india
-
Fort Kochi is a place where time slows down with cobbled streets, old verandas, colonial homes, and silent churches together narrate stories of empires that came, ruled, departed and yet left behind indelible marks. Among these enduring witnesses stands the Santa Cruz Basilica, a magnificent structure that has survived conquest, destruction, and rebirth, continuing to serve
-
Among the countless sacred landscapes shaped by the Ramayana, there are a few places where mythology does not merely linger, it breathes. In the quiet village of Triprangode near Tirur nestled amid laterite soil and ancient groves stands the Alathiyur Hanumankavu, a temple that commemorates one of the most decisive moments in the epic: the instant when faith was
-
The hills of Wayanad stand apart from the rest of Kerala, not merely for their elevation or forests, but for the way history unfolded here in quiet isolation. Long inaccessible due to dense jungles and rugged terrain, Wayanad was among the last landscapes in Kerala to be explored and documented. This very remoteness allowed its indigenous communities
-
In South India, and especially in Kerala, the chant “Amme Narayana, Devi Narayana, Lakshmi Narayana, Bhadre Narayana” rises naturally from the hearts of devotees whenever Goddess Bhagavathy is worshipped. This sacred invocation finds its most powerful expression at the Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple, one of the most revered shrines dedicated to the Divine Mother. Believed to be among the 108
-
Hidden amid the emerald forests of Wayanad, in the quiet town of Mananthavady, stands the ancient Thrissilery Temple, a sacred shrine believed to be over five millennia old. Time here feels suspended, as though the forest itself guards the sanctity of a place where divinity, ritual, and ancestral faith converge. For pilgrims, Thrissilery is not merely
-
The name Raja Ravi Varma continues to resonate deeply among art lovers, historians, and pilgrims of culture alike. More than a painter, he was a visionary who bridged tradition and modernity, devotion and realism, the sacred and the everyday. A visit to Kilimanoor Palace, his birthplace and lifelong sanctuary, is not merely a heritage walk, it is an
-
Standing on an elevated pedestal along the serene banks of the holy Pamba, the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is not merely a place of worship, it is a living chronicle of divine mythology, sacred remorse, and eternal faith. Revered as one among the 108 Divya Desams, this ancient shrine draws pilgrims not only for darshan, but to walk into
-
Museums are gateways to collective memory & spaces where history is not merely stored, but narrated, interpreted, and brought to life. Among the many museums in Kerala, the Museum of Kerala History at Ernakulam stands apart for its unique approach to storytelling. Rather than displaying ancient artefacts behind glass, this museum recreates Kerala’s long and complex past
-
In the heart of Palakkad, where the Western Ghats gently open into the plains of Kerala, stands a fort unlike any other in South India. Broad, austere, and surrounded by an ever-filled moat, Palakkad Fort, popularly known as Tipu’s Fort, is less a monument of ornamentation and more a statement of military genius. Though its popular name
-
Kerala’s cultural soul is best discovered not just in its landscapes, but in the stories its people have carried across centuries. In the northern stretch of the state historically known as Malabar folklore is not merely remembered, it is lived. Among the many expressions of this living tradition, none is as striking or as powerful
-
Kerala, according to ancient belief, is not merely a geographical region but a land born of penance and divine will. Mythology tells us that the warrior sage Parasurama, burdened by the sin of having annihilated unjust Kshatriya kings, sought redemption by gifting land to Brahmins. Guided by Varuna, the god of oceans, he hurled his axe
-
When the Dutch displaced the Portuguese as the dominant European power in Kochi, they brought with them not just cannons and commerce, but an enduring belief in infrastructure, urban planning, and architectural grandeur. Masters of port engineering and water management, the Dutch carried lessons from their homeland to every colony they touched. Kochi, with its
-
The northern stretches of Kerala, known historically as Malabar, have witnessed the rise and fall of many kingdoms, each leaving behind a legacy shaped not merely by power, but by faith, loyalty, and coexistence. Among these realms stood Valluvanadu, a principality whose capital lay near present-day Perinthalmanna. The rulers of this land, known as the Valluvanadukonathiri,
-
The heritage of Kerala is inseparable from its architecture as a tradition shaped by climate, materials, craftsmanship, and an unbroken cultural memory. Nowhere is this architectural wisdom preserved more completely than at Padmanabhapuram Palace, a palace complex that stands not merely as a royal residence of the past, but as a living encyclopedia of traditional Kerala
-
Kerala’s temples are not merely places of worship; they are living spaces where myth, landscape, and faith merge seamlessly. Among these sacred shrines, the Peralassery Temple stands apart for its unique beliefs and powerful legends. Revered deeply by devotees, this ancient temple in Kannur is dedicated to Lord Subramanian and is one of the rare temples in Kerala where
-
In most temples across India, Lord Krishna is worshipped in his serene shaantha shyamala form of gentle, playful, and eternally calm. Yet in the northern town of Taliparamba, pilgrims encounter a strikingly different vision of the Lord. Here stands the ancient Trichambaram Krishna Temple, where Krishna is revered in his fiercest Roudra Bhavam, moments after the slaying of Kamsa. Equal
-
The history of Kerala’s princely states is a tapestry of alliances, conflicts, and quiet statesmanship, and few families have left a mark as deep as the Paliam family of Cochin. From the early 17th century until the dawn of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Cochin rose, endured, and prospered largely due to the wisdom
-
The city of Thrissur owes much of its present form, spirit, and cultural stature to one extraordinary ruler of the Cochin dynasty, Rama Varma Thampuran fondly remembered as Shakthan Thampuran. His vision for the city and unwavering commitment to governance earned him a lasting place in Kerala’s history. Standing quietly near the sacred precincts of Vadakkumnathan Temple, the Shakthan Thampuran Palace remains the
-
Kerala is a land sanctified by ancient shrines, where faith and folklore flow together. Among these sacred spaces, the Ettumanoor Sree Mahadeva Temple rises with quiet majesty in the heart of Kottayam. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and revered as one of the foremost Shaivite temples of Kerala, this shrine is not merely a place of worship it is
-
Along the tranquil backwaters of Alappuzha, where water mirrors sky and palm fronds sway to ancient rhythms, rises the majestic St George Forane Church, Edathua. For pilgrims, Edathua is not merely a destination it is an experience of faith, healing, and quiet surrender. While historians may debate the finer points of its origin, there is no
-
Tucked away in the gentle landscape of Kasaragod lies the small town of Kumbla, a place where time feels layered with devotion. Here stands the ancient Kanipura Sree Gopalakrishna Temple, a shrine whose sanctity, according to belief, stretches across three yugas of Treta, Dwapara, and Kali. For pilgrims, the journey to Kanipura is not merely a
-
On the gentle hillock in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram stands Kowdiar Palace, a majestic reminder of a royal house that once shaped the destiny of Kerala. Though its gates remain closed to the public, the palace continues to inspire awe in its very presence narrating a story of enlightened rule, refined taste, and architectural brilliance. For
-
At the heart of Mattancherry island in Kochi stands a palace that appears simple at first glance, yet carries within its walls more than five centuries of layered history. Mattancherry Palace, popularly known as the Dutch Palace, is today the most visited museum in Kochi, an enduring symbol of royal life, colonial ambition, and Kerala’s finest
-
Kerala is a land where history reveals itself not only through chronicles and battles, but through the quiet elegance of palaces that once housed powerful rulers and nurtured art, culture, and craftsmanship. Among these architectural treasures, Krishnapuram Palace stands out as a rare and refined example of traditional Kerala architecture blended with royal grandeur. Located at Kayamkulam,
-
In a world often divided by boundaries of belief and identity, there exists a serene space in northern Kerala where spirituality rises above religion and humanity takes precedence over doctrine. Nestled amid greenery in Kanhangad, Anandashram welcomes every visitor not as a follower of a faith, but simply as a fellow human being seeking peace. For nearly a
-
High in the forested hills of Idukki, within the deep greens of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, stands a temple unlike any other in South India. Built of massive stone blocks and guarded by wilderness, the Mangala Devi Temple also known as the Kannagi Temple is open only once a year, during the full moon of Chitrapournami. Reaching it requires
-
Most temples in Kerala are celebrated for their harmony with nature in stone sanctums nestled within groves, rituals unfolding to the rhythm of forests and hills. Yet few places evoke the same depth of stillness and spiritual gravity as Thirunelli Temple, an ancient shrine set high amid the mountains of northern Kerala. Perched in a secluded
-
History is not preserved by monuments alone. It lives equally in ideas, rituals, and art forms that shape the soul of a people. In Kerala, few places embody this truth as profoundly as Kerala Kalamandalam, a sacred ground where endangered traditions were rescued from silence and given new life. To walk through Kalamandalam today is to step
-
When you arrive in Thalassery, one of Kerala’s oldest coastal towns, the past greets you at every corner. Narrow roads lined with weathered buildings, centuries-old monuments, and the gentle hum of history create an atmosphere that feels untouched by time. Among these heritage treasures rises a temple that has shaped the cultural identity of Thalassery
-
Perched on a quiet hillock overlooking the endless Arabian Sea, the Varakkal Devi Temple is a place where geography itself seems to bow before faith. Unlike most temples tucked away in groves or town centres, Varakkal stands between rock and ocean, a setting that feels both elemental and eternal. This sacred shrine holds a distinction revered across
STORIES by HEARITAGE 