Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

• By train

  Kochuveli Railway Station is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station is the nearest bus station.

Why devotees come here

Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Temple stands in Karikkakom, about 7 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is more than 600 years old and enshrines Devi Chamundi in three forms.

Devi Chamundi is worshipped here in three forms: Maha Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi and Bala Chamundi. Each form has its own sanctum, and the three sanctums stand side by side. The main image is a Panchaloha idol of Karikkakathamma, an incarnation of Chamundi.

The temple is more than 600 years old. Millions of women gather here every year in the month of Meenam. They cook Pongala, rice with jaggery, ghee and coconut, in small pots in the open to please Devi. The festival runs for seven days. It ends with gurusi, when the ceremonial sword is taken to the Gurusikkalam after the athazha pooja. The temple keeps several other festivals through the year, listed below.

The three sanctums are adjacent to one another.

Festivals

• Malayalam month of Meenam, seven daysPongala

  Women cook rice with jaggery, ghee and coconut in small pots in the open as an offering to Devi.

• Karkatakam month, on Karthika dayBali Sadhya

  A ritual held at the temple on that day.

• Makaram month, on Ayilyam dayAyilyam Ootu

  The temple performs poojas for the Nagas on that day.

• Chingam month, on Thiruvonam dayKodi Charthu

  Devotees offer Devi a yellow dress after the Nirmalya Darshanam.

• First day of Medam monthVishu Kani

  Devotees come for the Vishukani Darshanam.

Tips for your visit

• On Pongala day, traffic on the Kazhakkoottam-Kovalam NH bypass is regulated, so leave extra time.
• On Pongala day, police, KSRTC and the Health Department help with arrangements.

Questions people ask