Lahai Gateway to Sabarimala poongavanam | |
---|---|
Village | |
Coordinates: 9°22′7″N76°54′25″E / 9.36861°N 76.90694°E Coordinates: 9°22′7″N76°54′25″E / 9.36861°N 76.90694°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Kerala |
District | Pathanamthitta |
Government | |
• Type | Panchayath |
• Body | Perunad panchayath |
Elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 689662 |
Area code(s) | 04735 |
Vehicle registration | KL-62, KL-03 |
Lahai, also spelt Laha is a remote settlement located in the north eastern part of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India. This is the place from which the sacred grove (Poongavanam) of Lord Ayyappa begins.
Lahai lies about 3,000 ft (910 m) above mean sea level, predominantly a hilly region or Malanad. The place is covered by thick forests of Ranni division. [1]
The average population is about 3000 people. The major revenue is from Lahai Rubber estate which was established by British in early 1900s with 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land.
Lahai experiences a tropical climate as in many parts of Kerala. Significant amount of rainfall occurs during the months of June, July and August. Humidity is comparatively less here with an average annual temperature of about 29.37°C. The average annual precipitation is 2407mm. The months of January and February receives low rainfall. Temperature falls in December and January to 20°C. March, April and May are the hottest months in the year.
Climate data for Lahai, Kerala | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.1 (88.0) | 29.0 (84.2) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.1 (82.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.4 (84.9) |
Average low °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.0 (71.6) | 22.1 (71.8) | 22.0 (71.6) | 21.9 (71.4) | 21.5 (70.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.9 (71.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24 (0.9) | 38 (1.5) | 70 (2.8) | 152 (6.0) | 220 (8.7) | 406 (16.0) | 433 (17.0) | 282 (11.1) | 208 (8.2) | 298 (11.7) | 208 (8.2) | 68 (2.7) | 2,407 (94.8) |
Source: Climate-Data.org [2] |
Lahai is blessed with naturally beautiful landscapes and with tropical rain forests of Ranni forest division. The Sabarimala forest (Poongavanam) begins from Lahai. Most important fact is that the uphill road to Sabarimala ends at Lahai and become level road all the way to Sabarimala.
The famous Sabarigiri Hydro electric Project in 1960s had built heavy equipment transportation road to Moozhiyar Power House. This road now exclusively used by pilgrims to Sabarimala.
Lahai is a historical place in many regards. The Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam procession comes to Lahai forest Bungalow, stays overnight and continues to Sabarimala temple. The famous St. Thomas Pilgrim Church at Nilakkal is 10 miles (16 km) away from Lahai Junction.
Pathanamthitta District is a district in the southern part of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Tiruvalla, Adoor, Pathanamthitta and Pandalam.
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district situated about 38 km (24 mi) away from the district capital, in the state of Kerala, India.
Uzhavoor is an expanding town in Kottayam district, Kerala in India. It is just 32 km away from the administrative capital Kottayam District. Most of its residents are either wealthy farmers or businessmen. Many of the houses belong to NRIs. The tenth President of India, K. R. Narayanan, was born and brought up in this village. The newly expanded road which connects the city of Pala and other famous destinations such as Sabarimala to the city of Muvattupuzha passes through Uzhavoor. The town is 177 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Chengannur is a Municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala State, India. It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Alappuzha district, on the banks of Pamba River.
Nadapuram is a census town and a special grade Panchayath located in Kozhikode District of Kerala, coming under Nadapuram assembly constituency. It is in North Malabar region of Kerala, India; spread over an area of 20.44 km2
Ranni is a town in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, in India. The taluk headquarters is a township on both sides of the Pamba River. Ranni is also one of the largest taluks in Kerala. The renowned Hindu temple of Sabarimala is in this taluk, situated approximately 66 km from the main town, Ittiyappara. Ranni is known for its natural environment consisting of forests, hills, river and good climate.
Pathanamthitta is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37,538. The Hindu pilgrim centre Sabarimala is situated in the Pathanamthitta district; as the main transport hub to Sabarimala, the town is known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'. Pathanamthitta District, the thirteenth revenue district of the State of Kerala, was formed with effect from 1 November 1982, with headquarters at Pathanamthitta. Forest covers more than half of the total area of the District. Pathanamthitta District ranks the 7th in area in the State. The district has its borders with Kottayam, Kollam and Idukki districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Manimala is a small town and a village in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala, situated about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the nearest town Kanjirappally. It's declared as a folklore village since 2011 by the central government to promote folklore.
Erumely, also spelt "Erumeli" is a panchayat in the southeast part of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Erumely is situated 49 km east of Kottayam town and 133 km North of capital city Trivandrum. It is situated on the way to Sabarimala and also an important halting place (idathavalam) for the Sabarimala pilgrims. Erumely is famed for its religious harmony and prosperity between Hindus and Muslims which existed from the early periods. It is a place which have strong roots in legends and myths associated with lord Ayyappa. A new airport has been proposed in Erumeli. The village is nourished by Manimala River.
Mukkoottuthara is a developing Town located in the south eastern part of Kottayam district of Kerala State, India. Sabarimala is only 48 km (30 mi) from Erumely, while travelling through Mukkoottuthara. The roads passing through here are upgraded and maintained as State Highways. The main cultivation is rubber. Mukkoottuthara is famous for its decades old "Sunday Open Markets" and for its famous bamboo products. One of the famous tourist spots in Pathanamthitta, Perunthenaruvi Falls is just 5 kilometers from Mukkoottuthara. There are many rubber estates. The border of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta divides Mukkoottuthara into two. However the place is recorded as part of Kottayam district only.
Perunad (Ranni-Perunad) is a scenic hilly village in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India It's located on the banks of Pamba River and Kakkadu River.
Palode is a town in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Palode town is 35 km from Thiruvananthapuram city and 17 km from Nedumangad municipality. Palode is surrounded by Western Ghats. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden is situated near Palode. Mankayam Ecotourism near Brimore is 11 km away. Brimore has tea estate and plantations make Palode a gateway for tourism destination. Thenmala is 38 km from Palode and Ponmudi hills is 35 km. Palode is town in Thiruvananthapuram-Thenmala State Highway-2. Palode is a town located in Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala.
Chengara is a small village situated in the Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. It is known for its natural environment, hills and climate, and was found to have the cleanest air, in terms of concentration of dust particles. Chengara is surrounded on three sides by Harrisons Malayalam Limited, a rubber plantation company.
Thiruvabharanam is the sacred ornaments of Ayyappan, the presiding deity of Sabarimala temple. The ornaments are made of gold. It is believed that these ornaments are made at the orders of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child. Thiruvabharanam is kept at Srambickal Palace, which is close to the Valiyakoikkal Temple, inside the Pandalam Palace premises. At the end of the pilgrim season every year, the ornaments are taken to Sabarimala as a procession and poojas are performed on the idol adorned with the ornaments. After the season, the ornaments are taken back to the Srambickal Palace for safe custody. Thiruvabharanam and the caskets are made available for darshan at Srambickal palace during the pilgrim season and at Valiyakoikkal Temple on the day of the procession.
The Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram is located in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala. The city is located at 8.5°N 76.9°E on the west coast, near the southern tip of mainland India. The city situated on the west coast of India, and is bounded by Arabian Sea to its west and the Western Ghats to its east. The city and the suburbs spans an area of 250 km2 (96.53 sq mi). The average elevation of the city is 16 ft above sea level. The highest point within the city limits is the observatory. Agastya Mala, which has an elevation of 1,868 metres (6,129 ft) is only about 60 km from the city. The Ponmudi hill station which has an elevation of 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) is also near the city.
Angamoozhy is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the Indian state of Kerala. Angamoozhy is located near the Kakkad power station and the Sabarimala temple. Geographically Angamoozhy is High-range area.
Ukuwela is a suburb of Matale, Sri Lanka. It is located in Matale District, Central Province. It is located on the Wattegama-Matale Road (B462), about 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the centre of the city.
Ponnambalamedu is a summit in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District, Perunad grama panchayat, Kerala, India. It is located near the Sabarimala Ayyappan temple, where the annual Makaravilakku event is conducted in the presence of nearly half a million pilgrims annually.
Nilakkal, also spelled Nilackal, or formerly Chayal, is a remote ghat region located in the Goodrical range of Ranni forest division in Pathanamthitta District in the Indian state of Kerala. The place is noted mainly as an edathavalam or halting-place for the Ayyappa devotees during Sabarimala pilgrimage. Administratively, it falls under the Perunad grama panchayath in Ranni tehsil. Sabarimala, the famous Hindu pilgrim centre in southern India is located at a distance of 23 km (14 mi) in the north-east hilly region of Nilakkal.
Thulappally is a small village in Perunad panchayath of Ranni tehsil in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, India.