The origin of Vana Durga Temple can be dated back to the Sixteenth Century, though there are not records about the origin of the temple. The kaavu or sacred grove is home for dense evergreen forest. The kaavu is on the north of the Kolani Sree Krishna Temple.

The swayambhu granite idol has been weakened after many years. The erosion of the idol has been more obvious in the recent years and so it has been covered with a brass cylinder in the shape of a reversed nazhi (local measure)

Location Kerala, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram

Architecture

The main structures of the Amaran kaavu Vana Durga Temple are a small sree kovil, thidappally with a granite nadapanthal and tharas or platforms for Panchamoorthy, Khantakarnan with Veerabhadran, Yakshi and Naga.

Culture

In the olden times people from other parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu migrated to Idukki and so Idukki district is said to have a mixed culture. A large tribal population is settled in Idukki and there are more than 200 tribal clans here. The main inhabitants of this place are the scheduled tribes which include Malayarayan, Mannan, Oorali, Paliyan, Malapandaram, Malayan etc. Out of all the tribes Malayarayan excel in socio economic and educational aspects.

Darsan Info

The temple is open from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.

Darsan Dresscode

At Amaran kaavu Vana Durga Temple , Traditional Kerala attire is preferred.

Famous Festival

April/May :Pooram, Kaapu kettu, Makam pattu, Pooram-idi are the special events during the Pooram

Special Rituals

Pooram-idi performed during the festival is special for this temple. First raw-rice (unakkal ari) is mixed with milk and beaten in a wooden pounding mortar (mara-ural) and then offered to the Goddess. After that the nivedyam is again pounded with kadali plantain, molasses, turmeric and tender coconut. This time the priest pounds it so hard that the mixture is strewn all around. The belief is that the Bhootaganas are fed like that.

Additional Info

 

Malabar Village - Food Court +91 9496969292, Uduppi Restaurant +91 4862224481