Chengannur is an important halting point for Sabarimala Ayyappa
Temple in Kerala. The place itself is famous for several ancient Hindu Temples.
There is a cluster of five temples in Chengannur Area of Kerala built by
Pandavas of the Mahabharata.
Legend has it that the Pandavas ruled Hastinapur for a
couple of decades after the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. Later, after
crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura left on a pilgrimage. When they
reached the banks of Pampa River in Kerala, each of the Pandava brothers built
a shrine dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
- Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple by Yudhishthira,
- Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema,
- Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna,
- Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and
- Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.
All these ancient temples are noted for its architecture,
tradition, festivals and rituals.
Visiting all the five temples in a day in the above sequence
is considered highly meritorious.