The Kottiyoor Temple is situated in Kannur District and is known as the “Dakshina Kailasam” (Southern Kailash) because of its association with Lord Shiva. The annual opening of the temple coincides with the famous Vaishakha Mahotsavam (month-long festival) and lakhs of people from Kerala and neighboring states flock to it.
Kottiyoor Temple, one of Kerala’s most revered pilgrimage sites, will be open from 23rd May 2026 to 24th June 2026 and to the devotees for a total of 33 days, a period of great spiritual significance in the region.
The temple’s unique tradition is to worship at two shrines, Akkare Kottiyoor (temporary shrine on the banks of the Bavali River) and Ikkare Kottiyoor (permanent shrine). During the 33-day festival, rituals are carried out in Akkare Kottiyoor as a symbol of the sacred union of nature and divinity. On 24th June, the temple closes and the temporary shrine is dismantled for the next year.
The importance of this period is not only in worship but in cultural and social aspects. People visit the forest paths and devotees are simply devoted to the Daksha Yaga and Lord Shiva.
For the local community, the temple’s opening is a time of spiritual renewal and collective celebration. It also boosts regional tourism, with pilgrims and visitors coming to Kannur to witness the unique traditions of Kottiyoor. The closing date, 24th June, is equally significant, as it symbolizes the completion of the sacred cycle and the return of the shrine to its natural state.
Kottiyoor Temple will be open for 33 days from 23rd May to 24th June 2026 in which devotees can perform many spiritual rituals. The temple’s annual cycle from opening to closing is one of the most eagerly awaited rituals of the year as it is bound to mythology, nature, and Kerala’s cultural heritage.
