Kottukal Cave Temple

The Kottukal Cave Temple, also known as Kaltrikkovil in the Malayalam language, is a beautiful and serene rock-cut shrine located in the Kottukkal Village near Anchal in the Kollam district of Kerala. The structure is believed to have been built between the 6th and 8th centuries and was taken over by the state archaeology department in 1966.

Discover Ancient Splendor: Explore Kottukal Cave Temple

The Kottukal Cave Temple is an idyllic example of rock-cut temple architecture and has two cells on either side with Sivalingams in each and a projection carrying the figure of Lord Ganapathy at the center. The temple is also home to the Idols of Lord Nandikeshwara (the vehicle of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology) and a Hanuman idol resembling the Nandikeswara-Vanara fight in the epic Ramayana. Visiting the Kottukal Cave Temple shall be a wonderful experience due to its amazing architecture and the opportunity to get an idea of the ancient culture of the state and the traditional artistic brilliance of people at that time.

The temple was constructed by carving a massive piece of rock and is located in the midst of a paddy field, giving the appearance of a slumbering elephant from afar. It features two rooms, each measuring 10 feet in length and 8 feet in width, carved into the rock and topped by a single rock overhead. It is believed to date back to the Pallava dynasty in the 8th century BC and is contemporary with the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram near Chennai. The temple contains a Shiva linga and is guarded by Nandi, with Sri Hanuman believed to be present as well.

The temple is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram – Kottayam Road and is around 38.5 km from Kollam and 5.5 kilometers from Anchal. The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and there is no entry fee. The nearest railway station is at Kollam and the closest airport is Thiruvananthapuram Internation Airport which is located 58 kilometers away from Kottukal Cave Temple.

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