Ochira

**Oachira** is a town in Karunagappally taluk, Kollam district in Kerala, India.

## Temple town

Oachira is one of the famous holy places of Kerala and in India. Oachira is on the border of Kollam District and Allappuzha District.
The famous temple of Para Brahmam (OMkaram) is located here.

## Festivals

The major annual festivals are _Oachira Kali_ or _Oachirakali_ and the twelve-day Panthrandu Vilakku , which is held in November/December.  Oachira Kali is celebrated in commemoration of the battle of Kayamkulam, fought between Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore and the Raja of Kayamkulam. It is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors on the _padanilam_ (battlefield).

Yet another festival celebrated in Oachira Temple is the "Irupathiyettam Onam" (Thiruvonum in the month of Kanni). It is considered the Onam of cows and bulls and is celebrated on Thiruvonam. These concepts are related to _Shiva Vahana_.

## Celebrities

Eminent cartoonist Shankar hails from near Oachira. The government of Kerala paid a tribute to him, in the form of  a museum in memory of the country’s best known and most revered political cartoonist,near his birthplace Oachira. Kerala Lalithakala Akademi was behind the ambitious projec,which costs an estimated initial cost of Rs. 3. 5 crore which spreads  over 15,000 sq.ft. of land.

## To reach

To reach Oachira, by air, the nearest airports are Trivandrum International Airport and Cochin International Airport. By rail,Oachira and Kayamkulam Jn. is nearest station

## Education

RVSM Higher Secondary School, situated at Prayar is the oldest and biggest educational institution in Oachira. Oachira Govt. Higher Secondary School is another famous educational institution. PRAGATHI Hindi Vidyalay is a famous Hindi college

## Places near Oachira

- Madathilmukku-
- Ragam JN.
- Prayar
- Oachira Temple
- Memana -
- Valiyakulangara
- Vayanakam

## Other websites

- Ochira.com
- Karunagappally, Kollam, Kerala Webportal

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Oachira
- **native name**: ഓച്ചിറ
- **native name lang**: ml
- **other name**: Dakshina kashi
- **settlement type**: town
- **pushpin map**: India Kerala#India
- **pushpin label position**: right
- **pushpin map caption**: Location in Kerala, India
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: States and territories of India, State
- **subdivision name1**: Kerala
- **subdivision type2**: District
- **subdivision name2**: Kollam district, Kollam
- **subdivision name3**: Karunagappally taluk
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **population density km2**: auto
- **demographics type1**: Languages
- **demographics1 title1**: Official
- **demographics1 info1**: Malayalam language, Malayalam, English language, English
- **timezone1**: Indian Standard Time, IST
- **utc offset1**: +5:30
- **postal code type**: PIN
- **postal code**: 690526
- **area code type**: Telephone code
- **area code**: 0476
- **registration plate**: KL-02& KL23
- **blank1 name sec1**: Nearest city
- **blank1 info sec1**: Kollam City (32 km), karunagappally town
- **blank2 name sec1**: Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Constituency
- **blank2 info sec1**: Alappuzha
- **blank3 name sec1**: Kerala Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly
- **blank3 info sec1**: Karunagapally, Karunagapally (Kollam District)
- **blank1 name sec2**: Climate of India, Climate
- **blank1 info sec2**: Climatic regions of India, good weather all seasons <small>(Köppen climate classification, Köppen)</small>