Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Hindu temple in Thrissur, India

Vadakkunnathan is a Hindu temple in Thrissur in the Indian state of Kerala. The complex is surrounded by circular granite walls and displays four tall towers facing the cardinal directions along with richly carved wooden panels in the regional style.

Archaeological findings suggest the temple arose around 1600 years ago. Traditions name the master builder Perumthachan as the originator of the design in the second century.

The name Vadakkunnathan, "Lord of the North", comes from Shiva taking the northern side while Vishnu was asked to sit to his south. The temple is the first of the 108 Shiva temples of ancient Kerala listed in the Shiva Temple Stotra, where it is called Shrimad-Dakshina Kailasam, the Kailash of the South. The Sri Moola Sthana, the banyan-tree spot outside the north-west wall where the lingam appeared, still receives a daily lamp.

The complex opens daily in the morning from 4 to 11 and in the evening from 5 to 8:20. Visitors must wear clothing that covers knees and shoulders and should remove footwear before entering the temple spaces.

The main deity appears as a large lingam constantly covered in ghee. This butter form represents the snow-covered Mount Kailash and is renewed daily with fresh ghee.