Kottarakara

Kottarakkara ( Mal. കൊട്ടാരക്കര), is a village, with almost all urban facilities, located in Kollam District (formerly known as Quilon), in Kerala state, India. It is 72 km to the north of the Thiruvanthapuram, the State Capital,on the Main Central Road and 80 km to the south of Kottayam. The village lies 27 km to the east of Kollam, the District headquarters and 18 km to the west of Punalur on National Highway 208/220. It is also the headquarters of Kottarakkara Block and Talukcomprising six panchayaths.

The "Elayidath Swaroopam", a branch of the Travancore Royal family, settled here in 13th or 14th century, C.E. As referred to earlier, there were also Kunnimmel rulers.

The last queen of the dynasty was defeated by King Marthanda Varma (a distant cousin of hers), in the 18th century and she fled to Cochin to seekt asylum with her allies, the Dutch. They pensioned her with 2 rupees and 5 annas. Later, during Tipu Sultan's invasion of Malabar, a Royal family from North Malabar was settled in Kottarakara by Dharma Raja. This family line became extinct in the mid 19th century.