Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest major airports to Mavelikara are Thiruvananthapuram, 115 km away, and Cochin, 127 km away.

• By train

  Mavelikara railway station is a mainline station on the Trivandrum Division of Southern Railway.

• By road

  The temple is about 4 km west of Mavelikara town, on SH6, the Kayamkulam to Thiruvalla highway.

Rules to know

• By long custom, elephants are not taken to the western side of the Nalambalam.

Why devotees come here

Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple stands in Chettikulangara, Alappuzha district, about 4 km west of Mavelikara town. Its main deity is Sree Bhadrakali, a form of Shakti. It is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Kerala, and its Kettukazhcha chariots rise up to 105 feet.

Legend says Sree Bhadrakali, a form of Shakti, was born from the third eye of Shiva to kill the demon king Daruka. Among the temples run by the Travancore Devaswom Board, it is the second largest by income, after Sabarimala.

According to one version, the temple was consecrated by Padmapadacharyar, a leading disciple of Adi Shankara, in 823 CE. The present sanctum, the Sreekoil, was revamped in 1540 CE. The wooden icons of Bhima and Hanuman are said to be probably the largest of their kind in the world.

Kettukazhcha is one of the two highlights of Kumbha Bharani, which falls in February or March. The kuthiras, temple chariots built for it, stand about 70 to 105 feet tall. Kuthiramoottil and Therummoottil kanji, offerings made at the temple, have received Geographical Indication tags.

Festivals

• February or MarchKumbha Bharani

  The highlights are Kuthiyottam, an important offering to the deity, and Kettukazhcha.

• Makayiram star of the Malayalam month MakaramParayeduppu

  The deity is taken out in procession, and the festival season begins with it.

• Aswathy day in the month of MeenamAswathy festival

  A large number of visitors come for this festival.

• Tenth day after Kumbha BharaniEthirelpu Ulsavam

  The annual festival is held for 13 days.

Tips for your visit

• To see Kettukazhcha, plan the trip for Kumbha Bharani, which falls in February or March.
• The Aswathy festival in Meenam draws a large number of visitors, so expect a crowded day if you go then.

Questions people ask