Kannur has its own Dakshina Kashi or Varanasi of the South. On the banks of the river Bavali in Northern Kerala sits the Kottiyoor Siva temple, an ancient pilgrimage site. Located along the Western Ghats there are two temples on opposite banks of the Bavali River: one is open to devotees everyday while the other is seasonal. The former is located on the Southern bank, ‘ikkare’ or ‘this side of the banks’ in Malayalam whereas on the Northern side, ‘Akkare’ or the ‘opposite side of the banks’, cocooned by a forest, the temple is open only during the Vaisakha festival every year.
It is the most significant festival of the temple, celebrated during the months of May or June. During this time, Ikkare Kottiyoor remains closed. The temple located on the Northern bank is where Lord Shiva exists as a swayambhu Siva linga at a spot named Manithara, along with his consort Goddess Parvathy, who is worshipped nearby at a place called the Ammarakkal Thara. The festival is held during the rainy season when the Bavali river flows in all its strength.
