Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is 5 km away. The city of Thiruvananthapuram is 3 km away.

• By train

  Thiruvananthapuram Central, the busiest railway station in Kerala, is in the same city.

Why devotees come here

Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Temple sits on the banks of the Karamana River near Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Parasurama, and Shiva is worshipped beside him with equal importance.

Parasurama is the deity of the temple, and it counts among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnava tradition. The temple is also a heritage structure listed among monuments of national importance.

Legend says Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water pulled back as far as it reached, leaving land behind. He called on Vasuki, the king of the snakes, whose holy venom turned the salty soil fertile. Legend also places the head of Padmanabhaswamy in this temple, and the feet at Tripadapuram Mahadeva temple.

The temple is said to have been built by Brahmins, who received their land from Parasurama as a gift. It is believed to have been renovated last in the 12th to 13th centuries. Sub-shrines stand for Brahma, Matsya, Murukan, Veda Vyasa, Ayyappa, Krishna and Ganapathy.

Festivals

• A day in the Malayalam month of KarkidakamKarkidaka Vavu

  Devotees offer bali to their forefathers and take a dip in the holy water.

Tips for your visit

• Visitors who come for Ayyappa or Ganapathy can find their shrines inside the same complex.
• Shiva is worshipped in the same temple, so one visit covers both Parasurama and Shiva.
• Ask the Thiruvallam Devaswom office about timings, as listed on the Travancore Devaswom Board contact page.

Questions people ask