Pilgrimage to Malayatoor Kurishumudi
Malayatoor literally means the meeting place of land, mountain and river. It is one of the famous pilgrim centers of Christians in Kerala located on the slopes of picturesque Western Ghats. It is situated at a distance of 52 km from Kochi besides the Periyar River. Malayatoor is famous for two Catholic Churches dedicated to St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ and Thazathe Palli .One is located on the top of the hill and other below. According to the popular legend St. Thomas had to face hostile reception when he visited India because of which he took refuge on the top of the mountain where the church is present today. Thousands of pilgrims irrespective of their caste and creed undertake the pilgrimage to St. Thomas Church located on the top of the hillock Kurishumudi during the annual festival Malayattoor Perunnal which is held in the months of March/ April 8 eight days after Easter.
Abundance in natural beauty, Malayattoor offers an ideal environment for those who are looking for the spiritual happiness. It has emerged as one of the most visited pilgrimages for Christians from all across India. The height of the hill from foot to the top of Kurishumudi is about 1260 ft. The trek is about 2 to 3 km and takes about 2 to 3 hours. Through out the trek there are 14 stations where one can stop during the journey to reflect and pray at the crosses present here. The church of St. Thomas is a great amalgamation of Greco-Roman architecture where one can view carvings, designs, paintings which include the joyful mysteries of Jesus Christ. Devotees offer several types of offerings to the shrine. Some climb the hill carrying the cross on the shoulders which is a literal metaphor of the pain taken by the Christ while other carry large brooms offering prayers of wealth and prosperity. Some devotees even carry large stones on their heads as a gesture to remove the burdens from their lives. The natural beauty surrounded the Kurishumudi Hill along with the great faith of the people towards these religious site makes it worthy of a visit and is a mesmerizing experience for the visitors.
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