Temples in Munnar: 15 Famous & Ancient Munnar Temples to Visit
While visiting temples was not my primary goal during my Munnar trip, somewhere amid the tea plantations and scenic sights, I found myself unexpectedly immersed in the world of Munnar temples. On the very first day of my stay, a homestay host told me that there are many ancient temples located in the area and all of them have their own unique legends, and since then, I got engaged in this little pilgrimage adventure. And as my Munnar experience revealed, this town has its hidden side, which most guidebooks do not pay attention to. So, here is the compilation of information about all the temples I got acquainted with in Munnar.
Along with exploring ancient temples, you can also discover other places to visit in Munnar during your trip.
Best Temples in Munnar
Overall, during my stay, I was able to see and hear about fifteen temples located in Munnar and the nearest villages. Let’s have a closer look at them.
1. Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple
The first temple I visited is located on a hill and is devoted to Lord Muruga. As I learned from my guide, it used to be worshipped by the members of Muthuvan tribe and three poojas are still held here daily, the morning Usha pooja and the evening Attazha pooja. This place can be really felt during the quieter noon hours, so I can say that it can be regarded as one of the most ancient temples in Munnar.
2. Sree Ayyappa Temple, Anachal
Sree Ayyappa Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, Ganesh and Nagaraja, is located in Anachal. According to my guide, it resembles the Sabarimala Shri Dharma Sastha Temple in its rituals.
3. Sree Krishna Temple
Devoted to Lord Krishna, Sree Krishna Temple holds a ten day annual festival, described to me in detail by a local shopkeeper. I unfortunately missed the festival dates, but the temple is peaceful during an ordinary weekday.
4. Sree Dharmasastha Temple
As I learned, Sree Dharmasastha Temple is devoted to Lord Dharmasastha, or Ayyappa. The temple’s architecture is more modest than in some other temples nearby. Also, one of the popular temple in Munnar.
5. Mariamman Kovil
Also called Sree Poomariyamman Temple, this temple is located right in the centre of Munnar town and thus, it became the most accessible point of my temple adventure. I visited this temple accidentally while returning from the local market and stayed there longer than I originally intended.
6. Sri Ganesha Temple
It is the temple that literally left me speechless owing to the impressive size of the Ganesha statue standing there. It is considered the largest in South India as it is 38 feet tall. Being situated in the Kannan Devan Hills, it is one of the most visited temple in Munnar places both by tourists and local people.
7. Munnar Vanapathrakaliamman Temple
Hidden in the Periyavarai Estate, this temple is devoted to Goddess Amba, which is a manifestation of the Goddess Durga. It took me some time to find it, but the quiet location of this place near the plantation definitely worth all the effort.
8. Sree Murugan Kovil
It is another temple devoted to Lord Muruga and known for celebration of Thrikkarthika festival. I was fortunate to observe it in the process of preparation and I saw the strings of lights already being installed on the approach to the temple.
9. Santhigiri Sree Maheswari Temple
It is a temple that is situated in Adimali, in the vicinity of Munnar and is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is situated among very green areas and it is the most tranquil place I found during my trip.
10. Sree Parthasarathy Temple
This is another small temple of Lord Krishna in his Parthasarathy form. The caretaker who was responsible for this place seemed to be very happy with the fact that somebody takes interest in its history.
11. Parvathi Amman Temple
It is also a temple hidden from the main path that is devoted to Goddess Parvathi. It is located in a quiet area and I found it due to the recommendation of my taxi driver. One of the famous temples in Munnar.
12. Shri Kaliyamman Temple
It is a temple devoted to Goddess Kali. It has a rather devotional atmosphere compared to other temples I visited, and it is decorated with very vivid paintings around the main shrine. It is also considered one of the Top temple in Munnar.
13. Sree Krishnaswamy Temple
It is another Krishna shrine. This temple looks architecturally similar to several other temples in Kerala that I visited while traveling in this state. Also, one of the popular temple in Munnar.
14. Sree Narayanapuram Mahavishnu Temple
This temple is situated in the village of Chithirapuram and it is one of the oldest shrines that I have seen during my trip as it is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is considered several hundred years old. Wood carvings and an open courtyard gave it a specific Kerala character.
15. Mullakkal Bhagavathy Temple
This one was left for my last day of visiting temples in Munnar, and it certainly lived up to the expectations. Being considered the best temples in Munnar by the locals for cultural importance, it is devoted to goddess Durga. Munnar is famous for its festive ambience especially during Navratri when deity is decorated with the best decorations possible.
Best Time to Visit Temples in Munnar
According to my personal experience, morning hours from six to nine were the best to visit most of the temples, while the weather was still mild. In terms of season, I personally prefer going there from October to March due to the good weather conditions as it allows walking around much easier than in other periods.
Temple Timings in Munnar
The temple timings of most of the temples that I have visited follow a similar pattern: opening in the morning and closing for several hours in the middle of the day and then opening again in the evening.
| Time Slot | Typical Hours |
| Morning | 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Mid-day Closure | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
There are some smaller temples, for example Parvathi Amman Temple, where the timing of opening is shorter, so it is recommended to check the schedule locally before the planned visit.
Religious Festivals Celebrated in Munnar Temples
As I got to know, there were some preparations for festivals going on. The locals gladly shared their information with me about the festivals that I will probably be able to see during my next visit.
- Thrikkarthika, celebrated in Sree Murugan Kovil and Subrahmanya Swami Temple, usually takes place in November or December.
- Ten day festival in Sree Krishna Temple with processions and traditional performances of Ottanthullal and Kavadiyattam.
- Navratri celebrations in Mullakkal Bhagavathy Temple, marked by the elaborate decoration of the deity.
- Uthram asterism celebration in the Subrahmanya Swami Temple in the Malayalam month of Meenam, taking place in March or April.
How to Reach Temples in Munnar
The distance of most of the temples to Munnar is quite short, so getting around is easy.
- I had hired a taxi to go around most of the temples in a half day trip.
- There are some temples, such as Mariamman Kovil and Sri Ganesha Temple, which are close to the city, so I just walk around.
- However, there are some temples located further from Munnar, for example, Santhigiri Sree Maheswari at Adimali, so these temples can be referred to as temples near Munnar, which required some additional time
However, if coordinating your trip seems overwhelming, you can explore our Munnar tour packages to plan temple visits along with other sightseeing attractions according to your travel preferences.
Things to Know Before Visiting Temples in Munnar
Some useful tips I’ve got from my personal experience:
- Wearing modest clothes is the rule in most temples and in some cases it is necessary to remove footwear before reaching the entrance area of the temple.
- Photographing in the inner part of the temple is usually not allowed but photographing in the courtyard is acceptable.
- Signage in smaller temples is not always available and, thus, it is better to use guidance from locals rather than maps when finding a place.
- It was helpful to have some change in cash because in many temples there is no way to pay for offerings using a card.
Festivals add extra life to temples, but bring more people too. So, decide if you need it to be quieter or you prefer to go on a crowded day.
Temples in Munnar vs Other Religious Places
In comparison to other pilgrimage destinations of Kerala which I visited previously, temples in Munnar looked quite differently.
| Factor | Munnar Temples | Larger Kerala Pilgrimage Sites |
| Crowd Levels | Generally quiet, except during festivals | Often heavily crowded year round |
| Scale | Mostly small to mid sized shrines | Large temple complexes |
| Setting | Surrounded by tea estates and hills | Often located in towns or cities |
| Experience | Peaceful, low key, personal | More structured, ritual heavy |
If you want to add some adventure to your Munnar trip, you can also try ziplining in Munnar along with exploring its temples and scenic attractions.
FAQs
Q. Is there an ancient temple in Munnar?
There is an Ancient temple in Munnar Sree Narayanapuram Mahavishnu Temple in Chithirapuram which is thought to be hundreds of years old, has wood carvings and architectural elements characteristic of Kerala temples.
Q. Which temple in Munnar is dedicated to Lord Murugan?
In Munnar there are two temples – Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple and Sree Murugan Kovil, where you can pray to Lord Muruga.
Q. Are temples in Munnar open throughout the year?
Almost all temples remain open throughout the year but sometimes their timing may differ during festivals, so it’s worth checking if you want to visit them during any.
Q. Is there a dress code for visiting temples in Munnar?
Modest clothing is required in most temples and removal of footwear is necessary prior to entering the premises.
Q. Can I take photographs inside Munnar temples?
Usually, you are not allowed to take pictures in the inner part of the temple but photographing in the outer courtyard is acceptable. You may ask about it if you are not sure.
Q. Which are the best temples to visit in Munnar for a peaceful experience?
Based on my own visits, Santhigiri Sree Maheswari Temple and Parvathi Amman Temple stood out as the most famous temple in Munnar, both tucked away from the busier parts of town with genuinely calm surroundings.
