Temples are an integral part of Kerala’s socio-cultural fabric. Not only are they noted for being sacred places of worship, but often they are reflections of the larger cultural ethos of the State. Among the many beautiful temples in Alappuzha, the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple in Ambalappuzha stand out for various reasons. Considered to be one of the 7 most important Vishnu temples in Kerala, the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple fascinated devotees with its grand and unique, Kerala-styled architecture.
Believed to have been built during the 15th – 17th century AD, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. One of the noted attractions of the temple is a majestic display of paintings that depict the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity appears in the guise of ‘Parthasarathy’, the charioteer of Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War as mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata. The temple is much acclaimed for its offering of ‘Pal Payasam’ which is a sweet and delicious milk porridge. The temple also has great cultural significance. ‘Ottan Thullal’, one of the most popular traditional art forms of Kerala was first performed in this temple. It is believed that the idol of ‘Guruvayoorappan’ in the world-famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple was kept in the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple during the raid of Tipu Sultan in 1789; thereby having a direct connection to the Guruvayoor temple as well.
