A big pilgrim draw, Guruvayoor is known as Kasi of South. Round the year devotees throng to worship Guruvayoorappan, little Krishna, the reigning deity. The 16th century poet Narayana Bhattathiri, fallen with rheumatic pain sought relief from Guruvayrappan. He composed Narayaneeyam. He recovered from disease then after the temple got an aura as a place with healing powers. A popular venue for marriages as well as annaprasna, when a child first gets solid food. Hindus consider entering matrimonial life in the presence of Lord Vishnu as lucky. In a day's most auspicious time the temple witnesses dozens of marriages. The most famous offering of the temple is thulabharam, where a devotee presents to the deity their own body weight, the product can be anything such as banana or rice depending on devotees' pocket.For entering into the temple, women must wear sari and men dhoti without shirt. Pants , jeans are forbidden.The Vishnu idol, made of a rare stone 'Patala Anjanam' is supposed to have healing qualities, especially for rheumatism. With a Shank (conch), Chakra (wheel), Gada (mace), Pankajam (lotus) in its four arms and radiant smile on lips, the idol is bewitchingly beautiful.
Entering the portals of the temple, one is overwhelmed by the prevailing atmosphere of piety and devotion. Exquisite architectural pattern and paintings around the Sreekovil depicting stories of pranks of little Krishna stand testimony for the art of a period. The Mandapam facing the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) is resplendent with beautiful carvings.
Another attraction in the temple is the elephant camp at Punnathore Kota 5 km away from the temple. As many as 50 elephants are being nurtured here many of which were brought as offerings of rich devotees of Guruvayoorappan. Anayoottu, feeding elephant is a major attraction here. 'Koothambalam', a stage for performing dances and Krishnattasala, where Krishnattom used to be staged are other attractions of the temple town. Week-long Ekadisi festival begins in December first week.

Vadakkunathan Temple, Thrissur

A classic example of the Kerala's traditional architecture. Holy shrines of Paramashiva, Parvathy, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathy, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are housed. The central shrines and Koothambalam exhibit exquisite vignettes carved in wood.

Bhagavathi Temple, Kodungallor

Kodungaloor, the ancient capital of Kerala, is 35 kms north-west of Ernakulam, has a hoary past. From the days of recorded history, Kodungalloor, then a trade emporium in India, had been a maritime port of international repute. The city had been a beehive of activities and had trade relations with West as well as Middle-East. Today, the city is a great pilgrim centre. Bharani festival held in the Bhagavathi temple here is a big devotee draw. On bharani day, special nivedya (nectar) known as Variyarippayasam is offered to Devi. This is performed by Adikals( priests). Early morning, the deity would be ceremoniously taken out of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) and placed on a raised pedestal for public worship. Simultaneously, the temple flag will be hoisted signifying the victory of Devi over Darika( evil). After the bharani day, the temple doors will remain closed for six days. During this period, pooja will be offered only once in a day. On the seventh day when the sreekovil is opened, thousands would have Dharsan (vision) of Devi, Such a darshan is reckoned as most auspicious.

Sree Rudhira Mahakali Temple, (Uthralikkavu), Wadakkancherry.

This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is located 2 km from Parithipra, on the way to Shoranur. The annual festival of this temple is very famous in central Kerala. This eight day long festival is known as Uttralikkavu Pooram. The highlight of this festival is around twenty one caparisoned tuskers. Festivities end with a colourful display of fireworks. 

Mammiyoor Siva Temple (1km from Guruvayoor)

This temple houses two adjacent shrines of Sankaranaryana and Shiva.  Mammiyoor and Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple are linked to each other in several aspects and it is therefore considered auspicious to worship them on the same day.

Koodalmanickam Temple, Irinjalakkuda

Ancient and historic Koodalmanickam temple in Manavalassery is about nine kilometres from Irinjalakuda Railway Station. The deity is Sree Bharatha. A few temples are dedicated to him.
Festival is held for all days in Medom (April-May) from Utram to Thiruvonam asterisms, the flag hoisting being on the Utram day. Procession accompanied by caparisoned elephants is the special features of the festival.

Sree Rama Temple, Kadavallur.

Located 10km from Kannamkulam, a unigue feature of this temple is the annual twelve-day Anyonnam, a scholarly debate on Vedas.  Vedic Scholars from all over Kerala participate in this.  Sree Rama is worshipped in threee forms her-in the morning as in vanavaasa (exile in forest), at noon as in sethu bandhana [in a roudra (angry) mood] and at night as the king of Ayodhya.

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Jain Temple, Palakkad

One of the few existing Jain temples in Kerala is the Jain temple at Jainamedu in the Vadakkanthara village on the Western border. With granite walls devoid of any decorations, This temple comprises four divisions and is 32 feet high and 20 feet wide. Legend has it that the temple was built about 500 years ago by a Jain head named Inchanna Satur for the Jain sage, Chandranatha Swamy

Sree Vilwadrubatga Temple, Thiruvilwamala

Located 15km from Ottaplama, atop a hill, this temple is dedicated to Lord Rama.  The Punarjani Noozhal (crawling through the Punjarjani cave) is an important ritual.  Punarjani is a narrow cave believed to have been built by Viswakarma, the legendary creator of Kerala and on an auspicious day devotees crawl through the half kilometer cave to get rid of their sins.

Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Chembai

Located 14km from Palakkad.  The six day annual festival here honoring Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar features Carnatic music concerts by veteran musicians.

Sree Viswanatha Temple, Kalpathy

Located 3km from Palakkad, build in 1425 on the lines of the temple at Benara.  This temple is famous for the Chariot festival held every November.

Vayillamkunnu Bhagvathy Temple, Katampazhipuram

27km from Palakkad.  The deity here is believed to be one of the members of the legendary family, Paratchi Petta Pantheerukulam (the clan of twelve given birth by Parathchi, an aboriginal woman).Kalamezhuthupattu is a special feature during the seven-day annual festival.

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Thirumandhamkunnu Temple, Angadippuram

3km from Perinthalmanna Town.  Dedicated to Bhadrakaali, this is one of the ancient and renowned temple in Kerala.  According to lengends, King Mandhatha of Soorya dynasty, after tough meditation received from Shiva, the linga  worshipped by Parvathi.  On his downward journey from Kailash he kept down the linga at Thiramandhaankunnu where it got fixed to the earth.  The Shivalingam in the Sreemoolasthanam here is split into two.  This is attributed to the fight that took place between Mandhatha and Kali, who was ordered by Parvathi to get back her precious linga.  Parvathi, who could not bear a separation from the linga is said to have entered it, instructing Mandhatha to install Kali near her on whose name all the poojas and festivals were to be conducted.  An important custom of this festival is the arrival of Vellathiri to give audience to the Malayankutty, the headman of the Pana tribal communiity.  Kalampattu is an important vazhipaadu here and is perhaps one of the longest to be performed, starting from Vrishchikam to the end of Meenam.  Mangalya pooja, Rigveda Laksharchana and  Chandattam are some of the other important poojas

.Kadaampuzha Bhagavathy Temple, Tirur

This temple is dedicated to Kiraatha Parvathi and is considered one of the most holy Shakthi centres in Kerala. There are no idols here and that is what makes this temple so unique. Pooja is preformed at a hole in the earth where the Goddess is said to have disappeared after showing her presence to Adi Shankaracharya. Poomootal is an offering of flowers of theechi and this offering is made to the hole is important. Another ritual involves breaking of coconuts that is done since it is held that this will remove the obstacles faced in everyday life.

Navamukundha Temple, Thirunavaya

Thirunavaya, lying on the banks of the River Bharathapuzha, 8 km from Tirur, is a historically and religiously important place. It is held to be the traditional headquarters of the mythological Brahmin, Parasurama. Many people come here on karkidakavavu day to perform the pithrukriya rites for the departed souls. The Navamukunda temple is said to be the sacred place blessed with the presence of Saraswathi, Gayathri, Lakshmi, Parvathy, Shami, Ganga and Yamuna.

Thunchan Parambu, Tirur

32km from Malappuram.  This is the birth-place of Thunchath Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam language and the hallowed ground where children are initiated into the world of alphabets.  On Vijaydasami day, people from different places come here for Vidyarambham, the ceremony in which children are initiated into learning. The iron stylus with which Ezhuthachan wrote on palm leaves and the ancient Kanjira trees found elsewhere, the fruit of this tree is not bitter.  The memorial also boast of a granite Sarawathi Mandapam and a library with rare manuscripts.

Vettakkorumaken Temple, Nilambur

36 km from Malapurram.  The Nilambur Pattu festival that is held here every year is a unique event, marked by the participation of tribal.  It starts with Kodiyettam, the hoisting of the festival flag brought by the tribals from the forest, who are wrmly recieved by the royal family.  the festival reaches a climax on Dhanu 23 with the singing of hymns in praise of the temple's presiding deity, Vettakkorumakan by the members of the Nilambur royal family, as well as the tribals.  This timple is maintained by the Nilambur Kovilakam.

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Thali Temple

Associated with the Zamorins of Calicut, this temple is the venue for the famous Sanskrit discourse, Revathy Pattathanam. 

Vettakkorumakan Temple

25 km from Kozhikode, this temple was once famous for its vazhipaddu (offering) of breaking ten thousand coconuts overnight by a single person. The idol of this war god is in the form of a mirror.

Lokanar Kavu

Lying 6 km east of Vadakara, this temple is dedicated to Bhadrakali. This temple also is mentioned in the northern ballads ( vadakkan pattukal ). It is held that this was also the place of worship for Thacholi Othenan, the legendary hero of Kalaripayattu, Kerala's famous martial art. Erattipayasam is an offering made here at this temple to please the Goddess.

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Vishnu Temple, Thirunelly

32 Kms from Mananthavady, Wayanad Known as the "Kasi of South", Thirunelly temple is tucked away in the Brahmagiri hills and encircled by the gurgling River Papanasini. The serene, calm environ of the temple is soothing enough to settle one's private turmoil. Several myths are woven around the temple. One of the mythical strands says the idol of Vishnu was installed by Brahma ( the creator) himself. The Papanasini river is believed to have the divine power to wash sins away. The very name Papanasini means one which destroys sins. The Koothambalam here is one of the best in the State and rare paintings adorn the temple walls.

Glass Temple of Kottamunda

It is 20 km from Kalpetta, located on the slope of Vellarimala, and is dedicated to Parswanatha Swami, third Thirthankara of the Jain faith. The mirrors inside the temple walls reflect in thousands of beautiful image patterns of the icons in the temple sanctum. Other places of interest in Kalpetta are Chembra Peak, Banasura Sagar Dam near Padinharathara and Meenmutty Waterfalls, about 40 km from Kalpetta

Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple

Located in Sulthanbathery, this temple is more than 800 years old and has a beautiful image of Lord Ganapathi.

Erulam Sita Devi Temple

Near Sulthanbathery, in Pulpally is this temple dedicated to Sita Devi and her sons, Luv and Kush. The three day festival known as Thira Ulsavam, features Theyyam and Paniyarkali;

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Parassinikadavu Madapura Sree Muthapan Temple

Located 16 km from he main Kannur town, this temple's residing deity is Muthappan. This is a manifestation of Lord Shiva in the guise of a kiratha (hunter). Another important feature of this temple is the daily performance of Theyyam, a prominent art of Kerala.

Kizhakkan Kottam, Valakai, Taliparamba

Located 30 km from Kannur, this temple is perhaps the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Sugreeva, the monkey who helped Lord Rama in the encounter with Ravana.

Akkara Kottiyur, Ikkara Kottiyur

Lying in the dense forests of Kerala, 65 km from Kannur, these temples are famous for the annual festival held here. This festival starts with Neyyattom on Swati  asterism in May-June and ends with Thirukalasattu after 28 days.

Thrichambaram Sree Krishna Temple

The temple dedicated to Sree Krishna is at Thrichambaram, Kannur, 14-kms from Pappinisserry railway station. The fortnight festival begins on 22nd Kumbham (February - March). Another temple dedicated to Sree Balarama ( believed to be the brother of Lord Krishna) is at Mazhoor, Thrichambaram. On the first day, the idol of Balarama is taken out in procession from Mazhoor temple and brought to the Thrichambaram temple. The procession marks the beginning of the festival. On the last day of the festival, the idols of Sree Krishna and Balarama are taken out ceremoniously. Lord Krishna retreats to His abode, that is Thrichambaram temple, while his brother Balarama returns to Dharmakulangara temple, denoting the end of the festival. The processions in this festival is sans elephants.

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Madiyankulam Temple

Located near Kanhangad in Hosdurg, this temple is just 3 km from Kasargod. It is dedicated to Bhadrakali, the fierce form of Goddess. The Bhutha dance is performed during the festival in May-June and December-January.

Mahalingeswara Temple

Lying 45 km east of Kasaragod, this temple has Sanskrit inscriptions written in Kannada script which has been ascribed to the Chalukya king, Kirthi Varma II.

Ananthapura Lake Temple

Situated 17 km from Kasargod, in Kumbala, it is the only lake temple in Kerala. It is held to be the original seat of Lord Ananthapadmanabha.

Mahaganapathi Temple

Located 7 km from Kasargod, this is an impressive structure. The architecture is represents an amalgamation of Kerala and Karnataka styles of architecture.

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