Janardana Swami Temple is a very important Vaishnavite shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims.The temple is about 2000 years old. Facing the temple is the Papasnanam beachwhere devotees take a bath in the belief that the sacred waters willwash away their sins. A large bell washed up from the wreck of a Dutchmerchant vessel is kept on display at the temple.
According to legend, years later when a Pandayan king came to the area to do penance for a sin he had committed Lord Brahma pardoned the king in turn of the promise that he would rebuild the temple on the same site. That''s how the existing temple came to be. Non- Hindus are not allowed in the inner sanctum of the temple but can walk around it. The festivals here are celebrated with great gusto and lots of colour.