Known as ‘Varadanangalude Nadu’, Irinjalakuda (pronounced as Iringalakuda in Malayalam) is nothing short of a divine gift. The place has a mystery behind how it got the name Irinjalakuda. Some believe that this name is derived because of the merge of 2 rivers in Irinjalakuda, which in Malayalam is translated as “inangikoodal” which has a resonance with the original name-“Irinjalikoodal”. But surprisingly, nobody has traced the existence of rivers in Irinjalakuda- only a myth that Irinjalakuda had two rivers. The place has its major attractions like Koodalmanikyam Temple with its Koothambalam, St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Thriprayar temple, and the Unnayi Warrior Kalanilayam.
The Koodalmanikyam is an ancient temple that is rich in its tall architecture, and amazing sculptures on walls and pillars. Perhaps, it is the only temple in the country which has Lord Bharatha as the deity. Koodalmanikyam temple reportedly dates back to the time of the sages. Inside the temple pond, is a HomaKunda which tells many fables about Koodalmanikyam, many of which are unknown to people. The pond, which gets periodically emptied, offers a magnificent view of Homakunda and the surrounding ground, proving the antiquity of the temple site. The temple is famous also for its 11 days festival that marks the end of the temple festival season that year. The end of the temple compound is marked by Unnayi Warrior Smaraka Kalanilayam, which is one of the oldest performing art institutes existing in Kerala. Founded in 1955 as a tribute to the great Malayalam author Unnayi Warrior, the institute continues to provide training to its students even though it is deteriorating over time. St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is another religious tourist attraction here. With its establishment history dating back to 1845 AD, it is definitely a must-see in Irinjalakuda. Also, the Thriprayar Temple, famous for its boat race (Vallam Kali in Malayalam) which is as popular as the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Temple timings: 03:30 – 11:30 hrs & 17:00 – 20:30 hrs
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Irinjalakuda, about 10 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 39 km