Vadakkunnathan Temple Thrissur

As one of Kerala's oldest and most venerated Shiva temples and a protected monument of national importance, Vadakkunnathan is a treasure of the state's sacred art and architecture. Its link to Parashurama ties it to the mythic origins of Kerala itself. The Thrissur Pooram, held on its grounds, is celebrated as the mother of all Kerala temple festivals.

The Vadakkunnathan temple, a classic example of Kerala temple architecture with its tiered copper-roofed shrines and exquisite mural paintings, stands on a hillock (Thekkinkadu Maidan) at the centre of Thrissur. Believed to be very ancient and associated by tradition with Parashurama, the legendary creator of Kerala, it enshrines Shiva as Vadakkunnathan alongside shrines to Shankaranarayana and Rama. The Shiva lingam is not directly visible, hidden beneath a large mound of ghee formed over centuries of abhishekam. The grounds host the famous Thrissur Pooram, Kerala's grandest temple festival, with caparisoned elephants, percussion ensembles and a dazzling fireworks display.