Kerala's Major Temples, Churches & Mosques

Kerala PSC frequently asks about major religious institutions in Kerala — their location, founding, historical significance, and unique features. This note covers the most exam-relevant temples, churches, and mosques.

Major Temples of Kerala

Temple	Location	District	Key Facts
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple	Thiruvananthapuram	Thiruvananthapuram	Dedicated to Lord Vishnu; Travancore royal family temple; richest temple in the world (treasure vaults discovered 2011); Dravidian architecture
Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple	Guruvayur	Thrissur	”Dwarka of the South”; dedicated to Lord Krishna (Guruvayurappan); elephant sanctuary (Punnathur Kotta); Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed Narayaneeyam here
Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple	Sabarimala	Pathanamthitta	Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa; Makaravilakku festival; 18 holy steps (Pathinettam Padi); situated at 468m altitude in Western Ghats; Mandalapooja period Nov-Jan
Chottanikkara Devi Temple	Chottanikkara	Ernakulam	Goddess worshipped as Saraswati (morning), Lakshmi (noon), Durga (evening); famous for healing rituals (Guruthi)
Vadakkunnathan Temple	Thrissur	Thrissur	Dedicated to Lord Shiva; centre of Thrissur Pooram; murals depicting Mahabharata; one of the oldest Shiva temples in Kerala
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple	Ettumanoor	Kottayam	Famous mural of Lord Shiva as Nataraja (dancing form); Ezhara Ponnana festival
Thirunelli Temple	Thirunelli	Wayanad	”Kashi of the South”; situated in Brahmagiri hills; dedicated to Lord Vishnu; Papanashini river for ancestor rites
Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple	Ambalapuzha	Alappuzha	Famous for Ambalapuzha Palpayasam (legend: reward for chess game); dedicated to Lord Krishna as Unnikrishna
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple	Thiruvananthapuram	Thiruvananthapuram	Attukal Pongala — Guinness World Record for largest gathering of women (2009); dedicated to Bhadrakali
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple	Kodungallur	Thrissur	Bharani festival; ancient Durga temple; associated with Kannaki (Silapathikaram)

Important Temple Features for PSC

Feature	Temple
Largest temple in Kerala (area)	Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Elephant sanctuary (Aanakotta)	Guruvayur (Punnathur Kotta — about 50 elephants)
Ottamthullal originated	Ambalapuzha Temple (Kunchan Nambiar, 18th century)
Narayaneeyam composed	Guruvayur (by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, 1586)
Thrissur Pooram venue	Vadakkunnathan Temple (started by Sakthan Thampuran, 1798)
Temple Entry Proclamation (1936)	All temples in Travancore (by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal)

Major Churches of Kerala

Church	Location	District	Key Facts
Palayoor Church (St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church)	Palayoor (Chavakkad)	Thrissur	Founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD; one of the seven churches established by St. Thomas; among the oldest churches in the world
Arthunkal St. Andrew’s Church	Arthunkal	Alappuzha	Famous Arthunkal Perunnal (feast of St. Sebastian in January); built by Portuguese missionaries
Cheriapallli (St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral)	Kottayam	Kottayam	Built in 1579; Persian Cross inscriptions; one of the oldest Orthodox churches
CSI Cathedral (Christ Church)	Thiruvananthapuram	Thiruvananthapuram	Built in 1838; neo-Gothic architecture; originally CMS (Church Missionary Society)
Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica	Fort Kochi	Ernakulam	Originally built by Portuguese in 1505; elevated to Basilica in 1984; Gothic interior paintings
St. Francis Church	Fort Kochi	Ernakulam	Built in 1503 by Portuguese; oldest European church in India; Vasco da Gama was originally buried here (1524, remains moved to Lisbon 1539)
Manarcad St. Mary’s Church	Manarcad	Kottayam	Marth Mariam feast (8-day festival in September); Jacobite Syrian tradition
Parumala Church	Parumala	Pathanamthitta	Tomb of St. Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni, 1848-1902); first saint canonised by Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (1947)

Seven Churches of St. Thomas (52 AD tradition)

1. Kodungallur (Cranganore)
2. Palayoor (Chavakkad)
3. Paravur (Kollam district)
4. Kokkamangalam (Alappuzha)
5. Niranam (Pathanamthitta)
6. Nilackal (Pathanamthitta — later moved to Chayal)
7. Quilon (Kollam)

Major Mosques of Kerala

Mosque	Location	District	Key Facts
Cheraman Juma Masjid	Kodungallur	Thrissur	Established in 629 AD by Malik Dinar; one of the oldest mosques in India (and possibly the world outside Arabia); built by Cheraman Perumal’s associates according to tradition
Mishkal Mosque (Mithqal Palli)	Kuttichira, Kozhikode	Kozhikode	Built by Nakhooda Mishkal (Arab trader) in 14th century; five-storeyed structure; partially destroyed by Portuguese (1510); traditional Kerala wood architecture
Odathil Palli	Thalassery	Kannur	Built in 1806; unique for dome structure in Malabar region; Mappila heritage
Juma Masjid, Ponnani	Ponnani	Malappuram	Founded by Zainuddin Makhdum I (15th century); centre of Islamic learning (Ponnani was called “Little Mecca”); Makhdoom family associated
Kondotty Pazhayangadi Mosque	Kondotty	Malappuram	Historical mosque; associated with Kondotty Thangal; Mappila Muslim heritage
Beemapally Dargah	Beemapally	Thiruvananthapuram	Tomb of Beema Beevi (a pious woman of Arab descent); annual Urus festival; unique Hindu-Muslim syncretism in worship style

Key Facts for PSC — Religious Sites

Question Pattern	Answer
Oldest mosque in India (traditional claim)	Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kodungallur (629 AD)
Oldest European church in India	St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi (1503)
Temple Entry Proclamation year	1936 (November 12)
Temple Entry Proclamation ruler	Sri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma
Vaikom Satyagraha (temple entry movement)	1924-25; led by T.K. Madhavan; Gandhiji supported
Guruvayur Satyagraha	1931-32; led by K. Kelappan
First synagogue in India	Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry, Kochi (1568)

Religious Reform and Temple Entry

Event	Year	Significance
Vaikom Satyagraha	1924-25	First organised temple-entry movement; right to walk on roads near temple
Guruvayur Satyagraha	1931-32	Led by K. Kelappan (“Kerala Gandhi”); temple entry demand
Temple Entry Proclamation	12 Nov 1936	Travancore opened all Hindu temples to all castes
Cochin Temple Entry	1947	Cochin state followed Travancore

Festivals Associated with Religious Places

Festival	Place	Key Feature
Thrissur Pooram	Vadakkunnathan Temple	36-hour festival; Kudamattam (parasol competition); started 1798
Attukal Pongala	Attukal Temple	Women cook Pongala; Guinness record
Makaravilakku	Sabarimala	Makara Jyothi sighting; January 14-15
Arattu	Padmanabhaswamy Temple	10-day festival; deity procession to Shanghumukham beach
Arthunkal Perunnal	Arthunkal Church	January; crawling on knees to church
Beemapally Urus	Beemapally Dargah	10-day annual festival
Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha	Chettikulangara Temple	Kuthiyottam ritual; children fast and perform

Quick Revision — Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Where is Padmanabhaswamy Temple?	Thiruvananthapuram
Who composed Narayaneeyam?	Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (at Guruvayur, 1586)
How many steps at Sabarimala?	18 (Pathinettam Padi)
Vasco da Gama’s burial church	St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi
Who established Cheraman Juma Masjid?	Malik Dinar (629 AD tradition)
Thrissur Pooram started by	Sakthan Thampuran (1798)
Temple Entry Proclamation date	12 November 1936
Attukal Pongala Guinness Record year	2009
Paradesi Synagogue location	Mattancherry, Kochi
Oldest church tradition in Kerala	Palayoor (52 AD, St. Thomas)