Thrikkakara Vamana Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is about 28 km north of Kochi city.

• By train

  Kochi has four major railway stations, including Ernakulam Junction and Aluva.

• By road

  Kochi's main bus terminals are Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Jetty and the private terminal at Kaloor.

Why devotees come here

Thrikkakara Vamana Temple is in Thrikkakara, Ernakulam district, Kerala, 6.6 km east of Kochi city centre. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, and it is considered the centre of Onam celebrations worldwide. Its main deity, Vamana, is shown placing his foot on the Asura king Mahabali.

Thrikkakara Vamana Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the divine places. In the legend, Vamana came to the Asura king Mahabali as a short Brahmin with a palm leaf umbrella and asked for three paces of land. The icon shows him preparing to place his foot on Mahabali.

Tradition says Parashurama established the temple. Its records contain the earliest mention of the Onam festival, dating to 861 CE. The inner complex is ringed by thousands of lamps called Chuttuvilakku, and three halls called Naimishaaranyam host cultural performances.

Onam is celebrated here over ten days in the Malayalam month of Chingam. The festival ends on the tenth day with a symbolic welcome of Mahabali. The idol then returns to its inner sanctum, and the Onam feast draws more than twenty thousand people.

Festivals

• Chingam monthOnam

  Ten days of celebration. The idol is carried round the temple on an elephant, pausing at each of the four gates.

• Makara SankrantiLakshadeepam

  The temple is lit up with lamps for this observance.

Tips for your visit

• Temple authorities prepare for at least 20,000 guests at the Onam feast, so expect the temple to be busy during Onam.
• The lamps are lit on Makara Sankranti evening, when the temple is lit up for Lakshadeepam.

Questions people ask