Plan your sacred journey to the Grand Temples of South India
Nalambalam Yatra
The four temples of Rama and his brothers near Thrissur, visited on one day in Karkidakam: Triprayar, Irinjalakuda, Moozhikkulam and Payammal.
- Kerala
- One Day
- Karkidakam
- Ramayana Month
About Nalambalam Yatra
Four temples of Rama and his three brothers near Thrissur, visited in one day during Karkidakam, the Ramayana month. Pilgrims go from Rama at Triprayar to Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Shatrughna at Payammal.
In Karkidakam, the Ramayana month (mid-July to mid-August), pilgrims visit the temples of Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna in that order on a single day. Start early: the four are spread across Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.
Temples on this Tour (4)
- 1View Details
Triprayar Sree Rama Temple
Rama
Triprayar
The yatra begins with Rama at Triprayar.
- 2
View DetailsKoodalmanikyam Temple
Bharata
Irinjalakuda
Bharata at Irinjalakuda, the only temple in Kerala dedicated to him.
- 3
View DetailsMoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple
Lakshmana
Moozhikkulam
Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam, also a Divya Desam.
- 4
View DetailsPayammal Shatrughna Temple
Shatrughna
Payammal
The yatra ends with Shatrughna at Payammal.
Route Map
Tour Highlights
- Triprayar
- Koodalmanikyam, Irinjalakuda
- Moozhikkulam
- Payammal
1-Day Route from Thrissur
Every night in Thrissur. Allow 1 days for the 4 temples, or 1 for a slower family pace. Add your travel to and from Thrissur separately.
Day 1
- Triprayar Sree Rama TempleRamaOpen 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM, with breaks
- Koodalmanikyam TempleBharataOpen 4:00 AM – 8:20 PM, with breaks
- Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal TempleLakshmanaHours not confirmed
- Payammal Shatrughna TempleShatrughnaHours not confirmed
By tradition all four are visited on one day in the order Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, Shatrughna.
Customs, rules and beliefs
Order: The traditional way is to visit all four in one day in this order: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, Shatrughna.
Season (Mid-July to mid-August (Karkidakam)): Nalambala Darshanam is made in Karkidakam, the last Malayalam month, which Kerala Tourism places in mid-July to mid-August.
- RitualsDevotees visit the four temples in one day and offer vazhipadu at each; the route is described as a clockwise circuit (pradakshina).
- RitualsUsual offerings include Meenuttu (feeding fish) and Vedi at Triprayar, Thamaramala and Brinjal Nivedyam at Koodalmanikyam, and the Sudarshana offering at Payammal.
- Good to knowMoozhikkulam keeps shorter hours than the others: listed as 4 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 7 pm, so time the third stop carefully.
- Good to knowIn Karkidakam 2026, KSRTC Budget Tourism ran Nalambala Darshan trips to the four Thrissur-set temples from district depots.
What devotees believe
- Karkidakam is held to be a hard month of illness and hardship; families recite the Ramayana and devotees believe the one-day darshan of the four brothers brings blessings for the year.
- Wikipedia notes that finishing all four before noon was hard in the days of walking pilgrims, which reflects a wish to complete the round by midday.
These are traditions and beliefs, described as devotees hold them. The temples set their own rituals and fees.
Sources: koodalmanikyam.com, keralatourism.org, keralakaumudi.com, en.wikipedia.org, onmanorama.com, en.wikipedia.org · checked 23 Oct 2026
Optional stops nearby
Bird sanctuaries, dams, parks and falls near this tour's temples. They are optional: the route and cost above do not include them. Distances are straight-line from the nearest temple.
- Theme parkWonderla KochiAbout 19 km from Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple
An amusement park with dry rides and a separate water park, on the Kakkanad to Pallikkara road.
- Hours
- Park 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekends; water park 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
- WildlifePunnathur Kotta (Anakotta) elephant campAbout 24 km from Triprayar Sree Rama Temple
An old palace of the Punnathur rulers where the Guruvayur temple keeps the elephants that devotees offer to the deity. Visitors can see the elephants and their traditional grooming and training.
- Hours
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, all days. Kerala Tourism lists 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Entry
- Adults Rs 20, children Rs 10 (tickets at the counter only)
- Best season
- November to March; summer is hot and humid.
- For families
- These are working captive elephants, and Kerala Tourism notes a mahout was killed by an aggressive elephant here, so keep children well back from the animals.
- DamPeechi DamAbout 28 km from Koodalmanikyam Temple
A 1950s irrigation dam on the Manali river, next to the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary. It has a garden with a viewpoint, a children's park and walking paths.
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, all days
- Entry
- Adults Rs 10, children Rs 5 (tickets at the counter only)
- Best season
- When the dam shutters are open and water spills over, per the district tourism council.
- For families
- The children's park and garden suit a short family stop. Cameras are not allowed in the dam area, but phones are.
- WaterfallAthirappilly and Vazhachal waterfallsAbout 29 km from Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple
Kerala's largest waterfall, on the Chalakudy river at the edge of the Sholayar forest. The smaller Vazhachal falls lie about 5 km further on, and both can be seen in one day.
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, all days
- Entry
- Adults Rs 50, children Rs 10 at Athirappilly; buy tickets at the Sholayar check-post about 2 km before the falls
- Best season
- Monsoon for the strongest flow; winter for mist, wildlife and bird sightings.
- Closed
- Authorities shut Athirappilly as a precaution during heavy rain in August 2026, so check rain alerts before going. Entry to Vazhachal falls is not allowed in the monsoon.
- For families
- A paved path through bamboo leads to the top of Athirappilly; the better view needs a short, steep walk down. Do not bathe, as currents are unpredictable, and watch for monkeys. Vazhachal is easier for elders and children. Source for Vazhachal: https://www.dtpcthrissur.com/destination/vazhachal-waterfalls
Sources: wonderla.com, dtpcthrissur.com, dtpcthrissur.com, dtpcthrissur.com · checked 23 Oct 2026
Getting to Thrissur
Kochi is about 50 km from the Thrissur base and close to Moozhikkulam on the route itself. Travellers already in Kerala can take the train to Thrissur (TCR) or Irinjalakuda (IJK) instead.
By air
- Cochin International Airport (COK)about 50 km, about 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min by road
By train
- Thrissur (TCR)Kerala Tourism puts Triprayar, the first temple, about 21 km from Thrissur station. 104 trains are listed from Ernakulam Junction, most taking 1 to 1 hr 30 min.
- Irinjalakuda (IJK)The station is about 9 km from Irinjalakuda town and the Koodalmanikyam temple, per the temple's own site. 22 trains are listed from Ernakulam Junction, taking about 52 min to 1 hr 14 min.
By road
- Thrissur to Triprayarabout 21 km, about 35 to 45 min
- Triprayar to Koodalmanikyamabout 20 km, about 25 to 35 min
- Koodalmanikyam to Moozhikkulamabout 30 km, about 45 min to 1 hr
- Moozhikkulam to Payammalabout 29 km, about 45 min to 1 hr
- Payammal to Thrissurabout 29 km, about 45 min to 1 hr; to Kochi airport about 48 km
Sources: thrissur.nic.in, erail.in, erail.in, keralatourism.org, koodalmanikyam.com, router.project-osrm.org, router.project-osrm.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
When is the Nalambalam yatra made?
In Karkidakam, the last Malayalam month, which falls between mid-July and mid-August.
In what order are the four temples visited?
Rama at Triprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam, then Shatrughna at Payammal, all on the same day.
Plan this Tour
Create your personalized pilgrimage journey
Estimated Trip Cost
₹ 62,996
for 4 people (1 Day)
≈ ₹ 15,749 per person for the trip
- Return flights · published fare example₹57,296Chennai ↔ Kochi: ₹7162 + ₹7162. Airline examples checked 2026-10-19 × 4 people. Economy; not a live fare for your dates. Rate source
- 1 × AC sedan with driver₹4,1001 × (250 billed km × ₹14 + 1 days × ₹600 driver). Up to 4 passengers per vehicle, driver separate. AC; fuel budgeted within the per-km hire, inclusions to confirm. Minimum 250 km/day; route 97 km. Chennai operator example; pickup in your region to confirm. Rate source
- 0 nights · 2 rooms₹00 nights × 2 rooms × ₹2,305/night. Two people per room, rounded up. Hotel Raya’s Standard AC, Kumbakonam published reference including tax; availability elsewhere to confirm. Rate source
- Simple local meals · all travellers₹1,6001 days × 4 people × ₹400/day. Planning allowance.
- Tolls, parking and personal spending
- Home/station transfers, travel-day meals and extra nights
- Permits, garage/pickup kilometres, driver accommodation and operator taxes, if charged
Assumptions & what changes this estimate
References checked 19 October 2026. Rooms use the linked hotel’s published examples. Meals, fuel, bus and train are budgeting allowances. Bus/train costs use approximate distance, not ticket searches or confirmed classes. Flight examples are economy fares; Luxury upgrades your stay and local vehicle, not your flight cabin. Cab and rental examples need confirmation for your arrival region.
Basic sets rooms, meals and hired vehicle class. Own-vehicle fuel and economy return fares do not change with the stay tier. Dates do not fetch live prices.
Hotel references are Kumbakonam examples, including the published tax, used as a budget across the trip. They are not confirmed rooms in every town. Meals and fuel are planning allowances. All travellers use the same allowance; no child discount is assumed.
Cab minimums and room sharing mean some changes can leave a line unchanged. Travel quotes entered by you are fixed group totals. Prices and availability must be confirmed before booking.