Kottukal cave Temple

Highlights

• Kottukkal Cave Temple, also known as Kaltrikkovil in Malayalam, is an existing example of rock cut architecture, built between 6th and 8th centuries CE.
• It is situated in the village of Kottukkal, near Anchal, Kollam district, Kerala in India.
• The name Kottukkal (which means Kothiya Kallu- carved rock) is a reference to rock cut shrine.
• There are two caves of unequal size, both facing the east with the sculpture of the main deity Ganapathy in between.
• The smaller cave has an idol of Hanuman and the larger one has a monolithic Nandi (bull) in it.

Dress Code

Modest, respectful clothing is expected at this site.

Architecture

• •The temple is made by carving out a gigantic piece of rock.
• •This architectural is situated in the middle of paddy field and from a distance gives impression of a sleeping elephant.
• •There are two 10 feet long and 8 feet wide rooms cut into the rocks and covered by a single rock overhead.
• •The temple which has a Shiva linga flanked by Nandi and Sri Hanuman is believed to belong to the period of Pallava dynasty (8th century BC) and contemporaneous with the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram near Chennai.

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