Knowing the correct Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings is the first thing to get right before you travel to Kerala’s most famous serpent shrine. The Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple sits in Haripad, in the Alappuzha district, and draws devotees from across the world. Many come seeking relief from Sarpa Dosha, blessings for children, or the rare darshan of a female priest.
Yet several travel pages still list old hours and a fabricated online “payment gateway” for every ritual. This guide fixes that with details checked directly against the official temple website. So you plan your trip once and get it right.
Go Kshetra is an independent pilgrimage guide. We are not the official website of the Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, and we have no affiliation with the Mannarasala Illom. We do not accept bookings, poojas, donations, or payments. Use the official temple portal linked below for all reservations and offerings.
Key Information at a Glance
- Temple darshan: 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Mon–Sat). Morning extends to 12:00 noon on Sunday.
- Mannarasala Amma darshan: 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, daily.
- Entry fee: Free for general darshan. Poojas and offerings cost extra.
- Booking: You can book some poojas online. Several vazhipad need in-person booking at the counter.
- Location: Mannarasala P.O, Haripad, Alappuzha, Kerala 690514.
- Nearest station: Haripad Railway Station, about 2 km away.
Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings: The Official Schedule
The temple follows two separate darshan schedules, and most guides mention only one. General darshan of the deities runs in two sessions each day. The morning session opens at 5:00 AM and closes at 11:00 AM, while the evening session runs from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
On Sundays, the morning slot stretches to 12:00 noon. Because these Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings come from the temple’s own records, plan around them rather than the outdated 7 AM start you may see elsewhere.
| Darshan | Days | Timings |
|---|---|---|
| Temple darshan (deities) | Mon–Sat | 5:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Temple darshan (deities) | Sunday | 5:00 AM – 12:00 noon & 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Mannarasala Amma darshan | Daily | 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon & 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Prasadam distribution | Daily | From 7:00 AM |
The second schedule is special to this temple. Mannarasala Amma, the revered priestess, gives her own darshan twice a day. The first window runs from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon, and the second from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
So if meeting Amma matters to you, aim for the late-morning slot. These timings shift on Pooyam and Ayilyam days, and the whole schedule can change during festivals. Confirm on the day of any major event.
Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings and Entry Fee
The Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings cost you nothing to use, because general darshan is completely free. You can walk in during darshan hours and offer your prayers without buying a ticket. The temple charges only for a specific vazhipad (ritual offering), such as Noorum Palum, Sarpabali, or Ashta Naga Pooja.
Always buy ritual items from the Devaswom-run stalls inside the temple. The temple does not allow externally sourced or counterfeit offering materials.
What Makes Mannarasala Different From Every Other Temple
This is not an ordinary darshan stop, and understanding why helps you appreciate the visit. Many consider Mannarasala the only major temple in Kerala led by a female priest. She is the Mannarasala Amma (Valia Amma), from the hereditary Mannarasala Illom family.
The sacred grove around the shrine holds more than 100,000 serpent images among the trees. That makes it the largest temple of its kind in the state. Legend also ties the temple to Lord Parasurama, the sage who is said to have created Kerala and sought the serpent king’s blessing.
Serpent worship here follows nature’s rhythm, so the temple observes a hibernation period. From around Edavam 15 (late May) until Kanni Ayilyam, the major serpent rituals pause so the Nagas rest undisturbed. If you want the full ritual calendar, plan your visit after Kanni Ayilyam rather than in early summer.
Key Poojas and Offerings You Should Know
Most visitors come to Mannarasala for a specific ritual, not just darshan. The temple is famous as a remedy centre for serpent-related afflictions. Treat these offerings as matters of faith and Vedic tradition, not as guaranteed medical or worldly outcomes.
Uruli Kamazhthu — the fertility ritual
This is the offering that made Mannarasala famous among childless couples. First, the devotees place an uruli, a traditional bronze vessel, upright at the shrine after prayer. Mannarasala Amma then inverts it and keeps it in the Nilavara, the sacred underground chamber.
Once a child arrives, the family returns to perform Uruli Nivarppu as thanksgiving. That homecoming often includes a Thulabharam and a Pal Payasam offering.
Noorum Palum and Sarpabali — Sarpa Dosha remedies
Noorum Palum is a sacred blend of ground rice and milk offered to the serpent deities. Devotees regard it as a remedy for Sarpa Dosha and Rahu Dosha.
Sarpabali is the more elaborate propitiation. Families choose it when they believe Sarpa Dosha affects their lineage. Both rituals sit at the heart of Kerala’s Naga worship tradition.
Ashta Naga Pooja — for Kala Sarpa Yoga
If your concern is Kala Sarpa Yoga, this is the ritual dedicated to it. That astrological condition occurs when all planets fall between Rahu and Ketu in a birth chart. The Ashta Naga Pooja invokes the eight primordial serpents as a shanti karma. Because the temple runs it only on certain days, book ahead and confirm the observance day first.
| If you are seeking… | Common offering at Mannarasala |
|---|---|
| Blessings for a child | Uruli Kamazhthu (and later, Uruli Nivarppu) |
| Relief from Sarpa Dosha / Rahu Dosha | Noorum Palum, Sarpabali |
| Remedy for Kala Sarpa Yoga | Ashta Naga Pooja |
| Atonement for harm to serpents | Sarpa Prathima Nadakkeveppu |
Booking and Ticket Information (What Actually Works)
Once you have the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings sorted, booking is the next step, and here is the correction that matters most, because many pages get it wrong. Mannarasala uses a mix of online and in-person booking, not a single online payment system for everything. You can book several poojas in advance through the temple’s official portal, which saves time on a busy day. However, certain specific vazhipad need your personal presence, and you must book those at the counter inside the temple.
So the honest process looks like this. For advance planning, use the official Book Pooja portal at online.mannarasala.org. For counter-only rituals, reach the temple during darshan hours and book at the sheltered vazhipad counters, where staff guide you through the offering.
Buy every ritual item at the authorized temple stall on site. If you are unsure whether your pooja is online or counter-only, contact the official enquiry desk before you travel.
What if your pooja is not available online?
This is the gap official pages rarely explain. A ritual that you cannot book online is not a dead end. Reach the temple early in darshan hours and book in person at the vazhipad counter.
On heavy festival days like Ayilyam, the counters see long queues, so arriving at opening time is the reliable fallback. When the temple runs a ritual only on select days, check the official annual calendar first rather than assuming it happens daily.
How to Reach Mannarasala Temple
Reaching the temple in time for the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings is straightforward, because Haripad sits on Kerala’s main transport routes. The temple lies about 2 km from National Highway 66, so road access is simple from anywhere in the region.
By air: Cochin International Airport (COK) is the nearest major airport, roughly 120 km away. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) is about 140 km to the south. Taxis and pre-paid transport run from both airports to Haripad.
By train: Haripad Railway Station is the closest, just about 2 km from the temple. Kayamkulam Junction lies around 20 km away, and Alappuzha station around 30 km. Auto-rickshaws and buses run from all three stations if your train does not halt at Haripad.
By road: The Haripad KSRTC bus stand is about 2.5 km from the temple. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses connect Haripad with Kochi, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram. The temple also provides a free parking ground for around 100 vehicles, so driving in stays comfortable.
Where to Stay Near Mannarasala Temple
An overnight stay lets you catch both slots of the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings without rushing. The temple runs its own official guest house, Mandaram, which is the simplest option if you want to stay close. It offers 28 two-bed rooms in both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned categories, plus a dormitory for larger groups. An in-house restaurant serves sattvic vegetarian breakfast and dinner.
The temple describes the rooms as comfortable and affordable, but it does not publish rates online. So contact the guest house reception directly for current tariffs and availability. Beyond Mandaram, Haripad town and nearby Alappuzha offer plenty of private hotels and homestays.
Best Time to Visit and Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings During Festivals
October to March is the best window, when Kerala’s weather stays cool and comfortable. The monsoon months of June to September bring heavy rain, so avoid them if you can. Early mornings and evenings are the calmest times for darshan through the year.
Festival days transform the temple, but they also change the normal schedule and bring large crowds. The world-famous Thulam Ayilyam, known simply as Mannarasala Ayilyam, is the grandest festival. On that day, Amma carries the idol of Sree Nagaraja in the Ezhunnallathu procession to the ancestral Illom.
Kanni Ayilyam marks the birth anniversary of Lord Nagaraja. According to the temple’s own calendar, in 2026 Kanni Ayilyam falls on 6 October and Thulam Ayilyam on 2 November. Because these lunar dates shift each year, the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings and rituals move with them. Confirm the exact day on the official annual calendar before you plan around a festival.
What Most Guides Get Wrong About Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings
- Photography and videography are prohibited inside the temple compound. Do not plan on clicking pictures of the shrine.
- The temple strictly forbids entry into the sacred serpent groves (kavu), both to protect the ecosystem and for your safety.
- Wear traditional, modest attire. Men traditionally wear a mundu, and women prefer sarees or set-mundu.
- Arrive at the 5:00 AM opening for the most peaceful darshan, well before pilgrim buses reach Haripad.
- For Amma’s darshan, follow the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings of 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon rather than the general rush.
- Carry water and light snacks, though the guest house restaurant and local eateries serve vegetarian food.
Nearby Attractions Worth Adding to Your Trip
Haripad sits in the heart of Kerala’s backwater belt, so you can easily pair the temple with a short local tour. The Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple, famous for its Pal Payasam, is about 20 km away. The Kayamkulam backwaters lie roughly 18 km from the temple, and Alappuzha (Alleppey), the hub of Kerala’s houseboat cruises, is around 30 km.
Devotees on a longer Kerala pilgrimage often extend the trip. Many combine it with the Sabarimala pilgrimage or the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
Before You Go
Mannarasala rewards a planned visit more than a rushed one. Fix your slot around the official Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings, and decide in advance whether your chosen pooja is online or counter-only. Reach early if you visit for a specific ritual or during Ayilyam season.
General darshan stays free, and the setting under the serpent grove is genuinely serene. A little planning turns a quick stop into a meaningful pilgrimage. For time-sensitive details, cross-check the temple’s own general information page and Kerala Tourism.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mannarasala Temple
What are the official Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings?
General temple darshan runs from 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on weekdays. The morning session extends to 12:00 noon on Sundays. Mannarasala Amma gives darshan daily from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. These timings can change on festival days.
Do the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings include free entry?
No, general darshan is free for all visitors. You pay only for specific poojas or offerings such as Noorum Palum or Sarpabali, which the temple charges for separately.
Can I book poojas during the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings?
Yes, you can book some poojas in advance through the official portal at online.mannarasala.org. However, certain vazhipad need your personal presence, and you must book those at the temple counter. Check the official site or enquiry desk if you are unsure which applies.
Which pooja is done for childless couples at Mannarasala?
The Uruli Kamazhthu ritual is the offering linked with couples seeking children. The devotee places a bronze uruli at the shrine, and Mannarasala Amma inverts it and keeps it in the Nilavara. Families return for Uruli Nivarppu as thanksgiving once a child arrives.
Which ritual is performed for Sarpa Dosha and Kala Sarpa Yoga?
Noorum Palum and Sarpabali are the main offerings for Sarpa Dosha, while the Ashta Naga Pooja addresses Kala Sarpa Yoga. These are traditional Vedic remedies and matters of faith, not medical treatments.
Is photography allowed inside Mannarasala Temple?
No, photography and videography are prohibited within the temple compound. The temple grants limited exceptions for ceremonies like weddings only with prior written permission.
When is Mannarasala Ayilyam, and do the Mannarasala Temple Darshan Timings change?
Thulam Ayilyam, the temple’s biggest festival, falls in the Malayalam month of Thulam, usually in October or November. As per the temple’s calendar, it is on 2 November in 2026, while Kanni Ayilyam falls on 6 October 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official annual calendar each year.
Where can I stay near Mannarasala Temple?
The temple’s official Mandaram Guest House offers air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms, a dormitory, and a vegetarian restaurant. Haripad and nearby Alappuzha also have private hotels and homestays for a range of budgets.
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