Kottarakkara Ganapathi Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in Kottarakkara, a small town in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, who is worshiped as the primary deity here.
Kottarakkara Temple Significance
The temple is believed to have been established in the 10th century AD and is considered to be one of the most ancient Ganesha temples in Kerala. The temple has a unique architecture with a circular sanctum sanctorum, known as the Vathilmadom, which is believed to have been built by the great Hindu saint Adi Shankaracharya.
The idol of Lord Ganesha in the temple is believed to be a self-manifested one and is known as the "Udayanapuram Appan". The idol is made of a rare type of clay and is said to have a healing power, which attracts devotees from far and wide.
Kottarakkara Ganapathi Temple is a significant spiritual and cultural landmark in Kerala, and its rich history and unique architecture make it a must-visit destination for tourists and devotees alike.
Kottarakkara Unniyappam
Along with the name Kottarakkara Ganpathy Temple, the other name that instantaneously strikes one’s mind is Kottarakkara Uniappam. It was also the first offering of the famous sculptor Perumthachan, who carved the idol of Mahaganapathy and enshrined Ganapathy at Kottarakkara. It was actually six to seven unaiaapams stringed together and made as an offering, which is otherwise known as Koottappam.
Kottarakkara Temple Rituals & Festivals
Vinayaka Chathurthy
Vinayaka Chathurthi Lord Vinayaka’s birthday falls on the chathurthi day of the bright half of the Malayalam month ‘chingam’. This particular day is marked with great Mahaganapathy Homam, using 1008 coconuts. Besides Unniyappam, Modhakam is also offered to Ganapathy. The other major ceremonies includes Sarvaiswarya pooja, Gajapooja, Annadanam etc.
Kottarakkara Ganapathi Temple is also famous for its annual festival, the Kottarakkara Utsavam, which is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May) every year. The festival is a grand celebration and attracts thousands of devotees from all over the state. During the festival, the temple premises are decorated with lights, and various cultural programs and religious rituals are performed.
Medathiruvathira, Sivarathri, Mandalachirappu, Ayilyam-Makam, Navarathri, Prathishtadinam(Cosecration day), Thai Pooyam and Vishu are other major festivals celebrated at the temple.
Contact Address: Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Temple, Kottarakkara, Kerala, India
Phone Number: 0474 245 7200
How to Reach Kottarakkara Temple
By Air:
The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, 70 km away.
By Rail:
Kottarakara Railway Station (Code: KKZ) is located on the Kollam-Sengottai railway line. The nearest major railway station is Kollam Junction Railway Station 48 min (24.9 km) via NH744.
By Road:
Kottarakkara lies 27 kilometres (17 mi) to the east of Kollam city centre. NH 744 earlier known as NH 208 (Kollam to Thirumangalam) meets the MC road (Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly) at Kottarakkara. Kottarakkara is linked with Kollam (the district headquarters), both by road and rail, at a distance of 27 km. It is 66 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala) and 80 km to the south of Kottayam.
