AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Peroor Shree Meenakshi Temple is a beautifully rebuilt Hindu shrine in the quiet suburb of Peroor, about six kilometres east of Kollam city in Kerala. Dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi—a revered form of Durga—the temple draws large crowds of local devotees and stands out for its striking modern architecture built with polished granite and elegant circular pillars.↗↗↗
Though centuries old, the temple has been recently reconstructed into what visitors call a marvel of granite craftsmanship. Its annual Pooyam Maholsavam festival features a spectacular temple-car procession that attracts tens of thousands of people from across the region.↗↗
A Living Shrine Reborn in Granite
The Peroor Shree Meenakshi Temple—known locally as Chettinada, meaning "New Temple"—is a famous old place of worship near the Punthalathazham neighbourhood of Kollam. While the temple's roots go back over a century, what you see today is a recent reconstruction that has transformed the site into something special. Visitors are struck by the polished granite stones stacked with precision, the elegant circular stone pillars described as "a masterpiece," and a contemplative lotus-in-water feature that adds a fresh touch of natural serenity to the interior.
