Religious Places In Kerala -Golden beaches, misty mountains and lush green forests make Kerala the dream destination of tourists. Besides the exotic locales, there are a number of religious places in Kerala which are visited by the devotees and tourists throughout the year. The religious places in Kerala which consist of churches and temples strengthen the kaleidoscopic fabric of India.

From temples to churches, Kerala reflects the traits of secular India. Tourists often organize religious tours to Kerala, to the sacred and revered temples and churches of Kerala. The Religious Places in Kerala like the sacred Thirunavaya Temple and Mangala Devi Temple are visited by a number of devotees.

So from the colorful Thrissur Pooram festival to the holy Easter, all of them are celebrated in Kerala with great fervor and grandeur. So be it the Boat Races of Kerala or the glittering Christmas tree on the 25th of December, Kerala reflects a rich, varied and cosmopolitan character which allures tourists from different religions.

Some Religious Places In Kerala :

Mosques in Kerala : 

The Charachira Jama Masjid is located at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram city. It has a spacious hall to accommodate several hundreds for prayers.
Nainar Mosque is situated at Karikodu in Idukki district. This mosque is the largest and oldest in Idukki district. It was rebuilt in 1979, retaining the stone steps with inscriptions in an ancient script, a water tank sculpted from a single rock and some old pillars alike the pillars found in temples of the old mosque.
Kanjiramattom Mosque is located at Kanjiramattom in Ernakulum district. This mosque is the right example of age-old beauty of mazhars and dargahs. The annual Chandanakudam in January attracts many pilgrims. During the festival, pilgrims carry pots daubed with sandalwood paste in a procession to the mosque.
Cheraman Jama Masjid is located at Kodungallur, about 37-km from Thrissur. This Mosque resembles temple. Built in 628 AD, in Al Hijra 7, that is, 7 years after Prophet's migration to Medina, it is the oldest Mosque in India and the second oldest in the world.
Pazhayangadi Mosque is positioned at Pazhayangadi in Malappuram district. The Mughal style architecture Mosque has a lovely white dome and convoluted filigree work. Amidst the coconut palms in the distance, the Mosque looks highly attractive.
Jamat Mosque is located in Malappuram on Malappuram-Venkara Road. It is modeled after a temple. This 280 years old Mosque has blue doors and snow-white walls to give it a distinction it rightly deserves. It was built under the directions of the Hindu Prana Nambi family.
Odathil Mosque is located 500-m from Thalassery Fort in Kannur district. The Mosque is built on the land gifted by Portuguese by an Arab gold and timber merchant. It has no domes or minarets. With carved wooden walls and copper ceiling the Mosque has a real temple touch. It was renovated with the help of Portuguese Fundaceo Oriente Institution in Lisbon.
Malik Dinar Mosque is located at Thalangana in Kasargod. It attracts pilgrims from all over India in thousands.

Churches of Kerala :

Christianity began as an oriental religion in Kerala in the first century AD. It is believed that Christ's apostle St. Thomas arrived in Cranganore in 52 AD and established Churches at seven places in Kerala - (Kodungallore, Palayur, Paravur, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Korakkeni, Kollam) and a chappal (half church -"Arappalli") at Thiruvankottu. Since then, the Christian religion has flourished all over the land, co-existing with other religions. Presently, Kerala houses 11 of the 23 dioceses in India.

The Churches of Kerala can be mainly categorized as Catholic and Non-Catholic Churches. Several Churches of Kerala are dedicated to St. Thomas. Some of the other patron saints include St. Paul, St. Peter, St. George, St. Andrews, St. Joseph, St. Augustine, St. Sebastian, St. Dominic, St. Michael and St. John among others. A number of churches are also dedicated to Mother Mary.

Temples of Kerala : 

The numerous Temples of Kerala are architectural splendors dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu mythology. The temple architecture in Kerala is unique, and is in perfect accordance with the natural resources and climatic conditions of the land.

Built in traditional style, some of the famous temples of Kerala include the Padmanabhaswamy temple, Vadukkumnathan Temple, Guruvayoor Temple, Sabarimala Temple, Vaikom Temple, Chottanikkara Temple, Mannarshala Temple, Ananthapura Lake Temple and the Ambalapuzha Temple. These temples are not only significant as religious destinations, but they are also exemplary specimens of ancient architecture. Some of the Temples of Kerala are huge and highly decorated, while others are small and simple set-ups. Kerala's temples are evocative of the religious temperament of the people of the land.

Jewish Synagogue in Kochi : 

Built in 1568 AD, The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi Kerala is believed to be the oldest synagogue present in the commonwealth countries. Before mass migration to Israel, the Jews who had been staying for over 1000 years in Kerala, marked their presence in the land by erecting some magnificent monuments which are revered till date. The Jewish Synagogue, located at Mattancherry rates prime amongst these monuments and stands as a fine example of the communal harmony prevailing in Kerala over centuries. Unfortunately, the building got partially destroyed during the wars of 1662, but was rebuilt by the Dutch in later years. Some structures were added to the existing edifice.

Jewish Synagogue in Kochi Kerala preserves the scrolls of the original Old Testament and a number of copper plates, inscribed in Hebrew. It also contains numerous finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.