The Azhimala Shiva temple near Vishinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, though dating back to the 16th century, has been drawing visitors in hordes in recent times. What is pulling the crowds is the massive and magnificent statue of Lord Shiva that stands atop a rock against the backdrop of the cascading waves of the Arabian Sea.

Shiva temples across India have a unique mystical aura and the 58-ft-tall Statue Of Lord Shiva in Azhimala inspires awe with its gigantic presence that exudes grandeur. The Aazhimala Siva statue images have been creating a stir on the internet and we felt blessed to be standing beneath the sacred feet of Lord Shiva at the Aazhimala Shiva Temple, near the Azhimala Cliff Beach.

Azhimala Shiva Temple – Highest Siva Statue In Kerala

The land of Kerala is called God’s own country and the epithet is well deserved. On the one hand, it is blessed with the bounty of nature in the form of cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers, enchanting lakes, verdant forests, romantic backwaters and gorgeous beaches.

On the other hand, the state of Kerala is sanctified by the presence of holy places including temples, churches, mosques, and synagogues. In a “coconut shell” (read nutshell), Kerala is a traveller’s paradise.

According to Hindu mythology, Kerala is the land reclaimed from the sea by Parashuram, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Kerala is where the sacred Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Sabarimala temple, and Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple are located. The Azhimala Temple Trivandrum is also now part of this venerated pilgrim circuit of Kerala.

Visiting Azhimala Shiva Temple – Azhimala Temple Shiva Statue

The largest Shiva sculpture in Kerala – the largest Shiva statue in Kerala, is the cynosure of all eyes at the Azhimala Temple near Kovalam. The grand ode to Lord Shiva was dedicated to the people on the 31st of December, 2021, and since then has been pulling devotees like a celestial lodestone.

A steep and narrow road leads down to the Azhimala Shiva temple. You can drive straight to the door of the temple if you are in an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk) or a car. However, if you are in a larger vehicle, like a bus, you would have to walk about a kilometre to reach the temple.

The Azhimala Lord Shiva statue towers to a height of 58 feet and seems to be touching the sky. Shiva’s voluminous matted locks flutter in the sea breeze, as he gazes towards the heavens. He is seated on a rock in a classic posture, one hand rests on his right thigh, while another holds aloft a Trishul (Trident). Another of his four hands holds the Damaru, while another hand is lost in his matted hair.

The form of Ganga can be seen trapped in Shiva’s matted hair, as this is a representation of Shiva as Gangadhareshwar. Lord Shiva’s neck is adorned with the snake Vasuki and a necklace of Rudraksha beads. His wrists and arms are also adorned with rudraksha beads, and an anklet can be seen on his left ankle.

A thrill runs through the entire body when you look at the beautiful Azhimala Lord Shiva Statue. The statue took 6 years to complete and is the labour of love of P.S.Devadathan, who was only 29 when the sculpture was completed and unveiled.

He is an alumnus of the Government Fine Arts College in Trivandrum and lives in Azhimala. Devadathan has literally breathed life into the Azhimala Beach Shiva Statue with minute detailing.

If you observe the sculpture closely, you will be astounded to see the nails on Shiva’s fingers, the veins that run from his legs, bulging muscles, and much more sculpted to perfection. The sculpture is made from concrete.

The angular and chiselled face along with the masculine body conveys the aspect of the infinite power of Shiva. One can spend hours, just gazing at this divine Azhimala Temple Shiva statue, that seems to emerge from the sea.

The Azhimala Shiva Statue has been commissioned by the Pulinkudi Azhimala Shiva Temple Devaswom Trust. A large meditation hall is being built beneath the Gangadhareshwara statue.

Azhimala Temple History – Azhimala Siva Temple

The Aazhimala Siva Temple itself predates the Shiva statue. The place has mythological connections. It is believed that this was the place where the Pandavas spent some time during their exile.

According to local legend, once Draupadi felt thirsty, there was only the salty seawater around. Bhimasena immediately made a hollow in a rock with his elbow, and a freshwater spring emerged, enabling Draupadi to quench her thirst.

The Aazhimala Siva Temple is so named, as it stands between the sea and huge rocks. Its original name is believed to have been Aazhimala Pulinkudi Sree Mahadeva Temple. The area was known as Pulinkudi in ancient times because of the presence of tigers in the vicinity.

About Azhimala Temple | Azhimala Shiva Temple Timings | Azhimala Darshan Time

The colossal statue of Shiva dwarfs the original temple, where ritualistic worship continues, and you can offer poojas of your choice. There is a board outside the temple put up by the Aazhimala Shivakshetra Devaswom Trust Pulinkudi, which gives instructions to the visitors to the temple.

• Entry only for those who come for prayers
• Please note that entering the temple during the menstruation period is against temple culture
• Please wash your hands and feet before coming to the temple or come after a shower
• Please keep your footwear outside the temple
• Mobile, Photo, Video, etc., are strictly prohibited inside the temple
• Keep silence

Photography of the sanctum sanctorum and the deity is strictly prohibited, however, you can photograph the magnificent Shiva statue. There is a clear line of demarcation for this, and make sure that you adhere to the instructions.

Azhimala Shiva Temple Timings

Azhimala Shiva temple timings are from 5.30 AM to 11.00 AM in the mornings and from 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM in the evening. The Azhimala Darshan timings too are the same as mentioned above. However, you are advised to check updated timings before visiting the temple.

For the devotees wishing to offer puja at the Azhimala Siva temple, there is a large list of Sevas to choose from. These include special poojas like Udayasthamaya Pooja, Pradosha Pooja, Divasa Pooja, and Umamaheshwari Pooja.

Azhimala Shiva Images   

Here are some Aazhimala Siva statue images.

Azhimala Shiva Temple Photos

A collage of Azhimala Shiva Temple photos that are sure to draw you to the Thiruvananthapuram Azhimala Shiva Temple.

How To Reach Azhimala Shiva Temple

• Aazhimala Siva Temple, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is located near the capital city of Kerala, India
• Aazhimala Siva Temple, Thiruvananthapuram is about 8 kilometres from Kovalam
• Kerala’s Tallest Shiva Sculpture At Azhimala Temple is located about 26 kilometres from Trivandrum
• Address of the Thiruvananthapuram Azhimala Shiva Temple is, Mulloor PO, Poovar to Vizhinjam road before Pulinkudi jn then, Azhimala Temple Road, Kerala 69550
• Azhimala Shiva Temple’s Contact Number is 0471 226 8422

Reaching Azhimala in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram By Air

The Azhimala Siva Temple, near Vizhinjam, is one of the best places to visit in Trivandrum. It is located about 21 kilometres from the Trivandrum International Airport which is well connected with major national and international destinations. You have flights to and from places like Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Singapore, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, etc. From the airport, you can hire a cab to reach the Azhimala Shiva temple.

How To Reach Azhimala Siva Temple By Rail

The nearest railway station to the Aazhimala Shiva statue is the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station at a distance of about 20 kilometres. You can get trains to and from places like Delhi, Mangalore, Udupi, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Vishakapatnam, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, etc. From the railway station, you can hire a cab to reach the Azhimala Shiva temple.

How To Reach Azhimala Siva Temple By Road

The Azhimala Siva temple is located on the Poovar to Vizhinjam road which is well connected through the road network.

If you are planning a visit to Azhimala Shiva Temple or any other place, you can book your flight tickets right here through, TripAdvisor or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline a. If you are thinking of a  road trip, do check out the rental car and bus options.

Where To Stay In Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Trivandrum is an international destination and has a large number of accommodation options to choose from. You can stay in beautiful beach resorts, luxury hotels, beach cottages, heritage properties, as well as homestays and budget hostels. We stayed at a lovely property called, The Leela Raviz Kovalam which is billed as, India’s only clifftop beach resort.

If you are keen on wellness and looking for an immersive experience in Ayurvedic Therapy, the Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort is located at a distance of just 1.0 kilometres from the Azhimala Shiva Temple.

If you want to book any of the above resorts or any other hotel in Kovalam or Trivandrum, or anywhere else, you can do that right here!

You can book Hotels in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Hotels in Kovalam, Hotels in Kerala or any destination right here through any of the options below: TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best deals on booking your stay.

Click to book your stay at the Raviz Kovalam or Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort.

Azhimala Siva Statue – FAQ

What is the Azhimala Shiva Statue Height?
The Aazhimala Siva statue towers to a height of about 58  feet.

Who built the Azhimala Shiva Statue?
The Azhimala Shiva statue was commissioned by the Pulinkudi Azhimala Shiva Temple Devaswom Trust and sculpted by P.S.Devadathan.

Where is Azhimala is located?
Azhimala is located in Vizhijnam, about 26 kilometres from Trivandrum.

Which district is Azhimala Shiva temple?
The Azhimala Shiva temple comes under Mulloor PO, in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

When was the Azhimala Siva statue completed?
The Azhimala Shiva statue was completed and dedicated to the people on December 31, 2021.

How many years did it take to build the Azhimala Shiva Statue?
It took 6 years for the Azhimala Shiva statue to be completed.

From what is the Azhimala Shiva Statue made?
The Azhimala Shiva statue is made of concrete.

We hope you liked reading about the beautiful Azhimala Shiva temple, and the Aazhimala Siva statue images are compelling you to plan your own visit to the temple.

Aazhimala Siva Statue Images  

We leave you with some enchanting Azhimala Shiva Temple Photos, that are sure to pull you in the Azhimala Temple direction.

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Our visit to Azhimala Shiva Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala was organized by KTM. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are our own. #ktm #keralatourism #kerala

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