple devaswom also runs a school known as Paramekkavu Vidya Mandir at MLA road near Kuttoor and one KG section near to the temple itself.

Photo By Viswas Menon (c) Viswas Menon Write up compiled by...

Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple, located in the heart of Thrissur, Kerala, is one of the most prominent and ancient temples dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi, a form of Durga. With a history spanning over a millennium, the temple stands as a testament to Kerala's rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Historical and Religious Significance

The temple is dedicated to Devi Vaishnavy, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, worshipped in the form of an eight-armed idol. According to legend, the deity was brought from the Thirumandhamkunnu Temple in Malappuram by a member of the Kuruppal family, an aristocratic Nair lineage. The name "Paramekkavu" is believed to have originated from the "mekkavu" (sacred grove) associated with the temple.

Thrissur Pooram: The Grand Festival

Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the two principal participants in the Thrissur Pooram, Kerala's most celebrated temple festival, held annually in April-May. Instituted by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin, the festival features a grand assembly of deities from neighboring temples at the Vadakkunnathan Temple grounds.

Key Highlights:

Kudamattam: A vibrant display where caparisoned elephants from Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples face each other, and parasols are swiftly exchanged atop the elephants.

Ilanjithara Melam: A grand percussion ensemble performed by over 250 artists under the Ilanji tree at Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Fireworks (Vedikettu): Spectacular firework displays that light up the sky, attracting thousands of spectators.

Upacharam Cholli Piriyal: The ritualistic farewell marking the conclusion of the festival, where deities bid adieu to each other.

Visiting Information

Timings: The temple is open daily from 4:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Entry: There is no entry fee. However, non-Hindus may not be permitted inside the sanctum sanctorum but can appreciate the temple's architecture and participate in external festivities.

Best Time to Visit: The winter months from November to February offer pleasant weather. However, visiting during Thrissur Pooram provides a unique...