Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple

Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Swami Temple stands beside the Karamana River at Thiruvallam in Thiruvananthapuram, about 6 kilometres from Kovalam beach. It is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Parasurama, the axe-bearing sage and sixth avatar of Vishnu, who in legend hurled his axe into the sea to bring up the land of Kerala. Shiva is worshipped here with equal importance, and it is one of very few temples with a shrine to Brahma; further shrines honour Matsya, Murukan, Veda Vyasa, Ayyappa, Krishna and Ganapathy. It is among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnava tradition.

The temple is believed to have last been renovated in the 12th or 13th century and is a protected monument. Tradition connects it with Padmanabhaswamy: his head is seen here, his body at the Padmanabhaswamy temple in the city and his feet at Tripadapuram, and the three are visited in one round. It is best known for balitharpanam, rites for ancestors performed after a dip in the river, especially on Karkidaka Vavu.