Aranmula
Temple, in Pathanamthitta district, is famous as one of the five temple
towns of Kerala. There are other temples besides Aranmula, which are
devoted to Lord Krishna and are located at Trichambaram, Tiruvarppu and
Ambalappuzha. Lord Parthasarathy is the presiding deity of the Aranmula
temple. There are five ancient shrines around Chengannur, sanctified by
the Pandavas. One of them is Aranmula pilgrimage of Kochi. It is said
that this temple has existed since the time of Mahabharata. In Cochin,
Aranmula temple comes alive during the time of Onam festival when snake
boat races are held in this temple. The temple premises is decorated
beautifully and is thronged by thousands of devotees who come to offer
prayers and cheer for those participating in the boat race.
Aranmula temple is famous for its Aranmula "kannadi", which
is basically a mirror engulfed by some exquisite metal works. "Kannadi"
is Malayalam for mirror and this kind of mirror work is found
exclusively in Aranmula and nowhere in the world. If you happen to visit
Aranmula, buy these beautiful mirrors that are available in all shapes
and sizes. The Aranmula Temple is famous for its murals, which were
carved out during the 18th century. Infact, many foreign tourists come
here and stay for a long time to learn the culture of Kerala. It is a
soul satisfying experience and one that you shall never forget in your
life.
How to Reach Aranmula Temple Cochin
By Air
The nearest airports are at Trivandrum and Cochin and Aranmula can be
reached easily once you are at any of these airports.
By Rail
The three railway junctions in Cochin are Ernakulam town, Cochin harbor
and Ernakulam junction. Once here, you can always hire local transport
and reach Aranmula.
By Road
Cochin is well connected by a wide network of roads and Aranmula is
easily accessible once you reach Cochin.