Aranmula Temple - Kerala
Aranmula Temple
Aranmula Temple, in Pathanamthitta district, is famous as one of the five temple towns of Kerala. There are other temples besides Aranmula, which are devoted to Lord Krishna and are located at Trichambaram, Tiruvarppu and Ambalappuzha. Lord Parthasarathy is the presiding deity of the Aranmula temple. There are five ancient shrines around Chengannur, sanctified by the Pandavas. One of them is Aranmula pilgrimage of Kochi. It is said that this temple has existed since the time of Mahabharata. In Cochin, Aranmula temple comes alive during the time of Onam festival when snake boat races are held in this temple. The temple premises is decorated beautifully and is thronged by thousands of devotees who come to offer prayers and cheer for those participating in the boat race.
Aranmula temple is famous for its Aranmula "kannadi", which is basically a mirror engulfed by some exquisite metal works. "Kannadi" is Malayalam for mirror and this kind of mirror work is found exclusively in Aranmula and nowhere in the world. If you happen to visit Aranmula, buy these beautiful mirrors that are available in all shapes and sizes. The Aranmula Temple is famous for its murals, which were carved out during the 18th century. Infact, many foreign tourists come here and stay for a long time to learn the culture of Kerala. It is a soul satisfying experience and one that you shall never forget in your life.
How to Reach Aranmula Temple - Cochin
By Air :
The nearest airports are at Trivandrum and Cochin and Aranmula can be reached easily once you are at any of these airports.
By Rail : The three railway junctions in Cochin are Ernakulam town, Cochin harbor and Ernakulam junction. Once here, you can always hire local transport and reach Aranmula.
By Road : Cochin is well connected by a wide network of roads and Aranmula is easily accessible once you reach Cochin.