Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
Rama (four-armed, as Thriprayarappan or Thriprayar Thevar) temple · Thriprayar, Thrissur, Kerala, India
The Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple stands on the bank of the river at Thriprayar in Thrissur district, Kerala. Its deity, Rama, is affectionately called Thriprayarappan or Thriprayar Thevar, and is shown with four arms holding a conch, a discus, a bow and a garland. The temple is managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board.
Thriprayar is the first of the four Nalambalam temples visited in a single day during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, and its deity leads the Arattupuzha Pooram, a gathering of temple deities from across the district. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Thrissur notes the temple's wood carvings, murals and sculptures of scenes from the Ramayana.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
According to the Cochin Devaswom Board, devotees believe the image was once worshipped by Krishna at Dwaraka and, after being lost to the sea, was recovered by fishermen. The image is four-armed like other Vishnu images, but most devotees regard it as Rama after he slew the asura Khara; some, the board notes, see in it the combined aspects of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
In the Nalambalam pilgrimage, devotees visit the shrines of the four brothers of the Ramayana in one day: Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Koodalmanikyam in Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Shatrughna at Payammal. The Thrissur district administration describes this as an annual pilgrimage in Karkidakam (July-August).
A distinctive offering is meenoottu, the feeding of fish in the river beside the temple. Onmanorama reports the belief that it honours Matsya, the fish incarnation of Vishnu; the offering drew national attention when the Prime Minister performed it during a visit in January 2024. Wikipedia also lists Chathan Bhandaram and other traditional offerings.
Heritage
History of Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
No founding date for the temple is recorded in the sources consulted. The Cochin Devaswom Board describes the temple as famous for both its architecture and its historic importance, and notes that, because the original stone image had worn with age and the deity was not to be replaced, it has been covered with a casing of panchaloha, a five-metal alloy.
Wikipedia notes that the river in front of the temple, from which the name 'Thirupurayar' and later Triprayar is said to derive, became part of the Canoli Canal inland waterway at the end of the 18th century. The temple is today one of the major shrines administered by the Cochin Devaswom Board, which lists it among its principal temples.
Architecture and sacred features
The DTPC describes a golden finial (thazhikakudam) over the sanctum, a conical copper roof on the sanctum and a copper-plated namaskara mandapam in front of it. Wood carvings, mural paintings and sculptures inside the temple depict scenes from the Ramayana.
Alongside Rama, the Cochin Devaswom Board records separate shrines for Sastha and Gosala Krishna; Wikipedia adds shrines of Shiva as Dakshinamurti and Ganesha, and worship of Hanuman, Chathan and the serpent deities.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Thriprayar is an active temple that follows traditional Kerala temple customs. Crowds are heaviest during Karkidakam for the Nalambalam pilgrimage and on Vrischika Ekadasi. Confirm current darshan timings, dress rules and festival dates with the temple office or the Cochin Devaswom Board before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Cochin Devaswom Board before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
Thriprayar Ekadasi
The temple's main festival; on Ekadasi day Rama is taken out in procession with as many as 21 elephants, according to the Thrissur district administration.
Pooram Purappadu and Uthram Vilakku
Begins with the Kottippurappedal ritual. On the seventh day the deity returns to the temple and then leaves for the Arattupuzha Pooram, according to Kerala Tourism.
Arattupuzha Pooram
Kerala Tourism describes Thriprayar Thevar as the deity who leads this festival, in which many deities from temples of Thrissur district take part.
Nalambalam pilgrimage
Pilgrims begin the one-day circuit of the four Ramayana-brother temples at Thriprayar.
Location
How to Reach Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple
The DTPC places Thriprayar about 22 km from Thrissur town, with Thriprayar bus stand about 1 km from the temple, Irinjalakuda railway station about 25 km and Cochin International Airport about 56 km away. Kerala Tourism gives Thrissur railway station as about 21 km away.
Location: Thriprayar, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport (about 56 km, per DTPC Thrissur)
Nearest railway station: Thrissur (about 21 km, per Kerala Tourism); Irinjalakuda (about 25 km, per DTPC)
More in Hindu temples in Kerala · Rama (four-armed, as Thriprayarappan or Thriprayar Thevar) temples · Temples in Chavakkad Taluk · Temples in Thrissur District
Questions
Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is worshipped at Thriprayar temple?
Rama, shown with four arms holding a conch, a discus, a bow and a garland. He is locally called Thriprayarappan or Thriprayar Thevar.
What is the Nalambalam pilgrimage?
A one-day pilgrimage in Karkidakam (July-August) to the temples of Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Shatrughna at Payammal.
What is meenoottu at Thriprayar?
It is an offering in which devotees feed the fish in the river beside the temple, believed to honour Vishnu's Matsya (fish) incarnation.
What is the origin story of the Thriprayar idol?
According to belief recorded by the Cochin Devaswom Board, the image was once worshipped by Krishna at Dwaraka and was later recovered from the sea by fishermen.
When is Thriprayar Ekadasi?
It falls in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November-December) and is the temple's main festival.
Who manages Thriprayar temple?
The Cochin Devaswom Board.
Sources and attribution
- Cochin Devaswom Board — Cochin Devaswom Board diary/directory (temple profiles, PDF)
- District Tourism Promotion Council, Thrissur — Thriprayar Sri Rama Temple
- District Administration, Thrissur (Government of Kerala) — Main Pilgrim Centers
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala (Kerala 365) — Triprayar Pooram Purappadu & Uthram Vilakku
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala — Triprayar Thevar and the Arattupuzha Pooram
- Onmanorama — PM offers prayers at Triprayar Sree Rama Swami temple, performs 'meenoottu' (2024)
- Wikipedia — Thriprayar Temple
Further reading: Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Pilgrim Circuit