Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is in Chottanikkara village, in the suburbs of Kochi, Ernakulam district.

Book and check

Official pages only. We do not sell darshan passes or tours.

• Online pooja bookingchottanikkarabhagavathy.org

Why devotees come here

Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple stands in the village of Chottanikkara, in Ernakulam district, Kerala, on the outskirts of Kochi. It is one of the most popular pilgrim centres in Kerala. Devi is worshipped here in three forms during the day.

The deity here is known as Rajarajeswari, the Mother Devi. Devotees see her in three forms in one day: Saraswathy in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. An idol of Mahavishnu shares the same pedestal, so the deity is also called by names such as Lakshmi Narayana.

The temple is believed to date back to the 10th century CE. It is the most important of the shrines run by the Cochin Devaswom Board, which looks after 393 temples in three districts of Kerala. The main complex also holds the Kizhukkavu Bhagavathy temple, and smaller shrines to Sastha, Siva, Ganapathi and the Nagas.

The local legend tells of Kannappan, a tribesman who was a devout worshipper of the Devi Mahakali. A priest later explained that the calf stood for the divine couple, Vishnu and Lakshmi.

Festivals

• Kumbham month, mid-February to mid-MarchMakam Thozhal

  The most important festival of the temple, held on Makam asterism in the Malayalam month of Kumbham. The temple's site gives 2 March 2026 for this year.

• 11 to 21 October 2026Navarathri

  The temple's Navarathri Maholsavam is listed on its site for 11 to 21 October 2026.

Tips for your visit

• Check the temple's website before you go, because pooja timings change on special days.
• Pooja can be booked online from the temple's official website.
• Kizhukkavu Bhagavathy temple is part of the same complex, so there is more to see than the main shrine.

Questions people ask