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Kerala, the visitors' paradise, has soul-cleansing centres too. Pilgrim centres of all religions abound this tiny state. Thousands throng such centres with agitated minds and return cool, calm and collected. Hindus, Christians, Muslims and even microscopic minorities such as Jains have their own pilgrim centres where devotees genuflect to bare their mental trauma. Some of the well known pilgrimage centers in the state are Attukal Bhagavathy temple (Mudippura), knows as the Sabarimala of women, is in Thiruvananthapuram One of the renowned Devi temples in Kerala is Chettikulangara temple, Kayamkulam in Alappuzha A big pilgrim draw, Guruvayoor is known as Kasi of South is located in Trichur district. Mannarasala temple at Harippad is the seat of God of Serpents. Built in a grove, the temple is reputed for having 30,000 images of snake-gods and this is the largest of its kind in the state The temple dedicated to Sree Krishna is at Thrichambaram, Kannur Arattu, the annual festival is celebrated every year in March-April commencing with Kodiyettu on Karthika day. The temple, 3-kms away from Thiruvalla Railway Station, have many deities though it is dedicated Lord Vishnu. One of the oldest, most important temples devoted to Lord Subramania is on Kollam-Alapuzha highway. Kodungaloor, the ancient capital of Kerala, is 35 kms north-west of Ernakulam The first mosque in India. Situated in Methala, Kodungalloor, hardly 20 kilometer from the Irinjalakuda railway station Mortal remains of Uthman Auliya, a revered man in Muslim Community in ottapalam The Jama-at mosque is important for Kerala's Muslims. The annual Nercha festival of the mosque is celebrated for four days in April. On the way to Malappuram, 18 km east of Manjeri, is Kondotti a prominent pilgrim centre for Muslims One of the most important pilgrim centres of the Christians in Kerala, popularly known as St. Sebastian Church, 22 kms. north of Alleppey The church is one of the important pilgrim centres of the Christians in Kerala. Manjinikkara church derives its importance from the holy tomb of late Ignatius Elias III, the Holy Patriarch of Antioch. The first European church in India, which later became the model for building churches in elsewhere the country. Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi during his second visit to Kerala, was buried in the church in 1524.
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Kerala Pilgrimage
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