Photo 1 / 4Entrance hall and flagstaff. Photo: Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple
About the Temple
Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple stands in Chengannur town, a short walk from the railway station. Tradition links it to Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, and Malayala Manorama describes it as the first stop of the Pancha Pandava round. It is one of the Kerala Divya Desams, built in the Kerala style with a circular sanctum and no gateway tower.
Why visit
- Begin the Pancha Pandava round where custom says it starts.
- See a Kerala Divya Desam in the middle of Chengannur.
Temple Timings
Opening hours are not confirmed yet.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
Darshan hours are not confirmed. Published hours disagree on when the morning and evening sessions open and close, so call ahead or ask locally before you plan the round. Hours are reported to differ on festival days, including the ten-day festival in Meenam (March to April).
Before You Go
- Time to allow
30 minutes to 1 hour inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Not confirmed. No dress rule from the temple or the Travancore Devaswom Board was found. Many Kerala temples ask men to enter in a mundu without a shirt, so carry one and ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Phones
Not confirmed. No phone rule for this temple was found; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Access
Not confirmed. Step counts and wheelchair access were not found; ask at the temple office.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
Highlights
- Linked to Yudhishthira
Legend says the Pandavas each installed an image of Krishna near the Pamba after crowning Parikshit; this temple is credited to Yudhishthira, the eldest.
- Place in the Pancha Pandava round
A 2017 Malayala Manorama feature says darshan starts at Thrichittatt and then follows the brothers from eldest to youngest, so Yudhishthira's temple is visited first. It adds that when all five are covered in one day, darshan before the noon puja is held to be especially meritorious. The same feature records a custom of returning to Thrichittatt before going on to each of the other temples.
- Kerala-style shrine without a gateway tower
An arch on the main road leads in. The circular sanctum stands on a raised base reached by five steps, under a conical tiled roof.
- Starting point of the Thiruvanvandoor Gajamela
Since 1957 a festival of the Gosala Krishna shrine at Thiruvanvandoor has started from this temple, with caparisoned elephants paraded at Thiruvanvandoor.
Sources: keralatourism.org, specials.manoramaonline.com, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple
- By air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) · about 100 km
- By train: Chengannur (CNGR) · about 1 km
- By road: From Chengannur, take the Thiruvalla road for about 2 km, then turn onto the Pandanad road.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, specials.manoramaonline.com · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Chengannur Mahadeva TempleA major Shiva and Parvati temple in Chengannur town.0.8 km away
- Thiruppuliyur Mahavishnu TempleThe Bhima temple, second stop of the Pancha Pandava round.3.4 km away
- Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu TempleThe Nakula temple, fourth stop of the Pancha Pandava round.3.2 km away
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Is there a dress code at Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple?
Not confirmed. No dress rule from the temple or the Travancore Devaswom Board was found. Many Kerala temples ask men to enter in a mundu without a shirt, so carry one and ask at the entrance.
Can I take my phone inside Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple?
Not confirmed. No phone rule for this temple was found; ask at the entrance.
Which Pandava is linked to Thrichittatt temple?
Yudhishthira, the eldest brother. Kerala Tourism's festival listing names Thrichittatt as his temple among the five Pandava shrines near the Pamba.
In what order are the Pancha Pandava temples visited?
A 2017 Malayala Manorama feature says darshan starts at Thrichittatt and then follows the brothers in order, ending at Thrikodithanam. It adds that when all five are done in one day, finishing before the noon puja is held to be especially meritorious. This is custom, not a rule.
What are the Thrichittatt temple timings?
They are not confirmed. Published hours disagree, so call ahead or ask locally before you plan the first stop.