Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, about 52 km away.

• By train

  Thrissur is the nearest railway station, 2 km from the temple.

• By road

  The temple is at Thrissur Swaraj Round, close to the Vadakkunnathan temple in the city.

Why devotees come here

Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple is one of the largest Bhagavathy temples in Kerala. It stands at Swaraj Round in Thrissur, close to the Vadakkunnathan temple. It leads one of the two sides of the Thrissur Pooram.

The main deity is Devi Vaishnavy, an incarnation of Durga, worshipped here as Bhagavathy. The sanctum holds the idol of Bhagavathy. The temple is among the largest Bhagavathy temples in Kerala and stands in Thrissur city.

The temple is best known for the Thrissur Pooram. Sakthan Thampuran divided the temples of the Pooram into two groups, the Paramekkavu side and the Thiruvambady side. This temple and the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple lead them. The two temples are only 500 metres apart, and they compete in a friendly display of grandeur and devotion.

The architecture follows the traditional Kerala style, with detailed woodwork. Before the Pooram, the Paramekkavu Devaswom shows its new caparisons, the decorated cloths for the elephants, at the Agrasala in Thrissur. The Pooram has elephant processions, music and fireworks.

Festivals

• April or MayThrissur Pooram

  Fifteen caparisoned elephants go in procession from Paramekkavu to the Vadakkunnathan temple, with music and fireworks.

• NavaratriNavaratri

  The temple celebrates it among its important festivals.

• Maha ShivaratriMaha Shivaratri

  The temple celebrates it among its important festivals.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the detailed woodwork of the traditional Kerala architecture, which is a feature of the temple.
• The premises have a playground, which helps if you are visiting with young children.

Questions people ask