Ayyappa Temple - Achenkovil

Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Kollam): 82 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day

Transportation Options: Cab / Bus

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 82 Kms from Kollam, Ayyappa Temple located in Achenkovil is one of the 5 most important Ayyappa Temples in Kerala.

Lord Ayyappa is depicted as a married man here and worshipped along with his two wives Purna and Pushkala. It is believed that the idol here was installed by Lord Parashurama. This Temple is famous for curing poisonous snake bites. The Ayyappa idol at this temple holds Sandalwood Paste and Thirtha (holy water). The Chandan and Thirtha are considered to have medicinal properties to cure snake bites.

The two important festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja celebrated in December/January and the festival celebrated in January/February. The two notable features of the festival are the Therottam & Pushpabhishekam.

Unlike Sabarimla, Women of all ages can enter this temple.