About Malayattoor St. Thomas Church
Malayattoor St. Thomas Church is a prominent Syro-Malabar Catholic pilgrimage shrine located on Kurisumudy Hill at Malayattoor in Ernakulam District, Kerala, on the banks of the Periyar River. Dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle, it is believed to mark where the apostle prayed and left a footprint on the rock in 62 AD. Designated an International Shrine, it comprises a parish church at the foothill and a hilltop chapel.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a foothill parish church and a hilltop shrine (Kurisumudy) reached by a steep pilgrim path of about 2000 steps through forested slopes of the Western Ghats. At the top is a small chapel marking the footprint on rock, a golden cross, and Stations of the Cross along the route. The site offers views of the Periyar River valley and surrounding hills, with prayer halls, shops for religious articles, and rest shelters along the climb.
Key highlights
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International Shrine of St. Thomas on Kurisumudy Hill at 609 meters elevation
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Footprint of St. Thomas the Apostle imprinted on rock inside the hilltop chapel
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Golden Cross believed to have been formed when St. Thomas prayed
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Pilgrim trek of approximately 2000 steps with 14 Stations of the Cross
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Panoramic views of Periyar River and Western Ghats from the hilltop
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Annual Malayattoor Perunnal feast on the Sunday after Easter attracting large pilgrim gatherings
History of Malayattoor St. Thomas Church
Tradition holds that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived in Kerala in 52 AD and established seven churches. He is believed to have prayed on the hill at Malayattoor in 62 AD during his missionary journey, leaving a footprint on the rock and causing a golden cross to appear. The hilltop chapel preserves the footprint and is venerated as a site associated with his prayer and meditation. The shrine was later developed as a parish church at the foothill and elevated as an International Shrine by the Vatican.
Culture & Context
One of the most important Christian pilgrimage centres in Kerala and India for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The annual Malayattoor Perunnal (feast) on the first Sunday after Easter draws thousands of pilgrims who carry wooden crosses up the hill. The site is significant for its association with St. Thomas, patron of Christians in Kerala, and reflects the early Christian heritage of the state.