As in the other parts of the State, the temples of the district were also owned and administered by private individuals or private bodies known as Ooralars till 1812. In 1812 Diwan of Cochin State took steps to control the administration of temples. Devaswoms in the state were divided into various categories, viz., Sirkar Devaswom, Vazhipad Devaswom, Keezhedams etc. In 1907, all these Devaswoms were merged and put under the control of a Commissioner. The Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950 was an important enactment under which the Cochin Devaswom Board was established. The temples of Cochin Devaswom Board within the district fall under three groups viz., Thiruvillwamala, Thrissur and Thiruvanchikkulam. 505 temples of the district are directly or indirectly under the administrative control of Cochin Devaswom Board. The temples in Chavakkad Taluk and certain temples in Kodungallur Taluk of the district are administered by the Malabar Devaswom Board. Apart from the temples administered by the Cochin and Malabar Devaswom Boards,  a large number of temples are managed by Ooralars, Trusts or other Devaswoms like Guruvayur Devaswom, Koodal Manikkam Devaswom, Paramekkavu Devaswom, Thiruvambady Devaswom etc.