ABOUT

Valliyamkavu Devi Temple is a historic Durga shrine located near Travancore Rubber and Tea Company, 15 km (9.3 mi) east to 35th mile near Mundakkayam. The temple and its surroundings falls under the Peerumedu tehsil of Idukki district. Both private and state-run busses operates to the temple from Mundakkayam. The history of the temple is as old as Dvapara Yuga. Pandavas along with their wife Draupadi, during the time of exile reached the present Panchalimedu and stayed here for a long time. The tribes settled here offered helps to them. Before Pandavas left the place, they gifted an idol of Durga Devi to the tribal chief and acknowledged them to pay tribute to the Goddess. But the tribes unaware about the pooja methods followed their own traditions which transformed Devi into 'Bhadra', a more fierce and aggressive form. Thus the place became uninhabitable for the tribes. Devi reached the present Valliyamkavu region through the forest ropes. Thus the region came to be known as Valliyadikkavu which in course of time became Valliyamkavu. Later, 'Vanchipuzha Thamburan' granted permission to the Aadivasi moopan to worship the Goddess. 22 acres (8.9 ha) of land was given for the temple construction.