About Karumadi Kuttan
Karumadi Kuttan is a 3.5-foot black granite statue of Buddha located in Karumadi village near Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha District, Kerala. Dated to the 9th-10th century, it is one of the few surviving Buddhist relics in Kerala and is protected as a monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The seated figure, with its left hand missing, is enshrined in a small open shrine by a stream.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a small, open-air shrine housing the ancient black granite Buddha statue seated in a meditative pose beside a stream and paddy fields. The site is compact and located by the roadside in a rural village setting. Visitors can view the statue up close, observe its weathered details and missing left hand, take photographs from outside the shrine, and experience a quiet, historical atmosphere.
Key highlights
- 01
9th-10th century black granite Buddha statue, 3.5 feet tall
- 02
Protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India
- 03
Rare surviving evidence of Buddhism in Kerala
- 04
Seated Buddha in meditative pose with missing left hand
- 05
Small shrine set beside a stream in a rural village landscape
History of Karumadi Kuttan
The statue is dated to the 9th-10th century and represents the period of Buddhist presence in Kerala. Made of black granite, it depicts Buddha seated in meditation. The left hand is broken and missing. It was discovered in a nearby field and later enshrined at its present location. It is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India and is one of the few remaining Buddhist sculptures in the state.
Culture & Context
Locally known as Karumadi Kuttan, meaning 'boy from Karumadi', the statue is revered by local communities and is an important symbol of Kerala's Buddhist heritage. It reflects the region's early religious diversity and is visited by pilgrims, historians and tourists interested in Buddhist art and culture.
Route
| By air |
|---|