The beautiful churches of Kerala that tell some great stories

I have studied in convent schools and have prayed in many churches associated with the schools as well as many others we have visited during school excursions and family tours too. The last church I visited was the St. Joseph’s Church in Mysore a few years back. I still remember the stained glass windows and vents of the churches near our school which have always fascinated me! Let me take you through Holy Kerala tour packages in which I take you to a virtual tour of some of the most famous and beautiful churches I have seen so far in the state. Most of them, as I already told, I have visited during my school and college days. The tall ceilings of the churches with the paintings of bright sky, clouds and angels are still fresh in my memories. What I love the most about Kerala’s churches is that they are open anytime to people of all castes and creed and get your mind to relax, no matter how tensed you are! During our exams we would all pray for 10 minutes in the church near our school and this would strengthen us mentally, to face the exam. We were a group of 5 friends – 2 Hindus, 2 Muslims and a Christian!

We would all pray every day at the church and sometimes the Priest would bless us too for the exams. I still remember some different churches we have seen during our school excursion, though I was rarely allowed to go! The ship-shaped church is one such church I cannot forget in my life. The colourful stained glasses and the beautiful and exotic decorations of the altar always fascinates me even now. There’s a calmness you feel once inside a church which is rare to find outside these days. Though I am not a spiritual person, that calmness can make a huge difference to your thought process. 

After my school days, I have visited churches either during family tours or for friends’ marriages. Where I stay now, am surrounded by at least 8 churches within a 1-km radius in the heart of the city! Let us explore the beautiful and fascinating churches of Kerala on Kerala tourism packages focused on churches. Some of them have a strong bond with the history of our country and some others are so vast and beautiful, you will never forget them once you visit.

My Childhood Memories of Churches

I was born and brought up in North Paravoor, a small town which had 8 to 10 churches within the small radius of around 5 kilometers. Yet they all looked different and had a different feel to remember. I remember walking to my school, passing through the premises of the old Jacobite church which looked more like an old Kerala bungalow with huge wooden pillars and terracotta roof. This church, I later realized, was one of the oldest churches established in Kerala during the 16^th century. It is one of the must-visit churches in Kerala packages for the Christians. I have studied in convent schools and there was this historically famous church which was a part of my school! Or rather, the school was a part of the church! Anyway, this church would be our meeting place during lunch time outside our class and we friends would sit there in the shades talking to each other all through the lunch time. The open ground would be mostly occupied by boys and small children playing various games. This is the church I told earlier where we would pray during our exams.

Kottakavu Church 

As we got older, we learnt more about the church. It was actually a very old temple, which was later turned into a church and we could see the remains, of the old temple or church whatever it was, behind the actual church. I have a faint memory of seeing some old stone pillars there. the inside of the church is extremely beautiful. It is a big church and can easily accommodate 1000 to 1500 people at a time. You must visit this Kottakkavu church in Kerala holiday packages with flexible facilities during your next visit. There’s also this Jewish Synagogue and a couple of other churches in North Paravoor which also you can visit in your Muziris Heritage tours. Most of my friends would tell me they feel so nostalgic passing by the church on their Kerala tour holidays from the cities they are settled now.

Jewish Synagogue 

Ship-shaped church 

I remember visiting the Ship-shaped church in Thrissur when I was in 7^th or 8^th standard! Just the fact that it was shaped like a ship was fascinating enough for us at that time. It will be an amusing visit for your children, during your Kerala tour packages from Mumbai. There’s another church near Thrissur, which gave me great pleasure to just see it.

Bible tower 

When I was very young, we used to visit my grandparents in Trissur quite often and the journey included a boat ride. During those days, when I see this white coloured magnificent church near the boat jetty from where we would get a bus to Trissur, I used to feel happy that we would reach soon! Though I cannot recollect the name of the church and where exactly it is located, I still remember the happiness it gave me! The Bible Tower in Thrissur is definitely a place to visit in your next Kerala tour packages from Delhi. It is the tallest church tower in Asia.

Malayattoor church 

The Malayattoor church is another popular church here which is visited particularly during the Easter festival. The church is located on top of the Malayatoor hill and many devotees walk to the church from nearby areas carrying the holy cross as a repentance to all their sins. The church is located near the Athirappilly waterfalls which is a popular holiday destination for tourists during their trip to Kerala. Pathanamthitta is another place to visit for Christian pilgrimage as the place has some of the oldest and beautiful churches in Kerala.

St. Mary's Orthodox Church 

The St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Niranam is believed to be built in 54 AD and considered one of the oldest churches established in Kerala. There are many famous churches in Kottayam, Changanasseri, Pala, Pathanamthitta areas as there’s a major crowd of Christians settled in this part of Kerala. If you happen to visit Allepey during your Kerala tour, while enjoying the houseboat cruise you will see many beautiful churches by the side of the backwaters, some of which you may be able to recognize in some popular movies also.

Arthungal Church 

Vettukad Church

St. Joseph's Metropolitan Church 

The Arthungal church in Allepey is one such famous church you must visit. If you are visiting Trivandrum, you can visit some famous churches there also during your Kerala tours. The Vettukad Church and the St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Church are 2 famous pilgrim centers to visit while in Trivandrum.

Vallarpadam Church 

St. Francis CSI Church

The shopper’s paradise, Kochi, also has many popular and beautiful churches in the city and in the outskirts. The Vallarpadam church is one of the must-visit churches during your Kerala travel in Kochi. The most famous church in Kochi which has a huge historical importance is the St. Francis CSI Church in Fort Kochi which was built by the Portuguese to establish the religion here. The body of Vasco da Gama was buried here initially.

Jewish Synagogue 

The Paradesi Synagogue or the Jewish Synagogue nearby is another popular destination for the tourists on Exclusive Kerala honeymoon packages with price. There are many churches built in the vicinity by the Portuguese and other earlier explorers like the Santa Cruz Cathedral and the St. George Ferona Church.

Mount Carmel Church 

The Mount Carmel Church in Munnar is another church I faintly remember having visited during one of my rare school excursions. This is one of the oldest churches established in the mountain ranges of Kerala. The church played an important role as an asylum to many people during the flood of 1924. It is often visited by many tourists on their Munnar honeymoon packages in Kerala.

Divine retreat Center 

The Divine retreat centre near Kochi is another famous Christian pilgrim centre which is frequently visited by people belonging to all faiths. The place is famous for providing relief to the troubled minds, people addicted to alcohol and drugs and many other troubles in life. Attending a retreat session here is considered to bring the devotees peace of mind and a completely refreshing experience filled with spirituality and divinity. Many believers visit the Divine retreat centre during their honeymoon packages in Kochi.

The role of Christian missionaries in educating and providing medical facilities in the state is enormous. They have been the inevitable building blocks of the currently educated population of Kerala and in extending the charitable medical treatment to millions of poor and the less privileged section of the state. They continue their charming mission to provide world-class education and medical treatment along with a host of other charitable missions to a large section of the society of Kerala.