Tourist Places in Pandalam

Pandalam is well-known for its connections with Sabarimala and Ayyappan. Pandalam, rightfully regarded as the educational and cultural center of Central Travancore, is home to many prestigious schools as well as postgraduate, training, Ayurvedic, and engineering colleges.

Pandalam is home to seven colleges and 23 schools, including N. S. S. College, Pandalam. According to the Kerala state government, the Pandalam municipality and Kulanada panchayat would be included in the area to create a unique Township.

1. Pandalam Palace

On the banks of the Achankovil River, there is a historic palace known as the Royal Palace of Pandalam. It was constructed in 900 AD by Lord Ayyappa and his Royal family of Pandalam. This palace is well-known for two things: first, it has ties to Sabarimala, one of Kerala's most revered pilgrimage sites, and second, it exhibits unrivaled examples of Kerala-style architecture between 900 and 1100 AD.

The primary deity of this temple, Lord Ayyappa, is considered the progenitor of a Pandalam Royal family ruler. Despite its modest size, the two-story palace serves as evidence of Kerala's amazing architectural style, which combines mud, wood, stones, and bamboo.

The palace is deteriorating daily even though this location is significant from an archaeological standpoint for various reasons. Only the Valiyakoikkal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Kaipuzha Temple, and Theverappura (prayer chambers) remain in the royal courtyard to enhance the area's visual attractiveness and the lovely landscape surrounding it.

2. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

In the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, South India, adjacent to the village of Aranmula and, one of the "Divya Desams, Alwars," is the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.

It is one of the 108 Divyadesams, or temples, devoted to Krishna, a Vishnu incarnation revered as Parthasarathy (Partha's charioteer). Trivandrum International Airport is the closest airport, whereas Chengannur Train Station is the closest train station to the temple.

Krishna also goes by the moniker Parthasarathy because he serves as Arjuna's charioteer during the Mahabharata conflict. In addition to Guruvayur Temple, Trichambaram Temple, Tiruvarppu, and Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, it is one of Kerala's most significant Krishna temples.

3. Pandalam Ayyappa Temple

The Pandalam Ayyappa Temple is located between the villages of Thottakkonam and Mulampuzha of Pandalam. Lord Ayyappa is the presiding god at Pandalam, a chosen and favored location in Kerala. With its natural procession path around the Sanctorum, the temple is distinctive. According to popular belief, Ayyappa is the only deity who shields his followers from sorrow and misery throughout the Kali Yuga.

There are several other names for Ayyappa, including Dharmasasta, Manikandan, Bhutanathan, Pandala Raja, and Pamba Vaasan. When Lord Vishnu assumed the Mohini form, Ayyappa was born with a mix of Siva and Vishnu forces. The primary reason for Ayyappa's creation was to destroy Mahishi, an asura demon.

4. Pandalam Mahadeva Temple

One of the 108 ancient Shiva temples dedicated by the famous 'Sanayasin Khara Muni' is the andalam Mahadeva Temple in Kerala between Thottakkonam and Mulampuzha. This temple, also known as "Mukkal Vattom," is situated on the left bank of the Achenkovil River, with one side on the river's banks, 3 kilometers from Pandalam town. It is thought that Lord Parasurama had this temple's main idol put in the Garbhagriha.

This Shiva temple's unique feature is where a nearby river reaches Mahadeva's lower Srikovil, like the Ganges flowing downward from Shiva's "Jada" (hair). The idols of Lord Ganesh, "Maya-Ekshi Amma," Lord Ayyappa, Nagaraja, Lord Subramanian, Brahma Rakshas, and Rakshas are also present in the temple and are worshipped here. The Hindu pantheon contains references to a great number of deities. As a result, this temple represents Kailasa, Lord Shiva's home.

The Kettukazhcha festival lasts 10 days and is the main event here every year. It is observed every year between November and December during "Dhanu masa." The celebration begins with a temple flag-hoisting rite called "codetta," as it does in other temples, and it ends with "carat." Mahadeva Seva Samithi, which includes 12 villages, is in charge of running this temple. Another important holiday is Mahashivratri. There will be pujas, prayers, and Koothu all night.

5. Perunthenaruvi Waterfall

Perunthenaruvi waterfall at the bank of the Pamba River with the Western Ghats in the background is a popular destination in Kerala for relaxation and rejuvenation. Perunthu (large honey) and aruvi (stream), two Malayalam words, are the origin of the waterfall's name.

Perunthenaruvi waterfalls descend from a height of 100 meters, and the monsoon season is undoubtedly the ideal time to view it in all its splendor. This unusual tourist destination's location directly on the boundary of Kudamurutti and Vechoochira is another outstanding aspect.

6. Malayalapuzha Devi Temple

Malayalapuzha Devi Temple is located in the Keralan town of Malayalapuzha. It honors Bhagavathy, the goddess. This is Kerala's most well-known and powerful Shakti shrine.

The temple's interior has a tiny Namaskara Mandapa, a chuttambalam, and a Balikkalpura. The temple is believed to be older than 3,000 years. The temple has a grand gopuram on the eastern entrance and is of average size. The rectangular inner sanctuary has a mukhamandapam. 'Kadu Sarkara Yogam' is a method that was used to create the idol. It is made of wood, clay, ayurvedic herbs, milk, ghee, jaggery, turmeric, sandalwood, camphor, gold, silver, sand, and natural glue.

In a ceremony known as Prana Prathishta, priests consecrate an image and then use Tantric techniques to infuse it with strength and energy. The temple has a Sivalinga, a swayambu, which is reportedly getting bigger. Although this linga has no shrine, a blossoming Konna tree shades it year-round.

The major deity is Bhadra Kali Devi, who is Shakthi or Parvathi in her fearsome warrior form but is regarded by her devotees as a loving mother. Five and a half feet tall, the deity. Unlike other temples where the deity is often constructed of stone, this one comprises various materials.

7. Sree Vallabha Temple

One of Kerala's oldest and largest temples, Sreevallabha Temple honors Purusha as Lord Sreevallabhan and is a popular pilgrimage site for Indians from all over. It is a highly traditional Hindu temple. This ocean of orthodoxy, situated in Thiruvalla city, is well recognized for its magnificent architectural design and distinctive rituals absent from other temples.

The temple's interior is worth visiting for its beautiful murals and stone-and-wood decorations. Sreevallabha Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams, has been exalted by Alvars and numerous other prehistoric works. It is believed to be the Vallabha Kshethram described in the Matsya and Garuda Purana.

As a daily sacrifice, Kathakali is performed at the temple, elevating it to the top of India's list of locations where it is performed most days each year. Sreevallabhan took on the form of a Brahmachari and slew the demon Thokalaasuran in response to the prayers of an elderly Brahmin woman.

Later, in BC 59, the Sreevallabhan deity that Lakshmi and Krishna worshipped was placed in the temple. Since then, the temple has maintained a unique approach to worship that is currently unknown elsewhere. In the past, the temple oversaw one of Kerala's largest educational institutions and significantly contributed to the state's advancements in culture and education.

Thiruvalla, currently one of India's oldest populated areas, was formerly one of 64 Namboothiri villages in Kerala. Due to its location at the Manimala River's mouth, this location was formerly known as "Vallavai" before becoming "Thiruvalla." According to historical data, the area was inhabited by humans before 3000 BC.

According to the Thiruvalla inscriptions, the Sudarshana Chakra temple was constructed around 2998 BC. Another theory holds that the area was given its namesake, Sreevallabha Temple, or Sreevallabhapuram, or Thiruvalla in Malayalam. Sreedevi Antherjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam constructed the temple for Sudarshana Chakra, and Queen Cherumthevi carefully renovated it in 59 BC. By AD 1100, Sreevallabha temple had become a significant hub for spirituality and learning.

A Vedic school (Thiruvalla Sala) run by the temple had 150 teachers and around 1500 students. People learned about Veda, Vedanta, Tarka, Mimamsa, Jyotisha, Ayurveda, Kalaripayattu, etc. The temple also has access to an Ayurvedic hospital with space for 100 patients to be admitted and treated simultaneously.

8. Mavara Para

In the area of tourist attraction in Pathanamthitta, Mavara Para in Kurampala South is a leading competitor. This is prominently situated at Kampala South in Pathanamthitta.

9. Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple

Thrikkaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, also known as Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, is a long-abandoned temple with significant historical significance that the Archaeological Department has maintained as a monument. This landmark shrine is located in the Kaviyoor district, which is well-known for its temples on the banks of the Manimala River. Due to this temple's likeness to Pallava construction, historians date it to as early as the seventh century AD.

Among Kerala's earliest examples of stone sculpture are these engravings. The temple's major deity is Lord Shiva, symbolized by the "Shivalinga," a three-foot-tall rock carving kept in a square cave. There are additional idols of Ganapathy, Maharshi, and Dwarapalakas inside the shrine. An additional well-known temple in Kaviyoor is the Hanuman Temple. It is constructed in Kerala's distinctive gable style and on a tiny hillside.

10. St. George Orthodox Church

Around Chandanapally, the first church was constructed around 1810. His Holiness Mar Abdullah, the Later Patriarch of Antioch, dedicated it after it underwent renovation in 1875. The new church's hardwood planks were transported from the Kodumon forest. The large stream of the Achenkovil River that connected Kodumon and Chandanapally had dried up, making it impossible to transport the logs of teak and sandalwood to the work site.

In a miraculous downpour that lasted for days, the creek filled to the overflow, making it possible to quickly transport the massive logs to the location. A reconstruction that took place in 2000 is renowned for the magnitude of its enormous structure. It was made with the help of the Indo-Sarsanik sculpting style. It includes Christian, Muslim, and Hindu sculptured art, Gothic-style towers, pillars built using mathematics, and a Persian-style roof, giving it the charm of a magnificent sculpture.

11. St. Mary's Orthodox Church

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in Niranam is a Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church parish located 39 kilometers from Pathanamthitta and 10 kilometers from Thiruvalla. One of the oldest churches in the world, it was built by St. Thomas in 54 AD. Additionally, it includes St. Thomas's mortal remains.

The current structure was initially constructed in 1912 and then strengthened in 2000. The church's principal draws are a massive granite cross, St. Thomas relics, the remnants of an earlier church, and a golden cross.

12. Gavi Eco-Tourism

One of Kerala's main eco-tourism hubs, Gavi, has been named by renowned travel company Alistair International as one of India's top places to visit. The Kerala Forest Development Corporation's Gavi ecotourism initiative is in Pathanamthitta's Keralan region. Gavi, part of the Pathanamthitta district, provides its guests with outdoor camping experiences in specially made tents, night safaris, and hiking opportunities.

Pathanamthitta to Gavi is 109 kilometers (428 miles) away, and the trip takes 2 hours and 5 minutes via road. Gavi is located close to Thekkady, 14 km southwest of Vandiperiyar, and 28 km from Kumily. Within the Ranni reserve forest is Gavi. In Ranni Taluk, Gavi is a part of Seethathode Panchayath. The Periyar Tiger Reserve includes Gavi, and Vandiperiyar is the starting point for the drive. There is a 25 rupee per person and a 50 rupee per vehicle entrance fee. It's possible to stay the day or the night. From November to March, it is possible to camp in the forest with a tent.

It has been said that the path from Pathanamthitta is the most pleasant route to Gavi. Taking a strong vehicle like a jeep for the challenging trek to Gavi may be preferable. Entry permits must be purchased from the Forest Check Post in Vallakkadavu, which is located in a way. Reservations with the Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd., where the corporation would handle such processes, are greatly appreciated.

The main draw of Way to Gavi is its biodiversity. You will be drawn to Gavi, an endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Wild Gaur, and Elephants as you travel. Other notable sights along the route to Gavi are the Sholai Forest and grasslands. A crucial factor is the presence of the Gopher tree, sometimes known as the Gopher tree. The phrase "gopher wood" is used once in the Bible. Bird watchers shouldn't pass up the opportunity to travel to Gavi because they can see several uncommon avian species there. With over 260 different bird species, including the great pied hornbill, woodpecker, and kingfisher, Gavi is a bird lover's paradise. Naturalists who want to learn more about the distinctive flora of the Western Ghats should visit this ideal location. In conclusion, this is a wonderful location that everyone who enjoys nature should visit at least once.

13. Manjinikkara Dayara Church

The Manjinikkara Dayara Church is one of Kerala's most popular pilgrimage destinations. Mor Ignatius Elias Dayarais here that the mortal remains of Mar Ignatius Elias III, the Holy Patriarch of Antioch, are kept. It is located near Omallur in the Pathanamthitta district.

The church, on a hilltop, attracts plenty of people to its yearly festival in February because of its joyous and friendly atmosphere. In its serene settings, devotees find salvation and tranquility; many have found spiritual support here.

Prayer Timings