Pathiramanal

For the Malayalam film, see Pathiramanal (film).

Pathiramanal
island
Pathiramanal island, view from Muhamma
Pathiramanal Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Pathiramanal Pathiramanal (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 9°37′7″N76°23′6″E / 9.61861°N 76.38500°E / 9.61861; 76.38500
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alappuzha
Government
• Body	Gram panchayat
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	688525 [1]
Vehicle registration	KL-32, [2]
Nearest city	Alappuzha, Kumarakom (Kottayam dist)

Pathiramanal is a small island in Muhamma panchayat of Alappuzha district located in Vembanad Lake. ^[3] The name Pathiramanal means 'midnight sand'. It is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.

Geography

The Pathiramanal Island is 28.505 ha. It is about 1.5 km from Muhamma boat jetty and about 13 km from Alapuzha. From the jetty close by Baker Bungalow the distance to the island is about 5 km and from Kumarakom 4 km towards northwest.

• Maximum length: 550m (SW to NE)
• Maximum width: 450m (SE to NW)
• Perimeter: 1800 m
• Estimated Area: 19.6 ha
• Distance to the nearest main land: 810m

History

An info board at Pathiramanal island

The island (also known as Anantha Padmanabhan Thoppu) was purchased by Chevalier ACM Anthraper, from M/s Bheemji Devji Trust of Cochin and was under the private ownership of Thaimattathil Family until the late seventies. ^[4] When Land Reforms Acts were enforced in the State in 1979, the island came under government ownership. The island was returned to the government as a surplus land that crossed the land ceiling. It was later transferred to the Tourism Department and the idea of leasing it out to private enterprises was under consideration. The island at present is uninhabited. Till the late 1970s, 14 worker families resided in the island, who were later rehabilitated on the mainland in the Muhamma panchayath. ^[5]

A walkway at Pathiramanal

Birdwatching

Little Cormorant perched at Pathiramanal

The island is home to around 91 local species of birds and 50 migratory birds. One can see pintail ducks, common teal, night heron, cormorant, darter, Indian shag, purple heron, gulls, terns, large egrets, intermediate egret, cattle egret, Indian pond heron, little egret, pheasant-tailed and bronze-winged jacanas, stork-billed kingfisher, watercock, whistling duck, cotton pygmy-goose, little cormorant and whiskered tern. Some people have even reported seeing the monarch flycatcher.

See also

• Islands portal

• Kakkathuruth

References

1. "Welcome to the Indiapost Website". Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
2. http://www.keralamvd.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=121&Itemid=5 ^{[ dead link ‍]}
3. "മുഹമ്മ ഗ്രാമപഞ്ചായത്ത് (Muhamma Grama Panchayat) » പഞ്ചായത്തിലൂടെ". Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
4. Babu, K. A. "The arrival of Portuguese and origin of Anthrappers". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
5. "About Pathiramanal, Island, Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Kerala, India". Kerala Tourism - Kumarakom. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

External links

• Pathiramanal Guide
• www.pathiramanal.com
• About Pathiramanal