Chinakkathoor Pooram

About Chinakkathoor Pooram

Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple is located at Palappuram, Palakkad District, Kerala.The Chinakkathoor Pooram is held annually at the Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple.The limelight of the festival is on a grand procession of 33 tuskers. The highlight of the evening festivities is a grand procession of 33 tuskers. Traditional performances of the Panchavadyam or the temple orchestra and various other art forms like Vellattu, Theyyam, Poothanum thirayum, Kaalavela, Kuthiravela, Aandi Vedan, Karivela, and so on are also performed.The Tholppavakkoothu, a ritualistic shadow puppet show, is presented at the temple premises every evening for the 17 days preceding the festival. Another beautiful sight is the procession of sixteen well-decorated models of the kuthira (horse) and the kaala (bull) brought ceremoniously to the temple by devotees.The highlight of the daylong pooram at the Temple is a grand procession of 33 gaily caparisoned elephants in the evening. Tholpavakoothu (shadow puppetry) is conducted on 17 evenings before the pooram.

Once you are in Kerala during the festival season here, you may exclaim that it is the land of Poorams, the festivals. There are many major and minor Poorams during the season and Chinakkathoor Pooram is one such festival which you will simply love to be part of.

Interesting things to Visit

Topslip:

It is a location in the Anamalai Hills. It is about 37 kms from Pollachi. This small town is an ideal picnic spot. Arrangements are available at Topslip to take tourists around the Sanctuary on elephant back or by van.

Thirumoorthy Temple:

It is situated at the foot of Thiru moorthy Hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy Dam. This is about 20 kms from Udumalpet on the Highway from Palani to Coimbatore. A perennial stream flows by the side of the Sri Amaralingeswarar temple and nearby there is a waterfalls. The Crocodile Farm at Amaravathi Dam is just 25 kms from here.

Parambikulam - Aliyar Multipurpose Project:

This project consists of a series af dams interconnected by tunnels and canals at various elevation in order to harness the Parambikulam, Aliyar, Nirar, Sholiyar, Thunkadavu, Thenkkadi and Palar rivers, laid for irrigation and power generation.

Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary:

This Sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 1,400 mts in the Western Ghats near Pollachi (about 90 Kms from Coimbatore). The area of the sanctuary is 958 sq.kms. It has various kinds of fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth-bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, red-whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, green pigeon, etc.

Silent Valley:

Silent Valley is a virgin, fragile forest, nestled in the mountain folds of the Nilgiris in Southern India. In God’s own country, Kerala, Silent Valley is surely God’s own abode. It has etymological connotations to the absence of noisy insect cicadas that are generally abundant in tropical rain forests, although now, cicadas form an integral part of the forest.

Palakkad Fort:

Palakkad Fort was built by Hyder Ali, the mighty ruler of Mysore, in the year 1766 A.D. The fort was primarily built to speed up the communication between Coimbatore and the West Coast. The region, during those days had a great strategic importance. The fort however fell into the hands of British Empire in the year 1784 after a siege that lasted 11 days. With the Zamorin’s capture of the fort, the dispute and the battle was not meant to end there. The British recaptured the fort in the year 1790 A.D. and with that established their stronghold in the region. Palakkad Fort, at present, is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Mathur Mana Temple:

This hindu temple is situating in thottakkara 1.5 kms awway from Ottapalam railway station .This is a vinayaka temple and having a key role in Chinakkathoor pooram.

Help Line/Phone Number

Police Station:

Chelakkara Police Station
Pazhayannur Road
Chelakkara, Kerala.

Police Station
Mannarkkad, Kerala.

Police Station
Perintalmanna, Kerala.

Karunya Nagar Police Station
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Tel:0422 2615701.

Thondamuthur Police Station
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Tel: 0422 2617258.

Nearest Hospital:

Ashwini Hospital
Ottappalam Main Road
Ottapalam, Kerala

SEMALK Hospital
Palakkad Ponnani Road
Ottapalam, Kerala

Valluvanad Hospital
Killickkavu Temple Road
Ottapalam, Kerala

Seventh day adventist Hospital
Ottapalam, Kerala.

Sandhya Ram Hospital
Kadampazhipuram 678633

Aihms homoeopathy multi speciality clinic
NH 213, Perintalmanna
Kerala 679322
Tel: 049 33326676 – 09447630668 – 0994603000.

Location info

• Address: Palappuram Near Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala, India.

• District: Palakkad District.

• Nearest City: Coimbatore, Pollachi, Cherpulachery, Shoranur, Thrissur and Madurai.

• Best time to visit: February to March/April.

Things to do at Chinakkathoor Pooram

Watch the grand procession of 33 tuskers and art forms like Vellattu, Theyyam, Poothanum thirayum, Kaalavela, Kuthiravela, Aandi Vedan, Karivela. Visit also Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Kerala. 4G is reliable in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and along the coastal belt. Coverage may be weaker in remote sections of the Western Ghats, deep forest reserves, and certain backwater stretches. Most hotels, houseboats, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Kerala cuisine — fish curry, appam with stew, puttu, and Kerala sadhya — is widely available and famously delicious.

Hotels & accommodation nearby

Accommodation is available in the nearest town or city. Options range from homestays to luxury resorts. Kerala’s homestay network is excellent and offers authentic local experiences.

Climate & weather

Kerala has a tropical monsoon climate with warm, humid conditions year-round. The best time to visit is November to February, when temperatures are a pleasant 22°C–30°C with low humidity and clear skies. March–May is hot and humid (up to 36°C). The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rainfall — the landscape transforms into lush green and this is the best time for Ayurvedic treatments. The northeast monsoon (October–November) brings shorter showers. Hill stations (Munnar, Wayanad) remain cooler year-round.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road — check locally for the closest option.

Best time to visit Chinakkathoor Pooram

Chinakkathoor Pooram takes place according to the Malayalam calendar. The best time to witness this festival is during its scheduled dates, which vary annually. Most Kerala festivals occur between November and May (the dry season). Check the official dates from Kerala Tourism before planning your visit.

How to reach Chinakkathoor Pooram

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (COK) (approximately 40 km). Nearest Railway Station: Thrissur Railway Station. The destination is well-connected by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and private taxis from major towns.

Timings & opening hours

Festival timings vary by event. Most temple festivals start in the morning with flag-hoisting ceremonies and continue through the evening with processions, cultural programs, and fireworks. Night processions typically start around 8:00 PM–9:00 PM and continue past midnight.

Entry fee & tickets

Most festival events are free to attend and watch. Processions and temple grounds can be accessed without charge. Special seating for fireworks viewing may cost INR 100–500. Some cultural performances during festivals may have ticketed entry.

Duration needed

Major festivals last 8–10 days. Visitors typically spend 2–3 hours per day watching key events. The main procession day requires 4–6 hours.

Safety tips

Very large crowds gather at Chinakkathoor Pooram — keep your belongings secure and watch for pickpockets. Arrive early for a good viewing position of processions. Follow the instructions of festival volunteers and police. Keep children close and establish a meeting point in case of separation. Carry water and stay hydrated. Avoid bringing large bags or valuables to crowded festival grounds.

Things to carry

Comfortable shoes for walking and standing (crowds can be very large, seating may not be available), drinking water in a reusable bottle, a hat or cap, sunscreen and umbrella for day events, a light snack, earplugs (processions can be very loud with drums and fireworks), a camera (zoom lens recommended for procession shots), a power bank, and a small bag that can be secured against pickpockets.

Nearby visiting places

Guruvayoor Temple, Athirappilly Waterfall, Vazhachal Waterfall, Punnathur Kotta, Kerala Kalamandalam, Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary, Vilangan Hills

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (COK) (approximately 40 km). Nearest Railway Station: Thrissur Railway Station. The destination is well-connected by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and private taxis from major towns.

History of Chinakkathoor Pooram

Chinakkathoor Pooram is one of Kerala’s vibrant festivals that showcase the state’s rich cultural and religious diversity. Kerala’s festivals are renowned for their spectacular processions featuring caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion ensembles (pancha vadyam), colourful umbrellas, and fireworks. Many festivals are temple-related and follow the Malayalam calendar, creating a year-round cycle of celebrations that are an integral part of Kerala’s cultural identity. The festival reflects the unique syncretic traditions of Kerala where communities of all faiths participate in each other’s celebrations.

Frequently asked questions

When does this festival take place? — Most Kerala festivals follow the Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham). Dates vary annually — check the Kerala Tourism website or local sources for exact dates for your travel period. Is the festival free to attend? — Yes, all processions and public events are free. Special seating areas for fireworks or cultural programmes may have ticketed entry. How crowded is it? — Very crowded during major festivals. Large events like Thrissur Pooram attract hundreds of thousands of people. Arrive early, keep belongings secure, and establish meeting points. What should I wear? — Comfortable clothing suitable for standing in crowds. Modest dress is appreciated. Wear comfortable shoes.