Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
Chottanikkara, Ernakulam district (near Kochi) · Goddess Rajarajeswari (Adiparashakti) worshipped as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening, with Mahavishnu on the same pedestal; Bhadrakali at the Keezhkavu shrine
Kerala's goddess of healing, where the nightly Valiya Guruthi at Keezhkavu draws the troubled in mind.
Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple, about 17 km south-east of Ernakulam, is the most important of the Cochin Devaswom Board's temples. The main deity (Melkavu) is a swayambhu (self-manifested) laterite stone called the Rudraksha Shila, worshipped as Rajarajeswari: Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. Mahavishnu shares the pedestal, so she is also called Ammenarayana or Lakshmi Narayana. Below the main temple, by the tank, is the Keezhkavu shrine of Bhadrakali, where the dramatic Valiya Guruthi is performed every night. The temple is especially known as a place of healing for people with mental distress.
Timings
- Nada opens: 4:00 AM (3:30 AM on Fridays and during Mandalam season)
- Morning: 4:00 AM – about 12:00 PM (ucha seeveli at noon)
- Evening: 4:00 PM reopening – after Valiya Guruthi (about 8:30–9:00 PM)
- Prasadam counter: Closed 12:30 PM and 8 PM onwards
- Note: Timings change on special days (e.g. 10 Oct 2026: closed 12 PM, reopened 5 PM).
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Valiya Guruthy – 12 vessels ₹33,000; 7 vessels ₹26,500; 5 vessels ₹24,500; 3 vessels ₹19,000 (rate list of 1.10.2025) (Nightly at Keezhkavu after Athazha pooja, about 8:45 PM)
- Guruthy and Guruthy Pushpanjali – Guruthy ₹30; Guruthy Pushpanjali ₹35; Nakshathra Guruthy ₹845 (Morning (7:30 AM) and evening (7:00 PM) guruthi at Keezhkavu)
- Mandapathil Paattu – Full ₹55,850; without annadanam ₹31,850; without niramala ₹45,750; paattu only ₹20,550 (On a booked date)
- Bhajanam (stay-and-worship vow) – ₹70 receipt (plus stay in Devaswom rooms) (Usually several days; no bhajanam on ulsavam days)
- Pushpanjali (flower offerings) – Pushpanjali ₹15; Aikyamathyam, Bhagyasooktham, Purushasooktham or Sreesooktham ₹40; Ashtotharam ₹45; Lalitha Sahasranama ₹55; Swayamvara ₹55; Sathru Samhara, Moolamanthra, Saraswatha or Mrithyunjaya ₹65; Pandheerayiram ₹920 (During darshan hours)
- Payasam and nivedyams – Neypayasam ₹110 (special ₹120 / ₹200); Palpayasam ₹110; Pizhinjupayasam ₹130; Koottupayasam / Kattipayasam ₹85; Ellunivedyam ₹125; Vellanivedyam ₹40; Appam ₹105; Ada ₹130; Ottayappam ₹100; Trimadhuram ₹40 (Ellu nivedyam morning and night; vella nivedyam and pal payasam noon and night; pizhinju…)
- Abhishekams and special poojas – Sankhabhishekam ₹80; Ksheerabhishekam ₹400; Chandanam Charthu ₹255; Poomoodal ₹125 (special ₹1,100); Rudrabhishekam ₹4,820; Ashtabhishekam ₹4,720; Chathushatham ₹8,950; Thrikala Pooja ₹780; One Day Pooja ₹3,570; Ganapathy Homam ₹160; Ashtadravya Ganapathy Homam ₹675; Mrithyunjaya Homam ₹400 (As scheduled)
- Ney Vilakku (complete ghee lamps) – Melkavu Sampoorna Ney Vilakku ₹7,800; Keezhkavu Sampoorna Ney Vilakku ₹4,475 (Evening)
- Samskaras and family rites – Marriage ₹600; Chorunu (first rice) ₹150; Vidyarambham ₹90; Thottil (cradle) vazhipadu ₹125; Swarna Thali ₹360; Vahana pooja ₹400; video fee ₹720 (Mornings)
- Para offerings – Nelppara ₹200; Malarppara ₹140; Arippara ₹320; Manjalppara ₹370; Sharkarappara ₹380 (Any day; especially during the ulsavam)
How to book darshan
Vazhipadus can be booked online (single or multiple days) at booking.chottanikkarabhagavathy.org or at the Devaswom counters. Darshan is free.
Chottanikkara online pooja booking
Dress code
Traditional Kerala dress: mundu (dhoti) for men, saree, set-mundu or churidar for women. Men may be asked to remove shirts before entering the inner temple; follow instructions at the gate.
Best time to visit
October to March. Fridays (especially for Valiya Guruthi), the Mandalam season (November–December), Navaratri and the Makam festival in Kumbham are the most important times.
How to reach
- air: Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) is about 40 km away.
- rail: Ernakulam Junction is about 17 km; Thrippunithura station is nearer (about 7 km).
- road: Buses run from Ernakulam and Thrippunithura. Kochi Metro to Thrippunithura, then a bus or auto for the last few km.
Festivals
- Annual Ulsavam and Makam Thozhal – Kumbham (February – March); 2026: 24 Feb – 5 Mar, Makam on 2 Mar
- Navaratri – Kanni (September – October); 2026: 11 – 21 Oct
- Vrischika Mandala Mahotsavam and Thrikkarthika – November – December
- Ramayana Masam and Illam Nira – Karkidakam (July – August)
- Vishu and Thiruvonam – April; August – September