4 Best Sights in Kerala, India

At Azhimala Beach, a nearly 18-meter-tall statue of Lord Shiva towers over the emerald waters of the Arabian Sea. Mounted on a rock jutting out of the sea, the intricate concrete sculpture depicts the god holding another Hindu goddess, Ganga, in his hair. It adjoins a colorful and revered Aazhimala Shiva Temple, which is believed to date back to the 8th century.

Known as Dakshin Kashi, or the Varanasi of the south, Varkala is a major center for the worship of Vishnu. At the Janardhana Swamy temple, you can see what happens at a popular Hindu pilgrimage destination—the prayers; the morning and evening aarti (devotions), when the gods are feted with oil lamps; and the customs of the devotees. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the inner sanctum, but you can certainly view the architecture and soak up the atmosphere of this pretty and very busy 2,000-year-old temple.

Photographs of the deity are not allowed, and there may be a charge for using a camera outside.

The grand Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, has a seven-story gopuram (entrance tower) that's as wide as it is tall to accommodate an unusual reclining statue of a very dark-skinned Vishnu (Padmanabha), lying in eternal slumber on a five-headed serpent. The date of its original construction has been placed at 3000 BC; legend has it that it was built by 4,000 masons, 6,000 laborers, and 100 elephants over the course of six months. In the main courtyard there's an intricate granite sculpture, supplemented by more stonework on the nearly 400 pillars supporting the temple corridors. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple or inner sanctum but are welcome to view the impressive structure from the outside. The hours of opening reflect the eccentric uniqueness of this magnificent-looking and much revered house of worship: 3:30 am–4:45 am, 6:30 am–7 am, 8:30 am–10 am, 5 pm–6:15 pm, 6:45 pm–7:20 pm, and a viewing of Vishnu can be booked online. The timings may vary so it is best to check online before visiting. You'll have to take off your shoes, photography is prohibited, and women should wear appropriate clothing (i.e., no shorts or sleeveless or revealing tops). There are shops nearby selling handicrafts.

This unusual temple, one of the largest shrines of its type, sits on the bank of the Valapattanam River at Parassinikkadavu, 18 km (11 miles) from Kannur. It's devoted not to a Vedic god, but to Sree Muthappan, a folk deity of the Thiya community. One school of Hindu thought claims that he is a combined manifestation of both Shiva and Vishnu, another believes he is simply another avatar of Shiva in the form of a tribal hunter. Several colorful legends about him exist. Worship does not take the form of paying homage to an idol but to enactment of the lord's life: the temple hosts such Theyyam performances almost every day of the year. Though it's not as colorful as traditional outdoor festivals, you can at least get a taste of this mystical local form of dance. Because Sree Muthappan is usually pictured with a hunting dog, there is a statue in honor of dogs on the premises; friendly mutts roam the sanctuary, and offerings at the shrine take the form of bronze dog figurines. The temple is also unusual for the fact that toddy (fermented palm sap) and fish are both offered to Sree Muthappan. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the temple but must dress modestly---shoulders and knees should be covered and no footwear is allowed inside.