The famous Ambalapuzha temple is in Alleppey district. This gorgeous temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna.

Ambalapuzha temple has a significant connection to the famous Guruvayoor temple. During Tipu Sultan's raid in 1789, the idol of Sri Krishna from the Guruvayoor temple was moved to Ambalappuzha Temple to keep it safe & sound. People admire the architecture of this temple, and it’s considered one of the seven greatest Vaishnava temples in Travancore. The inner walls of Chuttambalam are adorned with various paintings, quite colourful ones. The popular art form Ottanthullal had its first performance here too! It's interesting, right? The poojas at this temple are performed by Namboodiri Brahmins from the Puthumana Thanthri family.

People believe that Devanarayanan Thampuran was very pious. His devotion led him to decide that an idol of Lord Krishna should be brought to Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple from Karinkulam Temple. The event of bringing this idol marks the origin of the Ambalapuzha Temple Festival, also known as the Champakulam Moolam water festival—it’s a celebration you wouldn't want to miss! Held every year on the Moolam day of Mithunam month (Malayalam era).Other yearly festivals include a grand festival held in March/April (month Meenam) lasting 10 days with feasts, & the Kalabham festival lasting 12 days during January/February (Malayalam month Makaram). Notably, 'Pallipana' is played once every twelve years.

One cannot forget to mention Ambalapuzha Payasam! This sweet pudding made from rice and milk is legendary. There's even a wonderful myth attached to it—it's said that Lord Sree Krishna himself visits this temple daily just to have this delicious treat, Palpayasa Nedyam.

So, if you ever get a chance, do visit and participate in these rich traditions and taste that heavenly payasam at Ambalappuzha Temple!

History of the Temple

As per legend, Lord Krishna once appeared in the guise of a sage in the court of the king of Ambalapuzha and challenged him to a game of chess (or chaturanga). The king was a chess enthusiast himself, so he gladly accepted the invitation. Before the game, the king asked the sage to choose his prize in case he won. The sage asked just for a few grains of rice from the King. But he demanded an amount of rice equal to the chess board in the following manner. One grain of rice should be placed in the first square, two grains in the 2nd square, four in the 3rd square, eight in the 4th square, sixteen in the 5th square and so on. That means each square will have rice double its predecessor.

The King lost the game to the sage and as a result, the King had to give the agreed-upon prize. The King started calculating the grains of rice to the chess board and the amount reached millions. Soon the royal granary ran out of grains of rice. As the number of grains was increasing as a geometric progression, the king realised that he would never be able to fulfil the promised reward. Upon seeing the dilemma, Lord Krishna appeared to the King in his true form and he told the King that he did not have to pay the debt immediately but could pay him over time. Instead, Lord Krishna asked the King to serve Paal-Payasam (a pudding made of rice) in the temple freely to the devotees every day until the debt was paid off.

Speciality of the Temple

• Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple is directly connected to the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor. The Sree Krishna idol of the Guruvayoor Temple was kept here during the raid of Tipu Sultan in the year 1789.
• Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple is very famous for its daily offering of delicious sweet pudding known as Pal Payasam. There is also a myth that Guruvayoorappan (Lord Sree Krishna) visits this temple daily to have the Palpayasa Nedyam.
• Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple is also a treasure house of rich Kerala paintings. The interior of the temple is decorated with pictures of Dasavatharam, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
• As per legends, the famous performing art form of Kerala known as Ottamthullal originated at Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple. This powerful satirical folk art form exhibits various socio-political issues of Kerala. The legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunjan Nambiar is the creator of this unique art form.

Timings

3 AM to 12 PM.
5 PM to 8 PM.

Festivals in the Temple

• Ambalapuzha Temple Festival: The Ambalapuzha Temple Festival is the main festival of this temple which is also known as the Champakulam Moolam water festival. This festival is believed to have started in the 15th century by the ruler of Travancore, Chembakasserry Devanarayana Dynasty. It is celebrated every year on the Moolam day of the Mithunam month.
• Arattu Festival: The Arattu Festival of Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalapuzha takes place in the Meenam month of the Malayalam calendar that falls either in March or April. The Arattu Festival takes place once in twelve years and it begins with flag hoisting in the Atham star. The Velans who are popular as sorcerers perform the Pallipana ritual on the Thiruvonam day.
• Vijayabali: Vijayabali is a unique festival which is celebrated every 144 years. The last time this festival was celebrated was in the year 1955.

Dress Code to Visit the Temple

Traditional wears are the most preferable attire while visiting Sri Krishna Temple Ambalapuzha.

Best Time to Visit

Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalapuzha can be visited throughout the year.

How to Reach the Temple

By Air: Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport to Sri Krishna Temple Ambalapuzha which is situated at a distance of 97.3 Km. Upon arrival at the airport, you can easily reach the temple by taxi or bus.

By Train: Ambalapuzha Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Sri Krishna Temple Ambalapuzha which is situated at a distance of just 1 Km. On reaching the railway station, one can hire a cab, an auto rickshaw or a bus to reach the temple.

By Road: Ambalapuzha Bus Station is the nearest bus station to Sri Krishna Temple Ambalapuzha which is situated at a distance of just 1.8 Km. From there, one can hire a cab, an auto rickshaw or a bus to reach the temple.

FAQs:

What is the historical significance of Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple?

The Ambalapuzha Temple, located in Alleppey, Kerala, was constructed by Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran. It has historical ties to the Guruvayoor temple, as the idol of Sri Krishna was moved here during Tipu Sultan's raid in 1789 for safekeeping.

What makes the architecture of Ambalapuzha Temple unique?

The temple is renowned for its beautiful Kerala-style architecture, with inner walls adorned with vibrant paintings. It is considered one of the seven greatest Vaishnava temples in Travancore, and the first performance of the traditional art form Ottanthullal took place here.

What are the main festivals celebrated at Ambalapuzha Temple?

Major festivals include the Champakulam Moolam water festival in the Malayalam month of Mithunam, the grand 10-day festival in March/April (Meenam), and the 12-day Kalabham festival in January/February (Makaram). The unique 'Pallipana' ritual is performed once every twelve years.

What is the story behind the famous Ambalapuzha Payasam?

Ambalapuzha Payasam is a sweet pudding made of rice and milk, believed to be a favourite of Lord Sree Krishna. According to legend, the deity visits daily for the Palpayasa Nedyam offering, making this dessert an essential part of the temple's culinary tradition.

How can visitors reach Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple?

The temple is accessible by road, with frequent bus services from major cities like Kochi and Trivandrum. The nearest railway station is Ambalapuzha, just a few kilometres away, making it easy for devotees and tourists to visit.