Pilgrimage
Kerala, the visitors' paradise, has soul-cleansing centres too.
Pilgrim centres of all religions abound this tiny state. Thousands
throng such centres with agitated minds and return cool, calm
and collected.
Hindus,
Christians, Muslims and even microscopic minorities such as Jains
have their own pilgrim centres where devotees genuflect to bare
their mental trauma.
Some
of the well known pilgrimage centers in the state are
Attukal
Bhagavathy temple (Mudippura), knows as the Sabarimala of women,
is in Thiruvananthapuram
One
of the renowned Devi temples in Kerala is Chettikulangara temple,
Kayamkulam in Alappuzha
A
big pilgrim draw, Guruvayoor is known as Kasi of South is located
in Trichur district.
Mannarasala
temple at Harippad is the seat of God of Serpents. Built in a
grove, the temple is reputed for having 30,000 images of snake-gods
and this is the largest of its kind in the state
The
temple dedicated to Sree Krishna is at Thrichambaram, Kannur
Arattu,
the annual festival is celebrated every year in March-April commencing
with Kodiyettu on Karthika day.
The
temple, 3-kms away from Thiruvalla Railway Station, have many
deities though it is dedicated Lord Vishnu.
One
of the oldest, most important temples devoted to Lord Subramania
is on Kollam-Alapuzha highway.
Kodungaloor,
the ancient capital of Kerala, is 35 kms north-west of Ernakulam
The
first mosque in India. Situated in Methala, Kodungalloor, hardly
20 kilometer from the Irinjalakuda railway station
Mortal
remains of Uthman Auliya, a revered man in Muslim Community in
ottapalam
The
Jama-at mosque is important for Kerala's Muslims. The annual Nercha
festival of the mosque is celebrated for four days in April.
On
the way to Malappuram, 18 km east of Manjeri, is Kondotti a prominent
pilgrim centre for Muslims
One
of the most important pilgrim centres of the Christians in Kerala,
popularly known as St. Sebastian Church, 22 kms. north of Alleppey
The
church is one of the important pilgrim centres of the Christians
in Kerala.
Manjinikkara
church derives its importance from the holy tomb of late Ignatius
Elias III, the Holy Patriarch of Antioch.
The
first European church in India, which later became the model for
building churches in elsewhere the country. Vasco da Gama, who
died in Kochi during his second visit to Kerala, was buried in
the church in 1524.
