Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple

Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga (Bhagavathy) located at Palappuram near Ottapalam in Palakkad district, Kerala. The temple is known for its traditional Kerala architecture and as the venue of the annual Chinakkathoor Pooram festival. Situated about 3 km from Ottapalam town, it is an important place of worship and cultural centre in central Kerala.

Visitors can expect a traditional Kerala-style temple complex with a tiled roof sanctum, courtyard and shrine dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. The surroundings are quiet with residential areas and open grounds used during festivals. Inside, visitors can observe daily poojas, oil lamps and murals. During the annual Pooram festival, the temple grounds host decorated elephant processions, percussion ensembles, and cultural performances.

Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple is believed to be several centuries old and is traditionally associated with the local rulers of the region. The temple has long served as a centre of worship for the surrounding villages of Palappuram and Ottapalam and is maintained as an important heritage temple of Palakkad district.

The temple is culturally significant as the host of Chinakkathoor Pooram, one of the major Pooram festivals in Palakkad district. The festival features caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion ensembles like Panchavadyam and Pandimelam, and folk art forms, drawing devotees and visitors from across Kerala. The deity is revered as the guardian goddess of the locality.