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Facts

KADAMMANITTA
Kadammanitta is a beautiful village located 8 km north west of Pathanamthitta. The village is connected to Kozhenchery, Pathanamitta and Mannarakulangy by roads. There are several churches, temples and other worship centers located in the village. The Govt. High School is at the center of the village. My high school education was at this school.

Mahakavi Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan is from here.
The late Rev. P.M. Mathew of the Mar Thoma Church was from Kadammanitta.

The famous Krupapuram Convention is hosted by the Krupapuram Mar Thoma Parish annually.
Kadammanitta is also famous for its annual Patayani festival held in the premises of the Devi temple.

PATHANAMTHITTA                                                                                                    

Forests and pilgrimage centres

Carved out of Kollam district, more than half of the area of Pathanamthitta (/paththanamthitta/) district is forest land.
The river Pamba flows through the district, which is bounded on the east by the Western Ghats. A large part of the district was in 1982 the eastern part of Kollam district. It was set aside for those displaced by the Idukki Hydroelectric Project as well as for educated unemployed, ex-servicemen, Harijans, and hill tribes. It was to provide these people with better amenities that the area was sought to be developed economically and socially. Thus was born, in November 1982, Pathanamthitta district.

Perhaps the best-known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala (/shabarimala/), high up in the Sahyadri
(/sahyaadhri/) mountains. The holy shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha, /shaastha/) attracts 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 km to the shrine can be reached only by trekking. Note that tourists and foreigners, as well as women between the ages of 14 and 40, approximately puberty and menopause, are not allowed entry. Aranmula (/aaRanmuLa/), a small town on the banks of the river Pamba, 10 km from Chengannur (/chengannoor/) on the
Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam route, is famed for its expensive hand-made mirrors of polished metal called the `Aranmula Kannadi' or the Aranmula mirror. During Onam (/ONam/, in August/September), the Aranmula Boat Race takes place amidst celebrations and festivities. (See also Kochi, Alappuzha)

In February, devotees of the Marthoma (/maaRthOma/) Christian faith as well as other believers converge on Maramon (/maaraman/) near Kozhencherry, 13 km from Pathanamthitta, for the annual Maramon Convention. Held on the river bed of the Pamba, this is said to be Asia's largest gathering of Christians. At Niranam (/niRaNam/) is the oldest Christian church, believed to have been built by the Apostle St. Thomas in 52 AD.

Those interested in arts and culture will not wish to miss the Vijnana Kala Vedi Cultural Centre (/vijnana kalaa vEdhi/).
Founded by Louba Schild, a French scholar under the Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme, this centre was started with UNESCO support. The centre offers residential training courses in Kerala's traditional arts and crafts like kathakali (/kathakaLi/), mohiniattam (/mOhiniyaaTTam/), bharatanatyam (/bharathanaaTyam/), kalaripayattu (/kaLarippayatt~/), music, wood carving, etc. For more details, contact the Director, Vijnana Kala Vedi Centre, Tarayil Mukku Junction, Aranmula, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. PIN: 689 533.

At Kaviyoor, 5 km east of Tiruvalla (/thiruvalla/), on the banks of the Manimala river, atop a hill is a Hanuman temple in the characteristic Kerala style. Not far away is another temple of archaelogical significance. This rock-cut temple has been dated to the 18th c. and its design is close to the Pallava style. Inscriptions on the central shrine are believed to have belong to the Kali era.

The valiant minister and de-facto ruler of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa spend his last days at Mannadi (/mannaadi/), 13 km from Adoor, and 45 km from Kollam. The ancient Bhagawati temple here also houses the Kerala Institute of Folklore and Folk Arts, which has a collection of tapes and a library.

The Perunthenaruvi (/perunthEn-aruvi/) waterfall which flows down a rocky path into a ravine 100 feet deep, is accessible by bus from Kollam.

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FACT SHEET

The nearest airport is at Nedumpaseri, 150 km away. The Thiruvananthapuram airport is 236 km to the south. Pathanamthitta is linked by motorable roads to other towns in Kerala.

Pathanamthitta

Kottayam

Kerala Tourism