PATHANAMTHITTA
GENERAL
INFORMATION
| District Area |
2,642
sq. km. |
 |
| District Population |
1,188,332 |
| Temperature |
Mean Max.
- 37.0 deg. C
Mean Min. - 22.0 deg. C |
| Climate |
Tropical Monsoons |
| Clothing |
Tropical Cottons |
| Tourist season |
August to March |
The newly formed Pathanamthitta
district is bordered by the districts of Kottayam and Idukki in the north and Kollam in
the south. Pathanamthitta is located on the way to Sabarimala, a famous pilgrim centre
in Kerala.
HOW TO GET THERE
:
| Air |
The nearest airport
is at Cochin, 152 km away. |
| Rail |
Rail link at
Tiruvalla is 30 km away. |
| Road |
Pathanamthitta is
linked by motorable roads to other towns in Kerala. |
PLACES OF INTEREST
:
 |
Aranmula Dedicated to Lord Krishna and 10kms away,
Aramula is
another pilgrim place for Hindus. The temple is near Chengannor on the Thiruvananthapuram
- Kottayam route. A major attraction is the snake boat race held, as part of
a festival,
in August/September. Aranmula is famed for its hand-made mirrors of polished metal, called
the "Aranmula Kannadi". |
| Kaviyoor Located on the banks of the Manimala river,
the Kaviyoor temple and the rock-cut temple nearby are of great archaeological importance.
The stone figures here are considered to be the earliest specimen of stone culture. |
 |
Kozhenchery
Situated on the banks of the Pamba
river, the religious Maramon Convention is held annually in Kozhenchery. This convention is
supposed to be the biggest religious gathering of Christians in Asia.
Mannadi
The ancient Bhagavathy temple here
contains some interesting stone sculptures. The famous Kerala
Institute of Folklore and Folk Arts is also located here.
 |
Niranam
The oldest Christian
church, believed to have been built by St. Thomas the apostle, is situated here. |
Perumthenaruvi
The Perumthenaruvi is a famous
waterfall. Here, the waters flow down a rocky bed into a ravine, sixty to one hundred feet
deep. |
Sabarimala
(Pilgrim Centre)
 |
This is a well known pilgrim
centre, in the rugged terrains of the Western ghats. The holy shrine dedicated to Lord
Ayyappa attracts crores of pilgrims from all over India, especially from other parts of
South India. Sabarimala is surrounded by hazardous hills like Karimala and Neelimala. The
devotees known as 'Ayyappas' negotiate the hills to reach the shrine, after undergoing 41
days of
'Vrutham' (self imposed devotional penance). |
| The pilgrimage season, involving
Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku comes between the latter half of December and the former
half of January, every year. Ablution in River Pamba is considered as holy as 'Ganga
Snanam'. The confluence of Hindu and Muslim deities in the form of Lord Ayyappa and, his
lieutenant, Vavar makes this esteemed pilgrim centre a model of communal harmony. Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pamba and the last 5 kms. to the shrine
can be reached only by trekking. |
| Vijana Kala Vedi Cultural
Centre Vijana Kala
Vedi Cultural Centre founded by Louba Schild, a French scholar, under the Indo French
Cultural Exchange Programme, was started with the support of UNESCO. Those interested in culture
and arts would not like to miss it. The centre offers residential training courses in
Kerala's traditional arts and crafts like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam,
Kalaripayattu, Music, Wood Carving, etc. |
 |
|
