The ancient Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is located in Kottayam. It has brought immense glory and fame to the state. In mythology its mentioned that Pandavas and sage Vyasa worshipped at this temple. Ettumanoor got its name from the word 'manoor', which means the land of deer. Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple is one of the most revered Shiva temples in Kerala.
Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva with Goddess Bhagavati. The sub-deities in the temple are Sastha, Ganesha and Yakhsi.
The ancient temple was reconstructed in the 1542 AD. Built-in traditional Kerala style, the walls of the temple are adorned with the Dravidian Mural paintings. At the top, there is an idol of a bull surrounded by tiny bells and metal banyan tree leaves.
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple’s illustrious entrance gate is eye-catching. Temple’s copper roof looks genuinely ethereal. The outer and inner walls depicting Dravidian mural paintings and the fresco depicting Shiva’s Dance looks heavenly.
One of the most exciting rituals of the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple is Thulabharam. After a devotee’s wish is fulfilled, the concerned person is put on a weighing scale, and offerings are matched to their weight.
Annually, around February-March, Arattu festival is hosted in the temple. On the 8 & 10 days of the celebration, the statue of seven and a half gold elephants donated by the Travancore Maharaja are showcased on display.