Janardhana Swamy Temple at Varkala is a 2000-year old ancient shrine located in Varkala famous for its peaceful atmosphere and architectural marvel. This is one of the most popular pilgrim centers in this beach destination. Overlooking the well known Papanasam Beach, this shrine draws plenty of pilgrims and tourists because of its aesthetic appearance. Besides, it is close to some of the beaches in Varkala. All these special features make it one of the most-visited places in this destination. Plan your trip to Janardhana Swamy Temple through us. Log on our website www.kochitaxi.in today and get more information about this sacred shrine.
An Ancient Temple
Janardhana Swamy Temple, also known as the Varkala temple is a 2000-year old temple located on a steep hill at the entrance of a lovely beach. It is on the NH47 near sea and about 25 kilometers away from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. A lot of devotees visit this temple every day in order to offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, the main idol of the temple. Lord Vishnu is in his Janardhana form in this temple. Nestled near the Arabian Sea, this temple is often referred as the Dakshin Kashi. So, it is considered as the Benares of the South.
Main features
The main idol of this temple is Lord Janardhana with four arms. Besides, this shrine has several beautifully painted idols of different Hindu gods such as Lord Shiva, Garuda and Hanuman. Most of them placed at the entrance of the sanctorum as if they greet the worshippers. An ancient bell removed from a Dutch Ship is certainly a great feature of this temple. This ship sank near the Janardhana Swamy Temple at Varkala and the captain donated this bell to the temple. The crews in the ship could escape without any causalities and the captain donated it to the temple as a token of his gratitude.
An Architectural Grandeur
Janardhana Swamy temple draws plenty of tourists because of its outstanding architectural charm. At the pavilion, there are several wooden carvings of nine planets. A bali Peetha is also placed in the hall of the temple. The high entrance arch is another great feature of this temple which is decorated with tiled roof.
This temple has tall granite posts and large brass bells which certainly catch the attention of people who visit it. The original date of construction of this shrine is not known but the inscriptions available here indicate that several renovations had been carried for it at different time of the history. You can also see a pool on the northern part of Janardhana Swamy temple called ‘Chakra Theertha’ with nearly 240 feet in circumference.
The main attraction of this temple is its proximity to the sacred Papanasam Beach. The water in this beach destination is known for its medicinal properties. The water that washes the medicinal plants in this region makes the water unique with outstanding medicinal properties. This temple is also a major Ayurvedic rejuvenation and treatment center in Varkala.
Many people from different parts of Kerala visit this temple during the Arattu, the festival of Janardhana Swamy Temple at Varkala. It falls in the month of March / April. Karkidaka Vavu day is another great time during which thousands of devotees visit this temple in order performs poojas and pay homage to their ancestors. Varkala Janardhana Swamy temple is a must-visit shrine in Kerala that allures devotees and travelers with its peaceful ambience and eye-catching architecture. Don’t forget to visit this shrine during your trip to the beach destination of Varkala.
