pilgrimage

The rich tradition and culture of Kerala has resulted in numerous places of worship in Kerala. The Pilgrimage Centres in Kerala pictures the secular co-existence and religious harmony. There are several pilgrimage destinations all over Kerala. Kerala has a number of pilgrimage places and centres consisting of ancient temples and shrines, remote places of worship in villages and on hillocks as well as popular pilgrim centres spread across the length and breadth of Kerala. The temples, mosques and churches located in different parts of Kerala, offer the holistic feeling that one craves for.

The Dravidians who were the natives of Kerala worshipped nature gods, elements, animals, spirits and a pantheon of ancestors but with the influx of Aryans the mainstream Hindu deities Siva, Parvathy, Ganesha, Krishna etc started to be worshipped as well. The Aryans introduced Kerala to the Temple Culture. These high citadels of culture and religion were built on traditional models out of stone, laterite and wood. The layouts were fairly simple but the adornment was rich. Elaborate carvings, delicately painted murals, expertly sculpted bronze and “panchaloha” which is an alloy of 5 metals such as brass, bronze, copper, gold and silver were used to decorate these temples.