Vettikkode Sree Nagaraja Temple
A major serpent-grove shrine used for Ketu-dosha remedies.
⭐ Why it is famous
Like Mannarasala, this is a serpent (Nāgaraja) shrine rather than a dedicated planetary temple; it is regarded as one of Kerala's principal Nāga kshetras and is popularly treated as the Ketu stop of local Navagraha circuits because Ketu, like Rāhu, is linked to serpent iconography.
📜 Pilgrimage history
The temple sits in an old sacred grove on the Kayamkulam backwater belt and has long been a pilgrimage stop paired with Mannarasala for devotees performing sarpa-related vows, especially around childbirth and dosha remedies.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Morning: 5:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Evening: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
🙏 Darśan details
- Sarpa Bali and Noorum Palum (milk-and-turmeric) offerings are the main rituals sought here.
- Traditional dress expected: mundu for men, sari/set-mundu for women.
- Often visited on the same day as Mannarasala, 10 km away.
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Vettikkode Sree Nagaraja Temple, Vettikkode, Kayamkulam, AlappuzhaKayamkulam railway station (KYJ) — 6 km
Vettikkode, Kayamkulam bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Cochin International Airport (COK) — 100 km
Off the Kayamkulam–Haripad road, reachable by local buses and autos from Kayamkulam town.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Lodges in Kayamkulam
- Backwater resorts around Alappuzha, 35 km
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹800 | ₹1,800 | ₹4,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Kayamkulam backwaters
- Krishnapuram Palace museum
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
Ayilyam days; Kumbham–Meenam festival season (Feb–Mar)