Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Jainpt · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
St Thomas Church at Malayattoor stands on Kurisumudi, the "hill of the cross", above the Periyar in Ernakulam district, and is among the small number of churches the Vatican has designated an international shrine. Tradition holds that St Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have landed on the Kerala coast in AD 52, prayed on this hilltop after a hostile reception on the plains, and that a golden cross appeared on the rock where he traced the sign of the cross. Pilgrims come to venerate that Ponnum Kurisu, along with marks in the rock held by tradition to be the Apostle's footprints and knee impressions, and a spring on the hill long associated with healing. The distinctive act of this shrine is the climb itself — people walk the roughly three-kilometre path up to the church, many carrying wooden crosses, stones or other burdens, and stop at the stations of the cross on the way.
March and April, around Lent, Holy Week and Easter, are the traditional pilgrimage weeks, ending with Malayattoor Perunnal on Puthunjayar, the first Sunday after Easter — the single biggest day of the year, when the hill path is very heavily crowded and the climb is slow. The other feasts are Dukrana on 3 July and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September. For a quieter visit with the same weather comfort, November to February is the easier stretch; June to August brings heavy monsoon rain that makes the rock path slippery. Confirm feast dates with the shrine before you travel, as they move with Easter.
Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is the nearest airport, about 15 km away — one of the shortest airport-to-shrine hops in Kerala. Angamaly is the nearest railway station at roughly 17 km, and Aluva is the other convenient railhead on the Kochi line. By road the shrine is about 15 km from Kalady and close to the NH-544 corridor between Angamaly and Perumbavoor; taxis and autos run from Angamaly and the airport to the base of the hill at Malayattoor, from where the climb begins.
This is a hill shrine reached on foot. The path from the base to the church on Kurisumudi is about 3 km and climbs to roughly 1,269 feet, taking most people 1 to 1.5 hours at a steady pace, with rock and steps in stretches. Elders, anyone with knee trouble, or those with heart or breathing conditions should plan for frequent rest stops, carry water, and start early to avoid the midday sun. During Lent and on Perunnal Sunday the crowd on the path is dense and progress is slow.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to St Thomas Church, Kurisumudi in Malayattoor for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
How long does the climb to Kurisumudi take, and can elderly people manage it?
The path is around 3 km and usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours going up, less coming down. Fit elders do it every year, but it is a genuine uphill walk on rock and steps, not a stroll. Go early in the morning, allow extra time, rest often and carry water. If a family member cannot walk that distance, check the current access arrangements with the shrine office directly before you book the trip.
When is Malayattoor Perunnal and how crowded does it get?
Perunnal falls on Puthunjayar, the first Sunday after Easter, so the date shifts each year with Easter, usually in April. It is the busiest day at the shrine by a wide margin, with pilgrims arriving through the night and the hill path packed. If you want a calm visit, come on an ordinary weekday outside Lent instead.
Is the church open to visitors of all faiths?
Yes. Malayattoor receives people of every faith, and non-Christian pilgrims climb Kurisumudi alongside Christian ones. Dress modestly as you would for any place of worship, and keep quiet during Mass. For Mass and service times, confirm with the shrine before you travel, as they change on feast days.
Plan your St Thomas Church, Kurisumudi yatra
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