Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

4.7

Location: Chottanikkara, Kochi, Kerala 682312, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 to 2 hours.

The ‘Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Devi Temple’ is a serene temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi.’ She is believed to be residing in ‘Chottanikkara’ (Maha Lakshmi) along with her husband ‘Maha Vishnu.’ One should remember that the main deity is also considered ‘Lakshmi Narayana’ (according to the temple legend). The temple is Classified as one among the 108 ‘Abimana Kshethram’ of ‘Vaishnavite’ tradition, making it more attractive. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of Kochi, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India.
This temple has a legacy, and every year, it is visited by many tourists all over the world. It is also one of the most popular temples in Kerala. If you are visiting Kochi, we recommend you visit this temple.

Attraction

Sree Chottanikkara Bhagavathy is one of the most popular deities in Kerala. Besides, one of the supreme mother goddesses according to Hinduism. Chottanikkara Devi is worshipped at this temple in three different forms: as ‘Mahasaraswati‘ in the morning (draped in white), ‘Mahalakshmi’ in noon (draped in crimson), and as ‘Mahakali’ in the evening (decked in blue). Goddess’ Keezhkkaavu Bhagavathi’ is also believed to be ‘Bhadrakali’ in her fierce form or Ugra form. Because of this variation, the temple attracts a lot of devotees. People come to visit this sacred place with utmost devotion.According to many reviews, the temple is known for conducting exorcism. People who are suffering from various mental illnesses frequently visit the temple, as the Chottanikkara Devi is said to have the heavenly power to heal her devotees.
Besides, the Guruthi pooja is a ritual that is conducted in the late evening to invoke the goddess, ‘Mahakali.’ Earlier, ‘Guruthi Pooja’ was done only on Fridays. However, due to its popularity, it is now performed every day.

History

Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is a temple situated in the suburbs of Kochi that dates back to the 10th century, according to the legends. This is considered one of the most serene pilgrim centers in Kerala. The deity, however, is believed to possess the power to cure many issues like mental illness, conjugal issues, and many more.

Inside/Outside Views

The temple has a beautiful view. In terms of temple architecture, it stands out to be an ultimate testimonial to the ancient taste. The ’vishwakarma sthapathis’ (wooden sculpture) along with Sabarimala temple really look majestic. The deity is known as ‘Rajarajeswari’ (the Mother Goddess). She is worshipped here in three forms:
1. Goddess ‘Saraswathy’ in the morning
2. Goddess ‘Lakshmi’ at noon and
3. Goddess ‘Durga’ in the evening.
The ‘Makam Thozhal’ is another important festival of Chottanikkara temple. The festival is celebrated on Makam asterism from mid-February to mid-March (in the Malayalam month of Kumbham).Before you go to the main deity ‘Chottanikkara Bhagavathy,’ you are supposed to buy Archana tickets at the entrance. There, you have to write your name and birth star (or nakshathram). Then, you can go straight to the sanctum to have a good darshan of Mother Goddess. There is a ‘hundi’ just before the main sanctum to drop our offerings in cash. You might observe a unique method here before dropping the cash. People swipe the cash over your head thrice, and then, they drop that cash in hundi here. People believe that they are dropping all their worries to the feet of the Mother Goddess. The whole area is filled with sound as the devotees chant ‘Amme Narayana,’ ‘Devi Narayana,’ ‘Lakshmi Narayana,’ and ‘Bhadre Narayana’ in this temple.

Opening Hours

Sunday 4 AM–12:30 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Monday 4 AM–12 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Tuesday 4 AM–12 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Wednesday 4 AM–12 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Thursday 4 AM–12 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Friday 3:30 AM–12:30 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Saturday 4 AM–12:30 PM, 4–8:30 PM

Entry & Others Fees

No entry fee is required.

But each Archana ticket costs Rs.8.00 for a single person.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By road: It is situated in Kochi’s ‘Chottanikkara’ area. From the busy area of Kochi, Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is only 12 to 15 km away. Kerala is well connected with other major cities like Kolkata, Midnapore, Chennai, Siliguri, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, etc. From Kochi, you will get local transport to reach the site.

By air: The closest airport, ‘Cochin International Airport’ (which is an international one), is almost 36 kilometers away from this area and is in Nedumbassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683111. You can visit this place from outside of India. It is also well connected with major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Lucknow by direct flights. From the airport, you can easily get local transport to reach the site.

By train: The closest railway station from Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is only 18 km away at the ‘Ezhupunna Railway Junction Station.’ This station is well connected with major areas of the country. From the station, you will get local transport so that you can reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

Please wear suitable and comfortable clothes according to both culture and seasons.
Don’t forget to follow the code of conduct.
If you are visiting Kerala for the first time, try to visit in a group for safety purposes.
Please stay away from total strangers.