Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words pathanam and thitta, which means an array of houses or a town by the river side. Considering the attractions that draw people to various districts in Kerala Pathanamthitta remains something of a non-entity. It has neither sandy beaches nor languid backwaters. There are no misty mountains either. But what it does have- sheer untrammeled nature; is without parallel. Pathanamthitta has three great rivers- Pamba, Achankovil and Manimala, which untamed land where wild elephants still roam. There is still fierce beauty here that is different to define. You have to make a tour to Pathanamthitta to understand what makes it so different.

Best time to visit

Like the rest of Kerala Pathanamthitta is hot and humid most of the year apart from monsoon months (Jun-Sep) when it rains heavily and humidity levels soar.

April to August is the best time to make a tour to Pathanamthitta; most of the temples in this region also have festivals during this time.

Getting There

By Air
Equidistance from Cochin International Airport and Thiruvanathapuram International Airport, Pathanamthitta is easily accessible only via rail and road from these destinations.

By Rail
One of the main stations, Thiruvalla is connected to all major towns in the state and also to other metro cities in India by Kanyakumari Express and Kerala Express.

By Road
Connected to Thiruvanathapuram by the MC Road, it runs via Kilimanur, Kotarakkara, Adoor, Pandalama and Chengannur. KSRTC stand on MC road has frequent services to Pamba, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Thiruvanathapuram, Kollam and Kochi.

Sights and Attractions

Perumthenaruvi Falls

One of the most popular picnic spots, Perumthenaruvi waterfalls on the banks of the river Pamba, is an idyllic place for an outing on a Kerala tour.

This splendid natural waterfall is created by the movement of the river down a rocky path into a path into a ravine about 1000 feet deep.

Kodumon Chilanthiyambalam

This temple is said to have been built during the reign of the last king of the Sakthibhadra kingdom and the water from the well in the premises is believed to cure all ailments. The main idol is Durga Bhagavati. The Temple is open to all. The area is also famous for being the birthplace of Sakthi Bhandra, author of the famous Sanskrit play, Ascharya Chudamani.

Sabarimala

This is one of the most famous pilgrim centres in India and is must visit destination if you are on a tour to Pathanamthitta. Situated in the high mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, this temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is accessible only by foot. Other than the pilgrim season, the temple remains closed the rest of the year. On the day of the makaravillakku, lakhs of devotees throng the temple for a glimpse of the makarajyothi. Situated not far from the Sabarimala temple, there is the shrine of Vavar, a Muslim devotee of Lord Ayyappa, visited by all pilgrims to Sabarimala.
Pilgrim season: November to mid January.

Mannadi

Mannadi is where Velu Thampi Dalawa, the legendary Dewan of the erstwhile state of Travancor, met his tragic death. After leading a brief rebellion, against the British. The monument that has been erected here is a memorial to his valor. There is also an ancient Bhagavathi temple here with some exquisite stone sculptures. Apart from which, there is also the Kerala Institute of folklore and folk arts.

Kakki reservoir

Of the three reservoir in Pathanamthitta Kerala, Kakki reservoir is the most well known. Set in sylvan surroundings, the magnificent artificial lake provides a lovely boating experience while on a Kerala tour to Pathanamthitta.

Activities

What to buy

Aranmula is famous for metal mirrors or Aranmula kannadi, a unique craft, not found else where. Shop at Aranmula Metal Mirrors, near the Parthasarathy Temple.

Visit the Vijnana kala Vedi cultural centre

The institute established in 1977; by a French woman, Louba Schild, under the Indo- French cultural exchange programme, is dedicated to preserving the arts and heritage of Kerala.

People from all over world make a tour to Pathanamthitta and make a visit to the centre to study everything from singing to cooking, to community living to language, all the while living in a village. Subjects include art forms and related topics such as Kathakali and Kathakali makeup, Mohiniattam, Bharatanatyam, mudras, Carnatic music and percussion. Mural art, floor art and woodcarving can be learnt too. Training in Kalarippayattu is also imparted. Hatha yoga classes are conducted, as also courses in Sanskrit, Malayalam and Hindi. There are even cookery classes teaching Kerala cuisines.

Religious and Cultural importance

Visitors frequent Pathanamthitta Kerala for its religious shrines. A mammoth three crore pilgrims throng the celebrated Sabarimala shrine making it one of the largest religious congregations in the world next to Mecca and the Kumbh mela. However, Sabarimala season is the only time when the district is flooded with people. At Maramon, near Kozhencherry, a huge convention occurs on the banks of the Pamba when thousands of scholars, devout Christians, and Episcopal representatives from India as well as abroad gather, making it the largest such assembly in Asia.

Niranam, which is 9 kms from Pathanamthitta district Kerala, is said to be the location of the oldest shrine in India, a place where a Church was founded by the St. Thomas. In fact, the 9 kms separating the two towns has many picturesque churches, worth seeing for their lovely stained glass. Other religious attractions include Chilanthiyambalam, which translates into Spider Temple, located in Koduman. People swear by this temple when it comes to ailments caused by poisonous substances, including snakebites. There is also the main mosque in Pathanamthitta district Kerala that is unique.