Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Hindu temple in Kottayam district, India
Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Erumely, in Kerala's Kottayam district. It is made up of two separate sections called Valiyambalam and Kochambalam, located roughly half a kilometer apart from each other.
The temple has been a key stop for pilgrims traveling to Sabarimala for centuries, making it one of the oldest active pilgrimage points in the region. Over time, it became deeply woven into the religious traditions of the local community.
Each February, the temple holds a ten-day festival with processions, traditional music, and religious ceremonies that visitors can witness firsthand. The event draws pilgrims from across Kerala and marks one of the most active moments in the local religious calendar.
The temple welcomes pilgrims throughout the year, but February draws by far the largest crowds, so arriving early in the day helps avoid long waits. Accommodation and meals for pilgrims are available on site, managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Right next to the temple stands a Vavar mosque, and many pilgrims visit both sites one after the other as part of their journey. This side-by-side presence of a Hindu temple and a mosque is deeply tied to the Sabarimala pilgrimage tradition.
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