PATHANAMTHITTA

Location: Kerala
Main attractions: Sabarimala, Aranmula
Best Season: August to March
Languages: Malayalam, Hindi, and English
THE GREAT PILGRIMAGE: Situated near the Western Ghats and bordered by the hills, Pathanamthitta district is a treat to eyes with its vast unending stretches of forests, rivers and rural landscapes. Blessed by nature, the district is famous for its scenic beauty, fairs and festivals.
Pathanamthiita is a true tropical diversity adorned with fertile agricultural land, plantations and forest, Paddy, tapioca, varieties of vegetables and spices like cardamom, pepper etc. are extensively cultivated. The district also abounds in extensive rubber plantations.

Chandanakudam Festival: The Chandanakudam Festival of the Patthanamthitta Muslim Jamaat Mosque held in February, every year attracts thousands of devotees. The Chandanakudam festival of Kattoor Mosque in Cherukole Panchayath and Kalamala Mosque near Adoor are also famous.    

Charalkunnu: Charalkunnu is a picturesque hill station from where one can have a panoramic view of the low-lying areas including that of the sinuous river, Pumpa. There is a comfortable camp house, which has both rooms and dormitories.

Krishna Puram Palace: 47 kms, at Kanya Kulam, on the way to Kollam, the double storeyed palace contains one of the largest Mural panels in Kerala. 

Aranmula: On the Pamba River, 10 kms from Chenganur on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam route, the Krishna Temple is an important pilgrim center. The annual commemoration of the installation of the deity falls on the last day of the Onam festival. It is as part of this celebration that the Aranmula Boat Race is held on this day.

Kadammanitta: Kadammanitta, a village only 8 kms away from Pathanamthitta is famous Padayani, which is an important ritual art performed in the premises of the Kadammanitta Devi Temple. This art from is an offering for the mother goddess. It is celebrated every year from the first day of Medam according to the Malayalam era to the 10th day (Pathmudayam).

Kalloppara: St.Mary's Church at Kalloopra stands in close proximity to the Bhagavathi temple, which is an admirable example of communal harmony. There are two granite slabs inside the church with some inscriptions in Pali language.

Kaviyoor: The Kaviyoor Mahadeva temple, which was constructed in the early years of the 10th century, is one of the oldest of the Mahadeva temples in Kerala. References are there in the Kaviyoor Shasanas of 950 AD about the gifts that were offered to this temple. But it is believed that the 'Darusilpas' seen around the temple belong to the 17th century.
Thekekudi Cave Temple in Kaviyoor Panchayat is one of the rare cave temples of Kara. It is assumed that this temple is constructed in the Pallava architectural style and was built in the 8th century. Apart from Ganapathi, Maharshi and Dwarapalaka idols in the Sreekovil, which are inside the cave, there is also a Sivalinga, which is about three feet in height.

Omallur: The Rakhtakanta Swami Temple and the annual cattle fair held in the Malayalam month of 'meenam' are the main attractions of Omallur. People from both within and outside participates in the fair.

Sabarimala: The famous pilgrim center is 191 kms away north of Thiruvananthapuram and 210 kms from Kochi. The Lord Ayappa Temple is 914 kms above the level amidst forests in the rugged terrain of the Western Ghats. Perhaps the best-known pilgrimage destination in Kerala, Sabarimala is high up in the Sahyadri Mountains.
The holy shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa Dharma Sastha, is thronged by thousands of pilgrims from all over, especially from other parts of South India. The main pilgrimage season is from November to January.
The shrine is located 914 m above sea level amidst dense forests. Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pamba and the last five kms to the shrine can be reached only by trekking. Note that tourists and foreigners, as well as women between the approximate ages of puberty and menopause, are not allowed entry.

Neendakara: 8 kms north of Kollam on the Kollam-Alappuzha route, it is a major fishing harbour and the headquarters of the Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Project set up inn 1953 AD. This collaborative venture pioneered modern fishing methods in Kerala.

Cherukolpuzha: An important religious convention of the Hindus is held at Cherukole on the riverbed of Pampa usually in February every year.

Kakki: Kakki reservoir, set in sylvan background, is a 'tourists' delight. The splendid artificial lake offers exhilarating boating experience. The surrounding forest abounds in tigers, elephants, deers and monkey.

Kodumon Chilanthiyambalam: Chilanthiyambalam is situated in Kodumon Panchayat about 15 kms. From Pathanmathitta town. It is believed that this temple was built during the reign of the last king of the Sakthibhadra Kingdom.
All people, irrespective of caste and creed worship the idol of Mahalakshmi in this temple. The water of the Chilaanthikinar in the premises of the temple is regarded as panacea for skin diseases.

Thiruvalla Temple Thiruvalla temple is one of the largest temples of Kerala and a fine specimen of its traditional style of temple architecture. The temple has many shrines though it is mainly dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Konni: Konni is an important junction in Kottayam-Punalur route. It is about 11 kms. From the district headquarters. It is an important center for cash crops like rubber, pepper, and coffee and ginger, which forms the backbone of the agricultural economy of the state.
Till recently it had importance as a place of training elephants. But elephant hatching by crude old method being forbidden by the central government, no wild elephant are brought here for training. But the big wooden cages used to put newly coughed wild elephant for training are still an attraction for people from far and near.

Malayalappuzha: The Bhagavathy temple here is believed to help people realise their dreams. People bring offerings in different forms during the festival. There are also beautiful wall paintings and artistic stone works.

Thenmala: Nearly 66 kms east of Kollam, it's a scenic spot at the intersection of the Kollam-Shencotta and Thiruvananthapuram-Shencotta roads. A number of rubber and tea plantations lend a touch of civilization to the otherwise virgin landscape. Large consignments of timber are exported from Thenmala. The dam site here is an added tourist attraction.

Niranam: 7 kms from Thiruvalla. It is famous for the church, believed to be among one of the seven and a half churches originally established by St. Thomas in Kerala. This church displays a marked influence of ancient temple architecture.
Niranam is also famous as the birthplace of a band of 14th century poets known as the Niranam Kavikal or Kannassa Panikkaranmar. They were renowned for their many translations from Sanskrit to Malayalam, the most illustrious being 'Kannassaramayanam', a translation of the epic Ramayana.

Manjinikkara: The holly Patriarch of Anthioch, while on his visit to India, died at this place in 1932. His mortal remains are kept in this church. Later this place was developed into a place of pilgrimage, even today, pilgrims, Indians as well as foreigners, visit this place frequently. The important festival is in February every year when devotees flock in thousands.

Mannadi: Veluthampi Dalawa, the great patriot, fought, against British imperialism and became a martyr on March 29, 1809 at Mannadi. The monument of his martyrdom at Mannadi in Adoor Taluk is of great historical importance.

Air: The nearest airport is at Cochin, 152 km away.
Rail: Rail link at Tiruvalla, 30 kms. Away.
Road: Motorable roads to other towns in Kerala link Pathanamthitta.
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NEARBY CITIES

Chenganur26 km
Kottayam61 km
Alappuzha74 km
Thiruvananthapuram104 km

GENERAL INFORMATION District Area:

2731sq.km.
District Population:1,186,628.
Temperature:
Mean Max:37.0 deg. C
Mean Min:22.0 deg. C
Climate:Tropical Monsoons.
Clothing:Tropical Cottons.
Altitude:500-1000 Mt. above sea level.