Want to explore something other than tea plantations, favoured beaches and ayurvedic spas while in Kerala? Or want to explore the road less travelled? Or are you on a pilgrimage? Then the Aazhimala Shiva temple is what you are in search of. This temple recently erected Kerala’s tallest Gangadhareshwara statue. The statue sits on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the Arabian sea.

The clear blue sea paints a serene background and adds to the sculpture’s beauty. The statue is the temple’s main attraction. There are other points of interest nearby namely the Aazhimala Cliff and beach. This temple is a pilgrim centre as well as a tourist hotspot. Since the sculpture’s unveiling, tourists are gradually increasing in number.

I visited this temple in August, a few days after Kerala had ended the lockdown. Hence, I was fortunate to visit and enjoy the temple and the beach without any swarming crowds.

HOW TO REACH AAZHIMALA SHIVA TEMPLE?

National highways and bypass roads connect Aazhimala temple to cities and towns like Trivandrum, Kovalam, Kollam, etc. You can visit the Aazhimala temple as a day trip from neighbouring cities and towns.

FLIGHT– Trivandrum airport is 20 km away. You can hire a taxi to Aazhimala from here. Direct buses to Aazhimala from Trivandrum are available.

BY RAIL– Trivandrum Central Railway Station is 21 km away. You can either drive or hire a taxi to Aazhimala from here. Direct buses to Aazhimala from here are available.

BY ROAD– National highways connect Aazhimala to the below-mentioned cities and towns –
• Trivandrum- 27.5 km away. It takes 50 minutes via Kazhakootam – Kovalam Bypass road.
• Kovalam- 7.2 km away via Poovar – Vizhinjam Road.
• Varkala -59.4 km away. It takes 2 hours via Chilakkoor – Vallakkadavu Road and Kazhakootam – Kovalam Bypass road.

I travelled to the temple from Varkala. The roads are excellent. When I visited, some sections of the highways were closed for repairs. Therefore we had to use the service roads. It added to our travel time but, the long drive was worth it. After repairs, the travel time will reduce.

TEMPLE TIMINGS AND RULES

The Aazhimala temple opens early morning at 5:30 am and closes at 11 am. In the evening it reopens from 5 pm till 8 pm. The temple is open 365 days of the year.

Mondays and Tuesdays are auspicious days and therefore crowded. If you want to avoid crowds, then avoid visiting on Mondays and Tuesdays.

*NOTE: NO TICKETS. Entry to the temple and statue is free.

RULES

This temple has comparatively fewer rules than other South Indian temples. Hence, devotees and visitors must follow the below-mentioned rules.

• The first rule is to wash your hands and feet before entering the temple.
• Second, dress conservatively. Men and women should cover their shoulders and knees before entering the temple. Western clothing is allowed. However, be mindful of the culture and dress accordingly.
• Third, remove footwear before entering the temple.
• Fourth, no bags are allowed inside the temple.

*TIP: It gets hot during the day. Therefore loose clothing is preferable.

ABOUT AAZHIMALA SHIVA TEMPLE

The temple’s original name is Pulinkudi Sri Mahadev Temple. The words Aazhi and Mala translated in English mean “sea” and “rock“, respectively. Thus, it refers to a temple between the sea and rocks. The temple is on a rocky cliff overlooking the Arabian sea. The outer and inner walls of the temple are brightly coloured with statues of gods. One can see small statues of other gods at the entrance, for example Ganapathi. Upon entering, sounds of waves crashing into the rocky cliff greet visitors.

There are a few caves in the temple. According to locals, the Pandavas stayed here during their exile. There is a freshwater stream in one of the caves. Local folklore states Bhim created this stream to quench Draupadi’s thirst. But during my visit, the caves were closed to the public.

Some sections of the temple are still under construction. A meditation hall is one of them.

ABOUT AAZHIMALA SHIVA STATUE

The temple’s deity is Lord Shiva, and the statue is similar to any other Shiva statue with has one crucial difference. Shiva is portrayed sitting on a rock and adorned in snakeskin, looking towards the sky. A snake wraps itself around Shiva’s neck. The statue has four hands, and in one hand, he holds a damaru and a Trishul in the other. But the one detail that sets this statue apart is the presence of Goddess Ganga in Shiva’s long hair.

According to Hindu scriptures, there was a drought leading to people dying. So, to save the Earth, Goddess Ganga decided to go down to Earth. But there was a problem. Ganga said that the force of her descend would destroy Earth. Lord Shiva volunteered to use himself as a landing for Ganga and break her fall to save Earth. Thus it is said that the river Ganga has no origin. If you have ever visited the mouth of river Ganga, you can see that small hair-like streams join to form the river. These hair-like streams are said to represent Ganga flowing through Shiva’s Jada(hair). Therefore this sculpture is known as Gangadhareshwara figure meaning “descending of Ganga”.

P S Devadathan, a Fine Arts student, completed this sculpture over seven years. The statue is perched 20 feet above the ground facing away from the Arabian sea.

AAZHIMALA BEACH AND CLIFF

Adjacent to the parking area is a small concrete path leading down to the Aazhimala beach. It is a tiny concave beach surrounded by rocky cliffs on three sides. The nearby rocks are slippery and dangerous, so be cautious. The sea is quite rough. I didn’t see any lifeguards around, so you are responsible for your safety. You can dip your toes, but I wouldn’t recommend swimming. There have been cases of accidents at the beach. It’s better to be cautious.

The sea alters colours from a cool blue to emerald green to teal. If you visit the temple in the evening, don’t miss the sunset. It is a breathtaking sight. No matter the time of the day, this beach is perfect for a photo-op.

Naranga Vilakku is a festival celebrated in January/ February. Devotees light lamps on lemons along the seashore and is a sight to behold. It is something I would like to witness next time.

PLACES TO VISIT AROUND AAZHIMALA SHIVA TEMPLE

Aazhimala is a small town and well-connected to cities like Trivandrum, Kovalam and others. There are guesthouses and budget hotels in Aazhimala. You can also stay in the below-mentioned areas and visit the Aazhimala Shiva temple as a day trip.

VARKALA

Varkala, a beach town along the Malabar coast, is 84.5 km away. It takes 2 hours each way. I stayed at Varkala and visited the Aazhimala Shiva temple on a day trip. Varkala is a beautiful beach town and an equally important pilgrim center. Moreover, devotees come here to perform the last rites of deceased ones and wash away their sins at Papnasham beach. Besides, Papnasham beach, Varkala has other beaches, namely- Black sand beach. Interestingly, it also has surfing beaches. The other hot spots are— the Cliff, etc.

Varkala is an ideal weekend destination. You can stay here and travel to Aazhimala on a day trip. 5-star hotels, ayurvedic spa resorts, guesthouses and budget hotels are available here.

POOVAR ISLAND

It is 10 km away via the Poovar – Vizhinjam road. Poovar’s original name is Pokkumoosapuram and is a fishing village. King Mathanda Varma, while escaping, arrived here. It was springtime, and the flowers were in full bloom. Some flowers fell into the Neyyar river. The king was amazed by the beauty and said it was poo-var. In Malayalam, poo means “flower”, and var means “river”. Poovar has a historical significance and is known for its golden sand beach, mangrove forests, floating cabins, etc.

It is a popular picnic spot. There are hotels and resorts offering water villas or beach villas. Poovar is the ideal destination if you want to relax without doing any activities. Due to time constraints, I was unable to visit Poovar Island. But it is on my list when I revisit Kerala.

TRIVANDRUM

Kerala’s capital city is 20 km from Aazhimala Shiva temple. The renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, a sacred Hindu temple, is located here. Don’t miss a visit to this beautiful temple. The carvings on the pillars are a work of art. Aside from this temple, Trivandrum has a few renowned beaches. 5-star hotels, budget hotels are available here.

*TIP: This temple follows a strict dress code. Therefore, be mindful when visiting here.

JATAYU EARTH’S CENTER

The Jatayu Earth’s Center in Chadayamangalam is 70.1 km away and takes 2 hours via MC Road and Kazhakootam – Kovalam bypass road. The road conditions are good except for some sections. It is a little far from Aazhimala but worth a visit. The massive sculpture of Jatayu is here. The centre also has an adventure park offering numerous activities. There are plenty of hotels in Chadayamangalam and Kollam.

Aazhimala Shiva temple has Kerala’s tallest Shiva statue and is ideal for a day trip from neighbouring cities. Arrive here early morning. Pray at the temple, snap pictures with the statue, then head down to the beach. Spend time at the beach before heading back. You can also stay in Aazhimala and travel to the above-mentioned places from here. Many might think that it is too far and not worth it. But you are wrong. The drive to Aazhimala is indeed long but also very scenic. In conclusion, add this temple to your Kerala bucket list.

In this guide I’ve covered the following topics — reaching Aazhimala; about the Aazhimala Shiva temple and statue; the timings and rules; places to visit around Aazhimala; nearby attractions.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

There’s no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this.