Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
Attukal, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram · Attukal Bhagavathy (Bhadrakali, identified with Kannaki of the Silappatikaram)
The goddess of the world's largest gathering of women, the Attukal Pongala.
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, about 2 km from the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, is famous for the Attukal Pongala: on one day each February–March, lakhs of women cook a sweet rice offering in clay pots on the streets of the city. Guinness World Records recognised it as the largest gathering of women for a religious activity in 1997 (about 15 lakh) and 2009 (about 25 lakh), as the Trust's website notes. The goddess is Bhadrakali, identified with Kannaki, the heroine of the Tamil epic Silappatikaram. The temple is run by a private trust, which says it is open for darshan to all, regardless of caste or religion.
Timings
- Temple opens: 4:30 AM (Palliyunarthal)
- Morning darshan: 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Evening darshan: approx. 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (deeparadhana 6:45 PM)
- Closes: 8:30 PM (nada adappu)
- Pongala day: Special timings; e.g. 2026: sanctum closed 3:10 PM – 7 PM
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Pongala (offering on Pongala day) – Free (women bring their own materials) (Once a year on Pooram star with the full moon in Kumbham; 22 February 2027 (official))
- Pongala vazhipadu (cooked by the temple) – Vella Pongala ₹20; Sharkkara Pongala ₹60; Kal Panthirunnazhi ₹200; Ara Panthirunnazhi ₹400; 51 Kalam Pongala ₹700; Panthirunnazhi ₹800; 101 Kalam Pongala ₹1,100 (Any day)
- Lakshaarchana – ₹100 coupon to take part; ₹16,000 for a full Lakshaarchana (Every Malayalam month on Karthika star (coupon); full single-devotee Lakshaarchana by…)
- Udayasthamana Pooja – ₹7,500 (Dawn to dusk on a booked date)
- Bhagavathi Seva – ₹1,200 (Evening)
- Chuttuvilakku / Sreekovil Neyvilakku / Kamba Vilakku – Chuttuvilakku ₹2,000; Sreekovil ghee lamp (one day) ₹4,000; Kamba Vilakku ₹1,000; 50 ml ghee lamp ₹40 (Evening)
- Sreebali sponsorship – Usha ₹400; Ucha ₹400; Athazha ₹600 (Usha Sreebali 6:50 AM; Ucha Sreebali 12:10 PM; Athazha Sreebali 8:05 PM)
- Abhishekams – Pushpabhishekam ₹12,000; Kalabhabhishekam ₹4,000; Ashtadravyabhishekam ₹1,500; Panchamrithabhishekam ₹800; Navakabhishekam ₹600; Kalasabhishekam ₹80; Kumkumabhishekam ₹40; Palabhishekam ₹30 (Morning)
- Muzhukappu – ₹500 (As scheduled)
- Archanas – Ashtotharam ₹10; Sahasranamam ₹20; Thrissathy ₹20; Swayamvara, Vidyasooktha, Bhagyasooktha, Aikyamathya, Kumkuma, Rakthapushpa and Purushasooktha archanas ₹30 each; Janmanakshathra and Devimahathmya ₹40; Sreesooktha and Ishtasooktha ₹50 (During darshan hours)
- Thulabharam – ₹100 receipt + cost of the offering material (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 5:00 – 7:30 PM)
- Kunjoonu (child's first rice feeding) – ₹100 (Daily, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
- Naranga Vilakku (lemon lamp) – 1 lamp ₹15; Aiswarya Vilakku (10) ₹130; Kudumba Vilakku (20) ₹250; Mangalya Vilakku (51) ₹600; lemon garlands ₹170 – ₹800 (Any day, especially Tuesdays and Fridays)
- Prasadaoottu sponsorship – Full day: ₹70,000 (1st of month), ₹56,000 (Sunday), ₹38,000 (Friday), ₹30,500 (Tuesday); contributions from ₹50 (1st of every Malayalam month and every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday)
How to book darshan
Vazhipadus can be booked online at booking.attukal.in (single-day or multi-day) or at the temple counter. Darshan is free.
Attukal online vazhipadu booking
Dress code
Traditional Kerala dress is preferred (mundu/dhoti for men; saree, set-mundu or churidar for women), and is expected on festival days.
Best time to visit
Any time of year for darshan. Come for the Pongala festival (February–March) to see the city transformed, but book stay months ahead.
How to reach
- air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 5 km away.
- rail: Thiruvananthapuram Central is about 3 km away.
- road: About 2 km from East Fort and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple; city buses and autos run to Attukal via Manacaud. The Trust also hires out buses and auditoriums.
Festivals
- Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam – 14 – 23 February 2027; Pongala on Monday 22 February 2027 (official)
- Navaratri and Vidyarambham – September – October
- Mandala Vratham – November – December
- Ayilya Pooja and Sarpabali – Ayilyam in Thulam (October – November)
- Nirayum Puthariyum – Karkidakam (July – August)
- Vishu – April