Kottayil Kovilakam is located at Chennamangalam in Ernakulam District, Kerala. The palace was the seat of Kshatriya chieftains of Villarvattom. During the Chola reign, the Kovilakam became a center of learning. The history of Kottayil Kovilakam and the Paliyathachans of Kochi is interlinked. According to historical evidence, the Dutch built Paliyam Kotta, as a gesture of gratitude to the Paliyathachans and within it a kovilakam was built specially for women.Hence the name became Kottayil Kovilakam. One can witness a rare sight of religious integration at this place. Shri Krishna Temple, an old Syrian Catholic Church, a mosque and a Jewish Synagogue are located close to each other depicting the cultural harmony of Kerala. The Kovilakam can be approached from Ernakulam as Chennamangalam is 39 km away. It is about 14 km from Cherai on the way to Kodungallur.