Achankovil is a 128 km long west flowing river in Kerala, India, which flows through Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha districts. The river drains vast tract of fertile plains of Upper Kuttanad in the Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. It also sustains numerous urban settlements along its course such as Konni, Pathanamthitta, Pandalam, Mavelikkara etc.
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. The Pandalam area is considered as the educational and cultural capital of Central Travancore, Pandalam hosts educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to post graduate, training, Ayurveda, and engineering colleges. There are seven colleges and 23 schools at Pandalam, including N. S. S. College, Pandalam. The Kerala state government plans to make the place a special Township, by including the Pandalam municipality and Kulanada panchayat.
Attukal is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located on the banks of Killi river, in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is situated about two kilometres to the south east from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai, is a Padayani exponent from Kerala, India. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Kerala Folklore Academy, a professor in mathematics, a writer and public speaker.
Omallur is a small town, about 3.5 km south of Pathanamthitta District headquarters, in Kerala. Omallur is famous for Vayal Vanibham which is an annual farming fair held in the month of Meenam (October). People from both within and outside the town participate in the fair.
Kadammanitta is a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India which is famous for Padayani.
Vazhamuttom is a village township near to Pathanamthitta Town in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India.
Vallicode is a village in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. It is situated at about 7 km from the district headquarters of Pathanamthitta at south-east direction.
Kodumthara is a village just outside Pathanamthitta City Suburbs, located in Kerala state, India. . Kodumthara is only 2 km away from Pathanamthitta
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala, India. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki), mounted over 'vethala', is the main deity in this temple. Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali, who killed the demon king Daruka, believed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is considered as the goddess of prosperity and salvation. Goddess 'Attukal devi', itself is the supreme mother 'Bhaadrkali devi', the goddess of power and courage. She is often referred as Kannaki, the heroine of Ilanko Adikal's 'Silapathikaaram'. The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate. A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. According to the Attukal Temple Trust, around 4.9 million devotees are expected to attend the pongala in 2016. Attukal Temple is situated near the heart of the city, 2 kilometres away from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees believe that all of their wishes will be fulfilled by the goddess, provide prosperity and can attain salvation. Attukal devi is often worshipped in 3 forms such as Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi and Mahakali/ Parvathy.
Rakthakanda Swamy Temple, Omallur, Pathanamthitta District, known as "Omallur Temple" traces its history to 8th century AD. It is a pilgrim centre on the way to Sabarimala from Pandalam, the birthplace of Sree Ayyappan. The Temple is famous for its annual festival of 10 days in the month of Medom of Malayalam Era. The 10-day festival is celebrated by 10 Karayogams in and around Omallur. During the festival days, there is a customary Arattu procession to the river Achenkovil. More than 10 elephants decorated with Nettipattom will be a speciality of this Arattu. The Temple has a Golden Flag Staff erected in the year 1952 AD. Omallur is 4 km south from the district headquarters Pathanamthitta and 11 km from MC Road. Omallur Temple has many interesting stone carvings. Kallunadasvaram and Kalchangala are two among them.
Thrikkovil - Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, is a Hindu temple with Lord Vishnu as the presiding deity, located at Vallicode village in Pathanamthitta District in Kerala, India.
Thrippara Shiva Kshetram is a famous Shiva temple in Vallicode village, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. This temple is located on the banks of the Achankovil river. The main sanctum sanctorum here is situated in the open directly above the temple ghats. This makes it a bit different from other temples in this area. The temple has a history dating back to 800 years.
Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzy is one of the oldest temples in Pathanamthitta, South India.
Valamchuzy is a village in the banks of Achankovil river in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is in Pramadaom Grama Panchayat of Konni Taluk. The name comes because of the Shri Bhuvaneswari temple which was surrounded by Achankovil river. Valam + Chuzhy = valamchuzhy indicates the flow of Achankovil river around the Temple. Most of the villagers are farmers.
Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"". This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala especially Malabar. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. This is attested by numerous Tamil poems and inscriptions of different times. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time.
Pongala is a harvest festival of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The name 'Pongala' means 'to boil over' and refers to the ritualistic offering of porridge made of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Generally women devotees participate in this ritual. Tamil people celebrate as Pongal.
Padayani, also known Padeni, is a traditional folk dance and a ritual art from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali. Meaning, a 'row of warriors', Padayani is an art form that blends all music, dance, theatre, satire, facial masks, and paintings. It is part of worship of Bhadrakali and is staged in temples dedicated to the goddess from mid-December to mid-May. Padayani is unique to central Travancore, comprising the Pathanamthitta and kottayam districts of Kerala. Padayani is regarded as a remnant of the Dravidian forms of worship that existed before the advent of Brahmanism.
Anikkattilammakshethram is a Hindu Temple situated in Anicadu Village, 3.5 km from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district in the southern part of Kerala, India. Here, Adiparasakthi Sivan and benign Parvathi are worshiped with equal significance in one Sreekovil, which is one of the rarest of its kind in Kerala. Agnimahakalan and Agniyekshi are symbolized in these idols, each measuring about 4 feet and installed side by side. The demon-shaped Lord Shiva (Kiratha) has bow and arrow in His arms and Parvati has sword in Her hand. The temple, situated by the bank of river Manimala, is estimated to have come into existence around 1600 years ago during the early days of Edapally dynasty. Apart from the Deities in the main Sreekovil, there are Lord Siva, Bhadra, Nagaraja, Rakshasas and Yekshiamma in the sub-abodes in the courtyard.
Azhakiyakavu Devi Temple is situated at Kallisseri in Chengannur taluk of Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. It is a Hindu template dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali and is one of the 30 temples in Central Travancore area where the ancient Dravidian ritualistic art form of Padayani is performed annually. The temple is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Chengannur Railway Station and Bus Stand.
