The temple tourism package is a tailored package designed for Indian and Indian origin guests with an interest in the history, traditions and architecture of the magnificent temples in central Kerala. Neelambari is ideally placed to explore some of the ancient and magnificent temples in and around Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. More importantly, Neelambari offers the ideal vantage point as a serene and traditional setting that will make the exploration of these magnificent temples a wholesome experience.
The Temples of Thrissur package has guided visits to the temples at their center. However the package offers much more than that. The visits to the temple will be complemented with
Arattupuzha Shastha temple is quaint with the aura of divinity and rural charm. Our village takes its name and its identity from this temple and the iconic festival that is held every year. The presiding deity in the temple is Shastha and it is believed that he is an incarnation of sage Vasishta. The temple is walking distance from Neelambari across the river. So we will visit this temple by boat and by foot. Vehicle transportation can be arranged if you prefer it.
The Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur is an iconic monument around which this magnificent city has evolved and exists even today. The presiding deity is Siva and He fittings lends his name to the city. The temple is about half an hour (12 kms) from Neelambari. Time and opportunity permitting, we will combine this with a short visit to Brahmaswom Madom, the ancient school of vedic studies with a legacy dating back to the great ancient philosopher Adi Shankara. As this is a school, we would need to take prior permission from them, so this visit is not guaranteed even as we will make all efforts to make it possible.
Koodalmanikyam Temple in Irinjalakuda is one of the ancient temples in Kerala with historical artefacts dating back as early as the eighth century CE though it is believed to be significantly older than this date. The presiding deity is Bharatha, prince of Ayodhya and younger brother of Lord Rama. This Vaishnavite temple is very interesting not just for its religious significance, but also for its magnificent architecture and rich history. The temple is about 8 kms from Neelambari and is a short pleasant drive. From Koodalmanikyam we will also visit the iconic Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple, inextricably linked to the ancient Sangam age saga Chilappathikaram.
Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest Siva temples in Kerala. The temple was once one of the richest and most powerful religious institutions in Kerala. Tides of history were however not favourable to this magnificent temple and its riches and power waned. The temple stands today in the small town of Cherpu in the suburbs of Thrissur, as a magnificent reminder of a golden era gone by. Along with Peruvanam Mahadeva temple, we will also visit Urakam Devi temple, an ancient and magnificent Lakshmi temple. Both Peruvanam and Urakam temples are within a short distance from Neelambari (less than 5 kms) and are easily accessible.
Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple is perhaps the most famous and visited place of worship in Kerala. The ancient temple rose to prominence during the medieval period when the Zamorins of Calicut patronised it during their reign in central and North Kerala. Visit to Guruvayur temple will be accompanied by a quick tour of the elaborate temple complex. We will also visit Punnathur Kotta, which is an elephant sanctuary administered by the Guruvaur Temple. Guuvayur temple is about 38 kms (an hour's drive) from Neelambari. En route is the magnificent Triprayar Sree Rama temple, another important Vaishnavite edifice in central Kerala that we will visit.
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is one of the ancient and most important Goddess temples (kavu) in Kerala. The lore and legend of the temple has been very significant in the history and culture of Kerala from the ancient times to the present day. Kodungallur (once known as Muziris) was the seat of power for the Cheras, the magnificent kingdom from which present day Kerala takes its name. A visit to the temple can be combined with a quick visit to the Thirvanchikulam Mahadeva temple which was the tutelary deity of the Cheras and was once considered the most important temple in Kerala.