At Ettumanoor in the Kottayam region of Kerala stands the celebrated Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple, a revered Shiva shrine renowned above all for its art — its walls bear some of the finest mural paintings in Kerala, including a magnificent image of Shiva as Nataraja in cosmic dance. Built in the classical Kerala style with a circular sanctum and tiered roofs, the temple enshrines Shiva in a fierce yet benevolent aspect.
It is famed for the ezhara ponnana — the offering of seven and a half golden elephant figures, gifts of the Travancore royal house — displayed during its annual festival. One of the sacred trio worshipped with Vaikom and Kaduthuruthy in a single day, Ettumanoor draws devotees for its beauty and sanctity alike, and is among the most artistically treasured of Kerala's temples.
