Kottarakkara north-east of Paravur.Kottarakkara, also known in the ancient days of the kings as the Elayadathu Swarupam, was a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. It is the home of Kathakali, a well known dance drama which originated initially as Ramanattam created in the 17th century by Prince Kottarakkara Thampuran and later patronized by the Raja of Kottarakkara in the early 19th century absorbing other dance forms of Krishnattam with further innovations. Other historical places of interest include the Ganapathi Temple, Edakkidom Thettikkunil Maha Devi Temple and the more-than-700-year-old Mar Thomas Church. Kottarakkara, a compound word made up of the words Kottaram, meaning "palace", and kara meaning "land", literally means "land of palaces". The area which had several palaces was thus named "Kottarakkara.Kottarakkara is a small principality close to Kollam. It is now a modern taluk town with all essential facilities. As a taluk headquarters, it has six panchayats. It is surrounded by several other towns namely, the Chengamanadu , Karickom, Thrikkannamangal, Nellikunnam, Kottathala, Moozhikkodu, Vendar, Mylom, Kalayapuram, Puthur, Poovattoor, Valakom, Neduvathoor, Neeleswaram, Pinattinmudu, Ambalathumkala, Ambalapuram, Annoor, Kareepra, Edakkidom, Kulakada, Nedumonkavu and many others. NH 208 and 80 km to the south of Kottayam.
Cochin , Thiruvananthapuram , Kozhikode , Trichur , Kottayam , Munnar , Ernakulam , Attingal , Mannarghat , Adimaly , Manjeri , Peermedu , Minicoy , Kannur , Adoor
