Vadakkumnathan Temple

The Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur is dedicated to Shiva and is thought to date from the 8th or 9th century CE, which places it among the oldest temples in Kerala. Its central shrine, the Sreekovil, holds a self-manifested Shiva Lingam and is enclosed by a rectangular wall pierced by four large gopurams, one on each side.

Murals on the temple walls illustrate episodes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas. The temple is the centre of the annual Thrissur Pooram festival, and its conservation work earned an Award of Excellence in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage awards. Visitors must leave footwear outside before entering the inner sanctum.