Detailed Travelogue & Videos: Malai Nadu (Kerala) Divya Desams

By
Anudinam Correspondent
-
20
43,899 views

Thirupulliyur_2

Of the 108 Divya desams, 13 divya desams are categorised as Malai Naatu divyadesams. (Kerala Divya desams), even though 2 of those 13 divyadesams are in Tamil Nadu today. This travelogue narrates in detail about the various options to visit these 13 divya desams. The following are the 13 Malai Naatu Divya desams

1.    Thiruvithuvakkodu
2.    Thirunaavai
3.    Thirumozhikalam
4.    Thirukaatkarai
5.    Thirukkadiththanam
6.    Thiruvallavaazh
7.    Thiruvanvandoor
8.    Thiruchengundrur
9.     Thiruppuliyur
10.   Thiruvaaranvilai
11.    Thiruvananthapuram
12.    Thiruvattaaru
13.    Thiruvanparisaaram

  •    As the map below shows these 13 divya desams are scattered from North to South of Kerala. Based on ones location and preference, they could either start from South to North or North to south to cover these 13 temples.
  •    One could plan to cover these 13 temples in a single trip or in multiple (2 or 3) trips. But best option would be to cover it in a single trip.
  •    We need at least 3 days to cover these 13 temples

Divya Desams Covered:

  • Thiruvittavakode
  • Thirunaavai
  • Guruvayur (Abhimana Kshetram)
  • Thirumoozhikalam
  • Thirukatkarai
  • Thirukadidhanam
  • Thiruvalla
  • Thiruchittaru
  • Thirupuliyur
  • Thiruvanvandoor
  • Aranmula
  • Thiruvananthapuram
  • Thiruvataaru

Kerala Divya Desam

Day 1

We commenced Malai Nadu Divya Desa yatra at 4:45 am from Coimbatore by car. We reached Pattambi at 7:30 am. The first temple we visited was Thiruvittavakode (Uyyavanda/Abhayapradhana Perumal). This temple is about 6-7 km from the town/railway station. We reached the temple at around 8 am. The main sannidhi is in the rear of a Mahadeva temple. There is a beautiful theertham in front of temple called BharataPuzha. The temple authorities have undertaken Annadanam under the Sri Ramanuja Kainkarya banner. Bhagawadas were served arsi upma  and chukku tea (in a plate and tumbler) as breakfast in the morning. Thereafter, we left for Kuttipuram to reach Thirunaavai Sri Nava Mukunda Perumal Temple at 8:30 am. This temple is also located on the banks of Bharatapuzha.We washed our feet in the pushkarni and had a good darshan of perumal. At this temple arsi upma/mixed vegetable sambar (in a banana leaf) offered to Perumal (as informed by the bhattar known as Thirumeni in this kshetram) was served as prasadam to the bhagawadas. This is the only kshetram in malai naadu which has a separate sannidhi for thayar, known as Malarmangai Thayar.

We left for Guruvayur at 9:15 am to reach the temple at 10:30 am.  Sri Krishnar gave us darshanam at 2:30 pm. After having lunch packed from home, we left for Thirumoozhikalam Lakshmana Perumal or Moozhikalathan temple, which is about 10 km from Angamali railway station. This is just a few km before Cochin. This temple opens at 5 pm which is when we reached the temple. From there we left for Thirukakra/Thirukatkarai. This took us about 45 mins to reach. This is the Vamana avatara sthalam. Perumal is known as Sri Kaatkaraiappan here.

After having a good darshanam, we left for Thiruvalla to reach the town at  around 10 pm. We stayed at hotel Best (right opposite the bus stand).

Day 2

The next morning ( February 27th, 2013), we started early at 4:30 am to go backwards towards Chenganachery to visit Thirukadidhanam. We reached Thirukadidhanam Adbutha Narayana Perumal temple at 5 am. The Thirumeni was performing thirumanjanam to the Perumal.  We had the bhagyam to have a darshan of His Thirumeni without the silver kavachan which He adorned after the thirumanjanam. We also received the morning prasadam (vellam & aval mix). From here we went back to Thiruvalla (at around 6:30 am)  where we had darshanam of Sri Kolapiran in this temple. This place is more popularly known as Sri Vallabha Kshetram. Thereafter, we left for Chenganur around which we covered 4 more Divya Desams. After reaching Chenganur, we had good darshanam of Thiruvanvandoor Pambanaiyappan Perumal thirukkoil built by Nakulan. We visited Imayaravappan Perumal Thiruchittaru temple.

Thereafter, we proceeded for Thirupuliyur Sri Mayapiran Perumal temple. This is also known as Bheema Kshetra. At this temple, we had chakara pongal prasadam (known as arsi payasam). This prasadam was available for Rs 20 per dona. The final destination in the morning session was Aranmula Sri Parthasarathy temple. Here also chakara pongal prasadam (payasam) was available for Rs 30 per box (plastic dabba). We were informed that full course prasadam & paal payasam (speciality of this temple) is served to bhaktas at 11:30 am. We however left at 10:30 am for Thiruvananthapuram to reach at 1:30 pm.  We had a sumptuous meal at Mani Mess located at West Mada Veedi agraharam.

Sri Anantapadmanabha Perumal temple opens at 5 pm in the evening. We entered the temple at 4 pm and stood in the line.  We were fortunate to be the first ones in the general line. The main sannidhi was opened at 5 pm and we could have a very good darshan of Sri Anantapadmanabha Perumal from all three doors – thirumukha mandalam, nabhi kamalam and thiruvadi. However, the queue became very haphazard once we reached the garbhagriha. Several devotees complained about the system as they could not have proper darshan of Perumal.

After a good darshan we quickly proceeded towards Sri Adikesava Perumal Thiruvattaru koil at 5:30 pm. We reached the temple at 7:15 pm. The Thirumeni was performing the last puja for the day. Here Moolavar is similar to Sri Anantapadmanabha Perumal in Thiruvananthapuram except He is in the sayana thirukolam in the opposite direction. At this time, only the middle door was open and we were not allowed to step up on the garbhagriha. We were about 10 minutes late. That said, we had a very good darshan of the utsava moorthy and Moolavar nachiyars. We also got the last aradhana prasadam (sumptuous appam, vethalai-pakku, pori vellam). We also witnessed the last purappadu of Utsava moorthy around the koil prakaram and finally the sayanam. Since it was too late, we could not cover the last Divya Desam in this kshetram (Thiruvanparisaram). With this we completed the Divya Desa yatra of Kerala thirukoils.

Aranmula Temple side view

Shubham!

The following are the detailed and wonderful videos about sthala puranam of all Kerala divya desams explained by Sri U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishanan swami

The following are links for detailed sthala puranam of Kerala Divya Desams in tamil:

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

20 COMMENTS

  5. We, 6 people all senior citizen, would like to visit all 13 divya desams in malai nadu. We intend to reach trissur by train. Please let us know how to plan our tour, where to stay, which temples to visit each day. We all pure vegetarians and where we can get South Indian food at every place. We intend to cover in 5 days. Please send us route map and detailes about how to plan our tour. Can we hire a innova car from trissur and travel upto boarding train at kanyakumari or nager koil back to chennaiq

  6. Excellent work to encourage vaishnavaites to undertake malayalam devya desa yathra. Just returned from kerala malai natty thirupathis yesterday.
    Adiyen

    • @Thulasinarayanan sir, Please share your travelogue activities. It would be useful since you traveled so recently.
      Im planning for Kerala DD visit and looks like we need 3 days min for covering them. Please let us know day to day activities.
      Thanks in advance.

  10. very usefull information which helped me a lot.
    I have covered sofor 81 divyadesams in which 4 in malainatu thirupathi, i am with this travel plan to cover balance 9 divyadesams in malai natu thirupathigals.
    Thank you very much for your valuable guidence.

  11. We are 8 members planning to visit divyadesam at kerala.we also want to see other near by temples.we are from hyderabad.if any travellers or agent to help us out or can we go on our own.please helo us out and guide us

  12. Swamiji i ooked ticket to guruvayur on 8th may 2017. From guruvayur which divya desam to see furst and nearest and go on for the other desams. Can you suggest me and it will yseful for andmy return ti cheenau on 13th may 2017 by 8.30pm train om trissur

  13. We, 2 people both are senior citizen, would like to visit all 13 divya desams in malai nadu. We intend to start from coimbatore or thiruvananthapuram. Please let us know how to plan our tour, where to stay, which temples to visit each day. We are pure vegetarians and where we can get South Indian food at every place. We planning to cover in 4-5 days. Please guide with route map and detailes about how to plan our tour. Can we hire a car from coimbatore/thiruvananthapuram and travel.

  14. Samiji , We are 4 members plan to visit 13 divya desmas from chennai , one of them is senior citizen and one kid . Please let us know how to plan our tour and advise the travel cab details from coimbatore or trivamdrum / thissur . Please advise.

  15. Do you know any travel agents or tour organisers in Coimbatore who can organise this malainadu ddzvisit for us by a private car with driver? If so please share their contact details. Regards sri

  17. Your blog was very useful. Thank you very much

    I have visited all 13 malai nadu divaya desams in 3 days. From 21-Jan-2018 to 23-Jan-2018.

    Just for everyone’s information :
    Please find

    Tiruvalla Devastanam Guest House Contact No : 9947340281
    Contact Person Name : Uthaman

    This guest house is just adjacent to Tiruvalla Temple.
    Non AC room : 350/-
    I think AC rooms are also available.

    We took an auto to cover remaining 5 Divya Desams & Chenganur Mahadevar Temple. He charged Rs. 1000/- to cover all these.

    We had darshan in Tiruvalla temple by 4.30 AM & started visiting other temples by 5 AM. Completed by 9.15 AM.

    Its not possible to cover all 6 temples visit without cab/auto as temple timings is from 4.30/5 AM to 11AM & in evening 5 PM – 7.30PM

    Auto driver Name : Bala kirshnan
    Contact No : 9744851944
    _______

    Please find my travel plan from Bangalore. This plan will not workout if you are taking kids & senior citizens with you. Because we didnt have lunch & dinner in first 2 days. My husband & myself followed this plan. So its tough for elders & kids to travel like this.

    We are in Bangalore. So we went to Kuttipuram from Bangalore by train. Train reached station by 6.45 AM next day.

    From Kuttipuram Railway station, busstand is just walkable distance.
    You can easily get buses to Thirunavay. Bus fare : Rs. 10/-

    After having darshan in Thirunavay, come back to Kuttipuram & take train to Pattambi.Train is at 9.15 AM. It will reach pattambi by 9.55 AM. Train fare Rs. 10/-. Take an auto & go to Thiruvithuvacode anju moorthy temple (tell the auto driver as anjumoorthy temple, else they will take you to bagavathi amman temple , auto charge : Rs. 100 one way).Request auto driver to stay back for 10 mins. Else its tough to get another auto to go back. Have darshan & come back to pattambi rail way station.
    Take Parasuram Express (10.50AM train, but mostly it will come late, so you can quicikly complete darshan & catch this train) & go to angamali railway station. Take an auto to Moozhlikalam temple (auto charge : Rs. 240/-).
    Temple will open at 5 PM. so you have go wait.
    After having darshan, take bus from here to Aluva. From Aluva take an auto & have darshan in Thirukkatkara (vamana kshetram).
    Day 1 is completed with above said schedule. Either from Aluva or Angamali KSRTC bus stand (preferred), take bus & go to Tiruvalla & stay in guest house. I have given contact no. above. By the time we reached Tiruvalla it was 11.15. Auto driver Balakrishnan dropped us in Guest house & confirmed to pick us next day. As soon as we had darshan in tiruvalla temple at 4.30AM, we called him. He came in 5 mins & covered all temples.

    In Day2 : You can cover all 6 temples by Max 10 / 11 AM in morning by taking auto/cab.
    Take bus from tiruvalla bus stand to Thriuvananthapuram. Keep your luggage in clock room by 3.30PM & stand in queue. Darshan will be from 5 PM. But temple opens at 4 PM. so be first in queue ?

    After having darshan in Trivandram, go to Marthandam & stay. We stayed in a hotel call Jayabharathi. Room rent for Non AC : Rs. 600.

    Stay in Marthandam & in Day 3, early morning, take an auto & go to Marthandam Bus Depo (Auto charge Rs. 40/-) You have bus to Thiruvattaru at 4.50 AM. They will stop in a place & from there, temple is walkable distance. Have darshan here. As of not Thirupani is going on. Still you can have darshan of moolavar. They will do Kumbabhishekam in next year.

    After having darshan, go to Nagarcoil. Go to meenakshipuram Bus stand from nagarcoil busstand. Take bus to Thirupathi saram. Temple is walkable distance from bus stop. Have darshan. With this you can cover all 13 Malainadu divaya desams.
    As we had time, we covered Suchindram Thanumalayam Temple & Kanyakumar Bhagavathi amman tempe.
    To do that, come back to same bus stop. Take bus to Meenakshipuram bus stand. From here take bus to Suchindram. Temple is at walkable distance. Have darshan. You can easily complete it by 9.30. After this go to same bus stop & take bus to Kanyakumari. Its just 20 mins from here.
    We reached by 10 Am & had darshan. After that you can spend time in beach & shopping.
    After that we came back to Nagercoil railyway station & got Bangalore train by 7.10 PM.

    *********************

    • very useful for visiting these temples. Even though it may not be possible to follow your plan by me I got an idea about these places and travelling distance and fares etc., which will help me while I visit. Thanks for the info shared here which will help many I hope..

  18. very useful information provided in the blog. it wil help me a lot when i visit these divya desams. Thanks to all those helped to provide valuable info here.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here