Annapurneshwari Temple, Cherukunnu

The Annapurneshwari Temple at Cherukunnu in Kannur district is dedicated to Annapurna, the goddess of food, who shares the temple with Krishna. It began as a Vishnu or Krishna temple some 1,500 years old, and Avittam Thirunal Raja Raja Varma of the Chirakkal Kovilakam raised the present building. Legend tells that the goddess came from Kashi in a golden ship with two other goddesses and a boatman and landed at the spot now called Aayiram Thengu.

The temple is built of a single type of stone, laid with a paste of flattened rice and jaggery, and the two sanctums are the same size to show that goddess and god are equally honoured. The entrance faces Krishna's shrine, and a small window opposite the goddess allows her image to be seen from outside. A temple pond lies alongside. The main festival begins at Medam Sankramam in mid-April and lasts seven days.