Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam
Ettumanoor, Kerala
The Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple in the Kottayam district of Kerala, and one of the major Shiva temples of the state, along with Vaikom, Vadakkunnathan and others. The name is explained in two ways: that Shiva appeared here in eight (ettu) forms, or that the place was the land of eight Namboothiri families. The temple stands in a quiet setting, in the green countryside near Kottayam.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Lord Mahadeva, Shiva, at the old temple
- See the temple's traditional Kerala architecture
- Walk around the temple wall and the grounds
- Combine the visit with the backwaters of Kumarakom nearby, if time allows
Ideal for
- Shiva devotees and pilgrims on a Kerala temple circuit
- Visitors who like quieter, older temples
- Families travelling from Kochi to the south
Good to know
- Timings are not confirmed, so check locally, and expect a long afternoon break
- Kerala's old temples have strict dress codes, reported as a mundu or dhoti for men and a saree or set-mundu for women, with no Western wear, so check the rules at the gate
- Phone and camera rules are not confirmed, so ask at the gate
- The temple is best visited in the morning
- Allow about 45 minutes to 1 hour
Spiritual significance
Ettumanoor is one of the major old Shiva temples of Kerala, and it holds a place on the pilgrimage route between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Why it matters
- A major Shiva temple of Kerala: one of the old, important ones
- A name with a legend: eight forms of Shiva, or eight Namboothiri families
- A quiet stop: green countryside near Kottayam