Top 7 Must Visit Temples of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala

Lord Ayyappan is the son of Harihara, particularly popular in Kerala and has become popular only in recent times in India. Harihara in the form of Mahavishnu in the form of Mohini and Shiva. Lord Ayyappan shrine at Sabarimala is the most popular temple of Lord Ayyappan in India, visited by millions of pilgrims every year.

Sabarimala Temple, Pathanamthitta District

Sabarimala Temple of Lord Ayyappa is the most prominent shrine in Kerala that host one of the largest annual pilgrimage site in the world. The temple is dedicated to Ayyappan also known as Dharma Shasta, is the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Ponnambalamedu summit in the Western Ghat is located near the Sabarimala Ayyappan temple at an altitude of 1,170 metres and venue for the annual festival held on Makar Sankranti called Makaravilakku.

Achankovil Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Kollam District

Achankovil Sastha Temple is located near the Achankovil river in Pathanapuram tehsil of Kollam district and among the top five most famous temples of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala. The temple is about 140 km from Thiruvananthapuram international airport and believed that idol was installed by Lord Parasurama.

Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Kottayam District

Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple in Kottayam district is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa also known as Dharmasastha in Kerala. The Lord Ayyappa temple in Erumely town is an important meeting place of Sabarimala pilgrims where pilgrimage is performed near the Valiyambalam and Kochambalam.

Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple, Kollam District

Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple in Kulathupuzha of Pathanapuram is one of the 108 Sastha shrines in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and the idol was installed by Lord Parashurama. The temple is also one among the pancha sastha shrines of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala.

Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple, Palakkad District

Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan and one of the 108 Ayyappan temples in Kerala. The temple and area is famous for Thayambaka performance and a special flower called “Chengazhinir Poovu”.

Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and most prominent temple in Tripunithura where worshiped as Dharmasastha. The temple and festival celebrated in the temples are Vishu, Navarathri and Mandalavilakku.

Aryankavu Sastha Temple, Kollam District

Aryankavu Sastha Temple is part of the Pancha Sastha temples in Kerala, where Lord Ayyappa is depicted as a young boy. The temple is located near the border of Tamil Nadu and share the traditional architectural styles of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Valiyakoikkal Temple, Pathanamthitta District

Valiyakoikkal Temple is situated within the Pandalam Palace premises and dedicated to Lord Ayyappan as main deity and the procession of the Thiruvabharanam for Makaravilakku festival towards Sabarimala starts from Valiyakoikkal Temple of Pathanamthitta.