According to legend, the god Krishna once appeared in the guise of a sage at the court of a regional king known for his love of chess (or chaturanga). Krishna, in this form, challenged the king to a game, and the king, eager to showcase his skill, gladly accepted. Before the game began, the king asked the sage to name his prize should he emerge victorious.
The Ambalapuzha Temple Festival dates back to the 15th century CE, during a time when the central regions of Alappuzha district were under the rule of the Chembakassery Devanarayana Dynasty. The rulers of this dynasty, known for their deep devotion, decided to bring an idol of Lord Krishna from the Karinkulam Temple to the Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple.
The idol at the Ambalappuzha Temple represents Lord Vishnu in his Parthasarathi form, holding a whip in his right hand and a conch in his left. During Tipu Sultan’s raids in 1789, the idol of Lord Krishna from the Guruvayoor Temple was also temporarily housed here for safekeeping.
A unique offering at this temple is payasam, a sweet rice and milk pudding. Devotees believe that Lord Guruvayoorappan visits the temple daily to receive this offering.