Kottukkal Cave Temple - Ancient Rock-Cut Shrine in Kollam

Kollam, KeralaCAVE

An ancient rock-cut temple from the 7th-8th century, carved from a single massive rock, located in a quiet village setting in Kollam.

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Info

CAVE

Info

30 minutes

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

The Kottukkal Cave Temple is an impressive example of rock-cut architecture, dating back to the 7th or 8th century. Located in a quiet village setting, the entire temple complex is carved out of a single, massive piece of granite. The site features two distinct caves of unequal size. The main cave houses a Shiva Linga, while the smaller one contains a monolith of Nandi, Shiva's bull mount. A prominent carving of Lord Ganapathy is situated right at the front, guarding the entrance to the caves.

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Location & Address

Kottukkal, Ittiva Grama Panchayat, Near Anchal, Kollam, Kerala 691538, Kottukkal, Kollam, Kerala, India

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Best Time to Visit

The ideal time to visit is from September to March. During these months, the weather in Kerala is pleasant, with lower humidity and comfortable temperatures, making it suitable for exploring the outdoor site. The monsoon season, from June to August, transforms the landscape into a lush green, but heavy rains can make the rock surfaces slippery and travel challenging. Summer months from April to May can be quite hot and humid.
Peak Crowd: Weekends and major Hindu festival days like Mahashivratri.
Moderate Crowd: Weekday afternoons and during school holidays.
Low Crowd: Weekday mornings and during the monsoon season (June to August).

How to Reach

Air

Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) is the nearest airport, approximately 55 km away. A taxi from the airport to the temple takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Train

Kollam Junction (QLN) is the closest major railway station, located about 45 km from the temple. From the station, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus towards Anchal.

Road

The temple is accessible by road from major cities like Kollam (45 km) and Thiruvananthapuram (55 km). The route typically involves driving on the Main Central (MC) Road and then taking local roads from Anchal.

Local Transport

Auto-rickshaws are the most common form of local transport from nearby towns like Anchal or Kadakkal. Taxis can also be hired. Ride-hailing apps have limited service in this specific rural area.