Aranmula PalaceParthasarathi TempleThalam for boatsAranmula KannadiAranmula Kottaramതങ്കയങ്കിChundan boatPoet Sugathakumari
Aranmula, a temple town in Kerala, India, is renowned as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district. Situated on the banks of the Pampa, it has been a significant pilgrimage centre since ancient times and an important trade post when the river served as the main transport route. Located near Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta, Aranmula is easily accessible from Chengannur railway station, just 10 km away. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing villages in the region.
Aranmula, renowned for its Vallamkali (snake boat regatta), is one of Kerala’s most prominent cultural and religious destinations. A sacred centre for Hindus, Aranmula is home to the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna in his role as Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Arjuna. The temple is surrounded by a network of smaller shrines and sacred groves, reflecting the region’s rich spiritual heritage.
The famous Aranmula Boat Race, held on the Uthrittathi day in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September), forms an integral part of the temple’s annual festival and attracts thousands of devotees and tourists.
Situated close to Sabarimala, another major pilgrimage centre, Aranmula becomes a hub of religious tourism during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, drawing visitors from across the country.
Geography
Aranmula, with its fertile wetlands (locally known as puncha), rich biodiversity, and soothing climate, stands as a model of Kerala’s ecofriendly culture and sustainable way of life. Remote-sensing studies show that the region holds a significant reserve of groundwater, which nourishes the Pampa River and downstream estuaries such as Vembanad. The rice-producing tracts of Kuttanad further downstream greatly benefit from this natural water cycle.
The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the major temples in Kerala and has a great antiquity. It is one of the venerated 108 Vaishnava temples in India and finds mention in Tamil classics. Spread over a vast area, the temple is on the banks of the Pampa and the whole temple complex is at a high elevation. Main idol is of Lord Krishna, who is the charioteer of warrior Arjuna in Kurukshetra War. The temple has a flight of 18 steps that lead to the Eastern Tower while 57 descending steps from the Northern tower reaches the Pampa. The temple here has fine murals from the 18th century."Thanka Anki", the golden ornaments of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala is kept in Aranmula sri parthasarathy temple.[1]
Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple
Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple is 4km from Aranmula. The old temple is traditionally said to be the worship place of the pandavas. This temple is donated by Koikkattumalayil the late Ramakrishna Pillai to the Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti, Kerala.
Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race
Aranmula Kottaram
Aranmula Vadakke Kottaram (Aranmula Mangattu Palace) is a royal palace that was built over 200 years ago. The last king of Aranmula resided there. The architectural beauty and historical significance of Aranmula Vadakke Kottaram make it a valuable cultural treasure.[citation needed]
Aranmula Panchayat
Shija T Toji is the president of the panchayat while N S Kumar is the vice-president.[2]
Historically, Aranmula — along with most areas of the present-day Pathanamthitta district — was part of the Quilon (Kollam) or Central Travancore division under the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. The Pathanamthitta district was officially formed on November 1, 1982, bringing together regions from the neighbouring districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki.
Education
Aranmula hosts a range of educational institutions that cater to students across different age groups and academic levels. SVGV Higher Secondary School, Kidangannoor, AMM Higher Secondary School, Edayaranmula, provide quality primary and secondary education, while the College of Engineering, Aranmula, under the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE), Government of Kerala, offers higher education in engineering and technology. The primary government school in Aranmula is Government Vocational Higher Secondary School (GVHSS) Aranmula.
This diversity of institutions ensures that students in and around Aranmula have access to comprehensive educational opportunities — from the foundational years to professional courses.
Environmental Movements
The Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Government of India has issued a letter dated 25 May 2015 withdrawing the ‘in-principle’ approval to the proposed Aranmula Airport Project.[3] The Civil Aviation Ministry has also forwarded copies of the letter withdrawing the approval for the airport project to the Prime Minister's Office, Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence Ministry, Planning Commission, Departments of Economic Affairs and Revenue, and the Project Monitoring Group at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Prior to this, on 8 May 2015, the Ministry of Defence withdrew the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the project. Earlier, on 28 May 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had cancelled the environment clearance granted to the project by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.[4]
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