Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple

The Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple (Shree Kulathupuzha Bala Saasthaa Temple) is a Hindu temple located at Kulathupuzha village in the Kollam district of Kerala. The temple is situated on the banks of the Kulathupuzha River, which is a tributary of the Kallada River. The temple is one of the 108 Sastha shrines in Kerala, and the presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa in the form of Bala Sastha. It is believed that the idol at that location, which is made up of eight stones, was installed by Lord Parashurama.

Visit Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple

The Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a popular pilgrimage destination, and the Vishu Mahotsavam festival in April/May is the most important in the region. It is believed to be customary to feed the fish in the river. The devotees are very protective of the fish in the pond as they believe that they are Lord Ayyappa’s favorites, hence, fishing is strictly prohibited.

The Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is easily accessible by road and is located 11.5 kilometers from Thenmala, 20 kilometers from Anchal, 60 kilometers from Varkala beach, 64 kilometers from Kollam, and 59 kilometers from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest railway station is Thenmala (12 kilometers), and the closest is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (73.5 kilometers). The temple provides a car parking service and charges a fee of INR 30 per vehicle.

The Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple opening timings are 5 AM – 12 PM and 5 PM – 9 PM. The Pooja timings are as follows:

Morning: Palliyunarthal: 4:30 AM, Nada Thurappu: 5:00 AM, Ushapooja: 6:30 AM, Uchapooja: 11:45 AM, Nada Adappu: 12:00 PM.

Evening: Palliyunarthal: 4:30 PM, Nada Thurappu: 5:00 PM, Dheeparadhana: 6:30 PM, Athazhapooja: 7:45 PM, Nada Adappu: 8:00 PM.

[Image source|CC BY-SA 3.0]