Famous temples · Kerala

Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple

Serpent temple in Haripad, Kerala, with over 100,000 snake images

Checked 19 Oct 2026 with mannarasala.org2 min read

Directions Share

Getting there

By air
Cochin International Airport (COK) is about 120 km away.
By train
Haripad Station is 2 km away and Alappuzha Station is 30 km away.
By road
The temple is reached from National Highway 66, and a KSRTC bus stand is at Haripad.

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Rules to know

Entry into the sacred serpent groves is strictly forbidden, to protect them.
Offerings must be vazhipad items bought from the authorized temple stall.

Why devotees come here

Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple stands in Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, surrounded by forest. It is dedicated to Nagaraja, the serpent deity, and has over 100,000 snake images along its paths and among the trees.

Mannarasala is known for its serpents. Over 100,000 snake images stand along the paths and among the trees, which makes it the largest such temple in Kerala. The temple is surrounded by forest.

Legend says Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, threw his battle-axe into the sea and raised the land that became Kerala. Couples seeking fertility come to worship here. After the birth they return to give thanks, often bringing new snake images as offerings.

The main festival is Mannarasala Ayilyam, held on the Ayilyam day in the months of Kanni and Thulam, which fall in September and October. On that day the serpent idols in the grove and the temple are carried in procession to the Brahmin illom. Maha Sivaratri is also observed here.

Festivals

This year

2 November 2026Thulam Aayilyam
A Monday, the Aayilyam day in the Thulam month. Check the official site for the day's timings.

Every year

Ayilyam day in Kanni and Thulam (September and October)Mannarasala Ayilyam
Serpent idols are carried in procession to the Brahmin illom. There, offerings of rice flour and milk, a red liquid of turmeric and lime, and cooked rice are made.