Sree Vallabha Temple is one among the hundred-and-eight Vaishnavite temples in India. The temple situated in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, is also known as “Southern Tirupati” for its significance. This temple is located on the banks of River Manimala, with an 8 feet idol of Sree Vallabha (Lord Vishnu) enshrined within the sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil). The legendary architecture and beauty of the temple are mentioned by the Tamil Azhwars in their Divya Prabhandhams during the early centuries AD.
The temple is well known for its stone and wooden carvings along with beautiful mural paintings on the walls. It is believed that the Garuda sthambam (54 feet flag mast) was constructed by the legendary architect of Kerala, Perunthachan. Another peculiarity of the flag mast is that it is built on a single block of granite.
The myth behind the temple is that Sreevallabhan has appeared before the demon Thokalaasuran and killed him for causing trouble for the villagers. Since then sage Durvasa and Saptarishi visited the temple every midnight to worship Sree Vallabha. This temple is the only temple in Kerala, where Kathakali is performed every night as part of a ritual, it is believed that Sree Vallabha was very fond of the art form, thus it is performed daily to please the deity.
The annual festival of the temple is celebrated during the months of January and February. The festival is usually 10 days long, where the first day is marked by the offering of a massive 12,000 bunches of padathi pazham (a special variety of bananas). Visit Sree Vallabha temple to witness the delicate stone-wood patterns and ethnic murals. If you are an art, culture, and heritage enthusiast visit the temple at night to enjoy the Kathakali performances and experience the tradition of the best Kerala ethnic art form.
Contact Details
Sree Vallabha Temple
Kizhakkummuri, Mathilbhagom,
Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta,
Kerala 689102
