Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta is the headquarters of Pathanamthitta district. Even before getting this status, it had an important place in the erstwhile Travancore State. The biggest taluk in the Travancore State was Pathanamthitta and the revenue collection from this taluk played a prominent role in filling the coffers of the State. It has more than five high schools and a first grade college. There are a number of churches, mosques and temples and people live harmoniously. There is a beautiful mosque in the heart of the town and the annual Chandanakudom festival here is important. Chuttipara in the town and Valanchuzhi temple which is on the banks of Achancovil river attracts many people.



Sabarimala

Sabarimala is one of the most famous pilgrim centers in India. It is 72 kms. away from Pathanamthitta. Every year crores of devotees from all over India visit the shrine of Lord Ayyappa here. The temple is situated in the interior of the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats and is inaccessible except on foot. The pilgrimage season starts in November and ends in mid January. On the particular day of Makaravilakku, lakhs of devotees throng around the temple for a glimpse of Makara Jyothi. The temple is closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month (which fall around the middle of every month in the Western Calender) and during Vishu (middle of April). Situated not far from the Sabarimala temple, there is a shrine in the name of Vavar, a Muslim of great valour, who was thought to be a close associate of Lord Ayyappa. It is rare feature of the Piligrimage to Sabarimala that the Hindu pilgrims offer worship at this shrine of Vavar also during their pilgrimage, indicating the communal harmony that prevailed Kerala for ages.


Pandalam Palace
Pandalam Palace is the permanent home for the royal family of Pandalam  who are the descendants of the Pandya kings of Madurai. Pandalam is a holy town, second only to Sabarimala.  Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of  Sabarimala, had his human sojourn here as the son of the Raja of Pandalam. Ayyappa spent his childhood days at palace and protected the King and the kingdom from the attacks of enemies. After sometime, Ayyappa disappeared into jungle and people started to worship him at Sabarimala temple.The Valiya Koickal temple near the palace, on the banks of river Achenkovil,  has been modelled on the Sabarimala shrine. Pilgrims usually stop here to worship before proceeding to Sabarimala. Three days prior to Makaravilakku festival, the sacred ornaments for Lord Ayyappa are taken from the Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sastha Temple palace in a procession to Sabarimala. The Raja or his representative with ceremonial sword, escort the Thiruvabharanam to Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku festival.




Omalloor Temple
Sree Raktakandaswamy Temple at Omalloor is a shrine highly important to the Sabarimala-bound devotees. The deity here, Lord Raktakandaswamy, is Lord Ayyappa himself but in a different form.

The temple is located around 4 kms south of Pathanamthitta District headquarters.


Omalloor vayal vanibham is the traditional exhibition and of cattle, seeds, and agricultural produces and appliances. It will be held on march-april on every year. Cattle market, seminars on agriculture and animal husbandry , agriculture market, folk art festival, village dramas, pet shows would mark each day of this festival.

Omalloor vayal vanibham which has a history of over 800 years, used to attract thousands of farmers from central travancore region including kollam , alappuzha, kottayam and pathanamthitta. Attraction of very first day of vayal vanibham is cattle market. The place uses the farmers to sell, buy and exchange their cattles and cart. People from both within and outside the state participate in the fair held in the month of meenam (Malayalam Year).

Second main attraction in this traditional fair is agricultural market. The place for sell, buy and exchange each and every agricultural related items, and the day is highlighted by the seminar of agricultural and husbandry . Now the years this vayal vanibham is intiated by the government bodies . In past the vayal vanibham intiated by the organization of farmers from the different region of central travancore.Every evening of vayal vanibham is coloured by arranging folk art festivals.

The Omalloor vayal vanibham is the annual agriculture fair organized by the omalloor grama panchaya, will be held at omalloor in the month of march.Cattle mart is the main attraction of vayal vanibham.


Parumala

The parumala church is dedicated in the names of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. The saintly Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios is buried in the northern corner of the church were the octagonal altar and the rectangular ‘Haikla’ of the church join together (the saintly Metropolitan was taken to his heavenly abode on 2 November 1902. The Holy Episcopal Synod Canonized him as a saint in 1947)





Perumthenaruvi

The water falls in the river Pamba at Perumthenaruvi attract thousands of people. This is a beautiful natural waterfall and an ideal place of tourism. It is only 10 kms. from Erumeli.


Perumthenaruvi is a beautiful natural waterfall and an ideal place of tourism. Perumthenaruvi, a 100ft high Waterfall is located 16 km away from Tiruvalla. Tourists can reach this place via Erumeli and Ranni from Pathanamthitta.
The 'Charalkunnu' Waterfall is near to Perumthenaruvi. One can experience a panoramic view of the low lying areas including river Pamba from here. There is a camp house with dormitories here.
Perumthenaruvi, mazes its way through Perumthenaruvi Vechuchira-Naranammoozhi villages in Ranni taluk of Pathanamthitta. Here, the water flows down a rocky bed into a ravine, sixty to on hundred feet deep.







Kallooppara

St.Mary's church at Kallooppara 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 A.D. 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.




Tekekudi Cave Temple in Kaviyoor Panchayat is one of the rare cave temples of Kerala. It is assumed that this temple is constructedinthe Pallava architectural style and was built in the eighth century. Apart from Ganapathi, Maharshi, Dwarapalaka idols in the sreekovil which is inside the cave, there is also a Sivalinga which is about three feet in height. An idol of Hanuman is also there. It is believed that Kaviyoor was earlier known as Papiyoor.

Kodumon Chilanthiyambalam

Chilanthiyambalam is situated in Kodumon Panchayat about 15 kms.away from Pathanamthitta town. It is believed that this temple was built during the reign of the last king of the Sakthibhadra Kingdom. The deity of this temple Mahalakshmi is worshipped by all people irrespective of caste and creed. The water of the Chilanthikinar in the premises of the temple is regarded as a panacea for skin diseases.




Konni

Konni is an important place in the Kottayam - Punalur route. It is about 11 kms. away from the district headquarters. It is a famous centre for cash crops like rubber, pepper, coffee and ginger which form the backbone of the agricultural economy of the State. Till recently it had acclamation as a place of training elephants. But, elephant catching by the crude old method being forbidden by the Central Government, know no wild elephants are brought here for training. But the big wooden cages used to put newly caught wild elephants for training still attract people from far and near.









Nilackal

It is five kms. away from Plappally on the Pamba -Pathanamthitta road. An old temple dedicated to Lord Siva and an Ecumenical centre of Christians are situated here.

Muloor Smarakom

Muloor Smarakam is located at  Elavumthitta, a village which is 12 Kms away from Pathanamthitta. Muloor Smarakam  is a memorial to Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker (1869-1931) , one of the well-known poet and an important social reformer of the century. The Department of Culture of the State Government preserves it as a monument.








Niranam

Situated about six kms. away from the headquarters of the Thirualla Revenue Division, Niranam is famous from very ancient times. Niranam derives its importance mainly from the Orthodox Syrian Church there, which is believed to be one of the sevenchurchesfoundedbySt.Thomas.It is only a few yards dreams. People bring offering in different forms during the festival. Wall paintings and artistic stone works in the temple are well known.


Manjinikkara Church

Mar Ignatius Elias III, the Holy Patriarch of Anthioch, while on his visit to India, passed away at this place in 1932. His mortal remains are kept in this church. Later this place developed into a place of pilgrimage. pilgrims, from within and outside the country, visit here frequently. The important festival falls in February every year when devotees flock in thousands.

Mannady

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. The ancient Bhagavathy Temple has some exquisite store sculptures. The annual festival to held in February/March. The Kerala Institute of Folklore and Folk Arts functions here.

Maramon

A mammoth religious convention of Christians, but attended by people belonging to all communities, is held at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, every year on the vast sandy beds of the river Pamba. The convention takes place in February in an atmosphere of devotion and lasts for seven days. Addressed by speakers of international repute and attended by devotees in numerable, this is the largest Christian convention in the world. The centenary celebration of the convention was held in February 1995.

Aranmula

The famous Parthasarathi temple on the banks of the holy river Pamba dedicated to Lord Krishna attracts large number of devotees. It has been interpreted that the diety in the temple is in the form of the 'Viswaroopa'ofLordKrishna, which appeared before Arjunaatthetimeof 'Geethopadesam'. The idolisbelievedtobeerected by Arjuna.

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 Arunmula boat race is held on this day.

The two day Aranmula boat race is more a water fiesta than a competition, conducted during Onam. The event is a re-enacting of the legend involving a devout Brahmin who made a votive offering of feeding one pilgrim a day. One day Sree Krishna himself appeared to him and the overjoyed Brahmin vowed to offer 51 measures of rice and all the provision for the Thiruvona sadhya (the sumptuous Onamfest) at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Once, the thiruvona chilavu thoni (the boat carrying the offering) was intercepted by rivals from another village, but the Brahmin's own villagers came to the rescue on snakeboats. From then onwards the offering was carried by a fleet of Palliyodams, about 48 of them representing the nearby backwater villages. (A Palliyodam is a large, luxurious snake boat used by lords and royal family)

Today, only 26 snake boats participate in the event which is marked by a colourful water carnrival - an imposing effigy of Sree Krishna is taken out in procession on the lake with children dressed as nymphs and princesses. On the second day, snake boats decorated with silken parasols, carrying helmsmen, oarsmen and singer assemble near the temples early in the morning and then move away in pairs, creating a magnificent pageant. The boat race proper is held in the after noon.

The Vijnana Kalavedi at Arunmula imparts training in the traditional arts and crafts of Kerala. Kathakali, classical dance, classical music as well as Kalaripayattu (the martial art of Kerala) are taught here. The centre is frequently visited by a number of foreign tourists who can stay here for varying periods and have a first hand knowledge about Kerala culture.

Arunmula is also famous for its metal mirrors made of bell metal. This is a unique art which is not found anywhere else in the world. It is believed that a divine visitation inspired a widow of this village to discover a mysterious blend of bronze which could be waxed bright into crystal clear mirror. The mystery of its production is a family heirloom handed down through generations.

Vasthuvidya Gurukulam is a unique institution for ancient Indian architecture and mural paintings. It is a school constituted by the state Cultural Department is situated at Aranmula. The main objective of the gurukulam is the preservation and promotion of vasthuvidya and mural paintings.


Chandanakudam festival

The Chandanakudam festival of the Pathanamthitta Muslim Jamaat mosque held in February (Makaram 28th) every year, attracts thousands of devotees. The Chandanakudam festival of Kattoor mosque in Cherukole Panchayat and Kalamala mosque near Adoor are also very 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 Pamba. There is a comfortable camp house which has both rooms and dormitories.

Cherukolpuzha

An important religious convention of the hindus is held at Cherukol on the river bed of Pamba usually in February every year.

Kadammanitta

Kadammanitta, a village eight kms. away from Pathanamthitta is famous for Padayani, which is an important ritual art performed in the premises of the Kadammanitta Devi Temple. This art form is an offering for the Mother Goddess. It is celebrated every year from the first day of Medam (Malayalam era) to the 10th day (Pathamudayam).

Kakki

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

Thiruvalla

Sreevallabha temple here is one of the important pilgrim centres of Vaishanavites all over India.A granite pillar carved out of single piece with an image of Garuda on its top stands in front of the temple. The pillar, which serves as a flagstaff, is60ft.high.Kathakali, is performed almost on all daysas offerings by devotees.Thiruvalla is the headquarters of the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church. The Paliakara church here contains exquisite mural paintings.

Maniyar

This is a beautiful dam site, 20 km away from Pathanamthitta.

Seethathode

The Kerala State Electricity Board has a power generating station here.

Moozhiyar

This enchanting dam site is 57 km away from Pathanamthitta.