Kottiyoor Temple : Hidden within the dense, green forests of northern Kerala’s Kannur district is the hallowed temple of Kottiyoor, also referred to as the “Dakshina Kasi”—the Kasi of the South. It’s not only a site of religiosity, but a timeless haven where mythology, culture, and nature converge.
A Glimpse into Kottiyoor Temple History
Kottiyoor Temple is mostly for Lord Shiva and is also known as Vadakkeshwaram Temple, Ikkare Kottiyoor, and Thruchherumana Kshetram. The temple is located on the west bank of the Bavali River and is a permanent temple that is open throughout the year, except for the 27-day Vysakha Mahotsavam festival.
Its eastern bank has a temporary hermitage-like temple called Akkare Kottiyoor (or Kizhakkeshwaram) constructed specifically for the festival. It is said to be the hallowed site of Daksha Yaga where Sati Devi immolated herself, which made it considered the source of the Shakti Peethas.
Its spiritual superiority notwithstanding, the date of the temple’s foundation is not known—its traditions and practices stretch centuries into the past, intact.
Kanadikavu Temple Kerala’s special worship
Structure & Temple Architecture
Kottiyoor’s architecture is amazingly unlike standard temple complexes. Following its ancient Shakti tradition, permanent buildings are taboo at the eastern shrine. Instead, humble, temporary arrangements are streamed up—similar to those that hermits may have constructed. The central deity of worship is a Swayambhoo (self-manifested) Shiva Lingam, next to an elevated natural rock platform known as Ammarakkalu Thara—where Sati Devi is said to have given up her life.
On the west bank looms the year-round operational Thruchherumana Temple, except during the festival, constructed around the Swayambhoo Lingam. The complex of temples is surrounded by an ancient sacred grove covering about 80 acres—a dense forest within which stands the temple, untouched by modern-day improvements and thereby retaining the original character of devotional architecture.
Travel from Bengaluru to Kottiyoor Temple
- Planning a travel or pilgrimage from Bengaluru to Kottiyoor? Here is what to anticipate:
- By car, distance is approximately 297 km, with driving approximately 4 hours 16 minutes
- Others quote it at about 299 km, with traveling around 5 hours
Distances From.
Weather, stops, and route may impact duration. - Road trips are scenic drives down green canopies of the Western Ghats, providing a total experience.
- Other modes of travel involve buses and flights—with buses being the lowest priced (₹1,300–2,100, 5–6 hours), and flights to local airports such as Kannur providing quicker but more expensive means—with follow-up road transfer.
Why It Matters
- Living Tradition: Kottiyoor is an exception to modernization, a temple which eschews it in favor of architecture and rituals unchanged for centuries.
- Spiritual Nexus: Sheltering the power of Sati Devi, Trimurti, and Shakti, it is aptly known as the “Dakshina Kasi”—a sacred cradle of rich cosmic narratives.
- Forest Sanctuary: Located inside a conserved natural ecosystem, the temple comes like a historical shard in timeless verdure.
- Social Cohesion: Ritual duties, communal involvement, and multi-tradition worship demonstrate an optimistic social synergy.
