Bhagawathi temple is on the Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kollam railway line. It is home to Mahadeva. The eastern side enshrines Shiva - Chengannur Mahadevar while the western side enshrines Bhagawati - Parvati. The Shivalingam, is covered with a gold plate bearing an image of Ardhanareeswara - the Shiva-Shakti manifestation of Shiva. Images of Saasta, Ganesha, Krishna and Chandikeswara are also enshrined in the temple.

Legend: This temple is regarded as a Shakti peetham because the temple is associated with the story of Daksha`s sacrifice and Sati`s self-immolation. The reproductive organ of Sati`s body fell here, after she was cut into several pieces by Vishnu`s discus. Another legend has it that Agastya had a vision of the divine marriage of Shiva and Shakti taking place at this shrine, also known as Sonadri or the red hill (Chenkunnu). Yet another one talks about Kannagi of Silappadikaram and Chenkunnu marks the site where she observed penance after incinerating the city of Madurai. The Chera monarch Senkuttuvan brought a piece of stone from the Himalayas and carved her image and consecrated it here as Chenkamalavalli.

This is a sprawling temple complex with a circular sanctum with a copper plated conical roof. The mukha mandapam in front of the temple and other mandapams are full of fine woodwork. The performance hall or the kuttambalam in the temple is incomplete with lamps lit on each of the posts, so the performer`s shadow should not fall on the stage. A three-tiered gopuram marks the entrance. The temple was damaged by fire in the 18th century and later restored.

Legend: An interesting belief prevails in this temple. Celebrated as a symbol of fertility, a menstruation ceremony has been observed periodically in the temple, and per tradition during this period, the Bhagawati shrine is closed and worship is offered to a processional image elsewhere in the temple. After three-days the processional image is taken to the Pampa River on a female elephant after which worship commences at the Bhagawati shrine.

Festivals: The 28 daylong Varshikotsavam begins on the Ardra asterism in the Malayalam month of Dhanus. Shivaratri and Chitra Pournami are also celebrated here.

Mahadevar Temple

Deity: Vishnu, The Chengannoor Mahadevar temple with a shrine to Bhagavati is of great significance in this town.

History: Tiruchenkunroor is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur region of Kerala, connected with Mahabharat.

Legend: Nammalwar describes Chenkunrur as a town where the smoke emanating from the vedic ritual yagnas fills the sky and as a place surrounded by rich lush vegetation (of bananas and coconuts). Legend has it that Yuddhishtra offered prayers to Vishnu, seeking pardon for his act on the battlefield, where he uttered the words `Ashwattaama hatah kunjaraha` in an attempt to deceive Drona and lead him into a defenceless state where Arjuna brought Drona`s life to an end.

(Chengannur - Yuddhishtra, Tiruppuliyur - Bheema, Aranmula - Arjuna, Tiruvamundur - Nakula and Tirukkadittaanam - Sahadeva).

Festivals:It takes place in the malayalam month of Meenam with performances of Chakkiyar koothy, Koodiyattam etc.