Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple

Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Temple is a prominent Hindu temple located in Kottarakkara town in Kollam district, Kerala. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, it is regarded as one of the most important Ganapathy temples in Kerala. The temple is known for its traditional Kerala architecture, central shrine housing the deity, and the famous Unniyappam offering. It holds cultural importance as the place where Ramanattam, the precursor to Kathakali, was conceived.

Visitors can expect a traditional Kerala-style temple complex with a central sanctum dedicated to Lord Ganesha, tiled roofs, wooden carvings and a temple pond. The courtyard is active with devotees offering prayers, especially the Unniyappam vazhipadu. The atmosphere is devotional with daily pujas, lamp lighting and chanting. Visitors can walk around the outer precincts, observe rituals, receive prasadam and explore the temple surroundings in Kottarakkara town.

The temple is traditionally associated with the legend of Perumthachan, the master carpenter, and is linked to Kottarakkara Thampuran (17th century), the ruler of Kottarakkara who composed Ramanattam here, which later evolved into Kathakali. The temple exemplifies traditional Kerala temple construction and has been maintained under the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The temple is a major centre of Ganapathy worship in Kerala and is renowned for the Unniyappam vazhipadu, where sweet rice cakes are offered to the deity. It is culturally significant as the birthplace of Ramanattam, an art form that led to Kathakali, and remains an important venue for religious festivals, especially Vinayaka Chaturthi and annual temple utsavam.