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Religious beliefs, traditional wisdom, rituals, and cultural practices all play an important part in the protection of biodiversity and the environment. In fact, vernacular architecture of India has long demonstrated cultural ethics that contribute to the conservation of environment and the natural resources. The Indian Temple architecture is noteworthy and is a manifestation of these socio-cultural-environmental values, conceptualized and constructed in unique ways integrating passive features which keeps on educating and inspiring generations after generations. These timeless temples through their passive architectural elements and harmonic aesthetic qualities enable the communities to perceive themselves as part of a spiritual network and to connect them to their biophysical surroundings. Given this, this research explores the passive architectural features and thermal performance of the naturally ventilated south Indian Temples, located in warm and humid climate zones. It examines how these passive features can be implemented in the contemporary buildings to achieve thermal comfort. The research employs a qualitative descriptive comparative method. It examines case studies of two temples located in Kerala, having a warm-humid climate, and investigates the passive architectural features and thermal performance. Data was collected through field visits to the two Temples: Iringole Kaavu Bhagavathy Temple (old) and Thottuva Temple (new). Environmental data was also collected during the field-surveys. The study concludes that the adaptation of passive architectural features, in response to the local climatic conditions contribute immensely to improve the thermal performance of the structures and thermal comfort of the users. Hence, it is argued that the passive climate-responsive architectural features of the South Indian Temples, suitable to the local geoclimatic and cultural conditions, can continue to be followed in the present and future construction of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]