Ernakulam Shiva Temple : The Ernakulam Shiva Temple, also called the Ernakulathappan Temple, is a holy place dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is in the middle of Ernakulam in Kochi, Kerala, India. Traditional beliefs and local beliefs say that the god protects the city.
Ernakulam Shiva Temple History
The temple is mentioned in old texts and local stories. It was first built during the Chera Dynasty, a group of people who worshiped Shiva. As the city grew under the rule of the Kingdom of Cochin, the temple became more important over time. In the 1600s, Ernakulam became the heart of the city, and this temple was one of the royal ones used by the Kochi Maharajas.
Between 1843 and 1846, Diwan Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrier made major changes to the temple. In 1846, the temple was made a royal temple and two new gates called gopurams were added.
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Architecture Plans
In the traditional way of temple building in Kerala, the Ernakulam Shiva Temple was built. The design features are typical of the area: the roof of the sanctum is made of copper tiles, and the walls are very carefully carved.
Some Kerala temples have circular sanctum sanctorums (garbhagriha), and the western gate (gopuram) is a two-story building with gabled roofs and slanted windows that is typical of Kerala style.
How far it is from Bengaluru
If you are traveling by car from Bengaluru (Karnataka), the distance to Ernakulam is between 530 and 545 km, depending on the route you take and the state of the roads. If you take a car or bus, this would take about 10–11 hours.
Interesting architectural features nearby
- There are other shrines and buildings inside the temple complex that are worth mentioning:
- A Murugan (Kartikeya) Kovil built in the Tamil style was built on the northern side of the main temple during the reign of Diwan Venkataswamy.
- It faces the Shiva temple and is built in the Udupi Madhwa Sampradaya style. It is on the eastern side.
- The Durbar Hall Ground is right next to the temple grounds. It has architecture from the colonial era and from the city government, and it’s a cultural open place for the city.
