Ambalapuzha - Krishna Ambalam

Hailed as the Dakshina Dwaraka, this ancient kshetra has a long legend entwining with the lives of many devotees of great eminence. It was built at the behest of Bilwamangalaswamiar by Champakasseri Pooratham Thampuran, the ruling prince of this region. It was held very dear to Sri Krishna Bhagawan and he has been abiding here in the peepal tree playing on Murali since Dwaparayuga, lured by the picturesqueness of the bounteous Nature. In colour and sound. The Tampuram enjoyed the vision of Lord, materialised by the Swamiar after special puja. Forthwith, the king surrendered his ruler ship to the Lord and preferred to rule as vice-regent of Lord Krishna under a new name Devanarayana. Devotion knows no bounds. Would God be bound by space? So is devotion. The archamurti - Parthasarathy was brought here from Kurichi then lying under the jurisdiction of Thekkunkur Raja, the sworn enemy of Tampuram, under extra-ordinary daring circumstances. The success was commemmorated with a great festival, and boat race on the Moolam day of Mithunam, since then. And it has become the star attraction for entire Kerala drawing lakhs of visitors. Among the offerings to the Lord, Paalpayasam is very important and it has no second anywhere in any temple in India, says the priest and its beginning too is quite exciting.

Paalpayasam Story

A brahmin donated a huge quantity of paddy to the Lord once for making payasam and it turned out to be unequal in taste and flavor due to using of special ingredients. The Lord pleasing with it, ordained that it should form the chief item of Naivedyam to be offered to him everyday. Since then it is preferred to be offered by the visitors and devotees.

The archamurti is popularly called Unni Krishna, though holds whip in the right hand and conch in the left, as that of Parthasarathy. The temple is well-built and possesses all the essential parts. All festivals auspicious to Sri Krishna are celebrated with pomp and splendour due, but the one occurs in Meena masa takes precedence over every other. Another special festivals, like Palipana and Vijayabali lure Lakhs of people.

It lies 13 km off Aleppy, one of the major cities of Kerala commanding all transport facilities.

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