Vasudevapuram Temple, Tavanur

Sri Vasudevapuram Temple at Tavanur stands in woodland on the south bank of the Bharathapuzha and is one of three old temples there, lying east of a Shiva temple and a Brahma temple. With the Thirunavaya Vishnu temple across the river they are regarded as a trinity, and the three deities gave Tavanur its old name, Muvalankara, later Muvaankara. Once owned by Maravanchery Mana, it is now run by a trust of devotees.

The temple is said to have been built so that the mother of Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, a devotee of Krishna believed able to see him, could pray here in old age. Its jet-black stone idol shows the young Krishna with butter in both hands and is believed to be the one the Swamiyar worshipped; a Shiva linga, Ganapathi and Shasta were added later. Festivals include Ashtami Rohini in Chingam with a feast for devotees, Niraputhari for the new rice, and Kuchela Dinam in Dhanu, when parched rice is offered.