Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Kottarakkara lies 27 km east of Kollam city centre, in Kollam district.

Rules to know

• Non-Hindus are permitted to enter the temple.
• Unniyappam offerings are not accepted on Udayastamana Pooja days.

Why devotees come here

The Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy temple stands in Kottarakkara town, Kollam district, Kerala. Shiva is the central deity, but the main priority here goes to his son Ganesha, worshipped as Mahaganapathy.

The temple is known for its shrine to Ganesha, Shiva's son, who is worshipped here as Mahaganapathy. Although Shiva is the main deity, the main priority is given to Ganesha. Devotees also worship Shiva's consort Parvati, his sons Murugan and Ayyappan, and the serpent deity Nagaraja.

Legend says the sculptor Perumthachan installed the Ganapathy idol in the southeast of the temple. The temple was earlier called Kizhakkekara Siva Kshethram. The Siva temple is now known as the Kottarakara Ganapathy temple, and all its deities except Parvati and Ganesha face east.

Kottarakkara is a town in Kollam district, 27 km east of Kollam city centre. The main offering at the temple is unniyappam. Kottarakkara Palace, one of the local sights, is linked to the town's royal family.

Festivals

• Vinayaka Chathurthi dayVinayaka Chathurthi

  A Mahaganapathy Homam is held, using 1008 coconuts.

• Last day of an eleven-day festivalThiruvarattu

  Kettukazhcha is a major attraction of the day.

• The month of KumbhamSivarathri

  Special poojas are offered to Siva during the month of Kumbham.

• Every yearNavarathri

  Grand celebrations are held every year at the Devi temple.

• VishuVishu

  People from across the area come here to seek Ganapathy's blessings on Vishu.

Tips for your visit

• Check the temple's events calendar on its website before you go, so you know which days are festival days.
• Shiva, Parvati, Murugan, Ayyappan and Nagaraja are worshipped here too, so one visit covers several deities.

Questions people ask