Kottarakkara (IAST: Korakkara), also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and municipality in Kollam (formerly known as Quilon) District, in Kerala state, India. The town is close to Kollam Port, which has a rich history linked to the early medieval period as well as a reputation as an important commercial, industrial and trading center. Kottarakkara lies 27 kilometres (17 mi) to the east of Kollam city center and 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the west of Punalur city on National Highway 208/220. It lies 35 kilometres (22 mi) 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 ()- (5 km from Kottarakara town), Vettikkavala 7 km ,Aipalloor (3 km from Kottarakara), Kizhaketheruvu (2.5 km from Kottarakara), 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 (Kollam to Thirumangalam) meets the MC road (Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly) at Kottarakkara. Kottarakkara is linked with Kollam (the district headquarters), both by road and rail, at a distance of 27 km. It is 72 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala) and 80 km to the south of Kottayam.
