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Aranmula is a temple town in the state of
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is known as the cultural capital of
Pathanamthitta district Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalitie ...
, located at a distance of around 116 km from
Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the largest and ...
, the capital of
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
, it is situated on the banks of the river Pampa. A centre of pilgrimage from time immemorial and a trade post of eminence, when the river was the chief means of transport, it is near
Kozhencherry Kozhencherry is a census town in Pathanamthitta district of South Central Kerala in Kerala state, India. census, the population was 12,021 of which 5,594 are males while 6,427 are females. Etymology The name ''Kozhencherry'' is believed to have ...
in
Pathanamthitta District Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalitie ...
. It is easily accessible from Chengannur railway station (10km). It is one of the Fastest Growing Village. Aranmula, along with the majority of Pathanamthitta district, was part of the Quilon division or Central Travancore division of
Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
. On November 1, 1982,
Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality, city in southern Kerala, India, spread over an area of . It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37,538 (as of 2011 census). The Hindu pilgrim centre Sab ...
district was established.


Tourism

Aranmula is famous for the tourist attraction 'Vallam Kali', (Snakeboat regatta). Aranmula is a global heritage site enlisted by the United Nations. It is a sacred site for the Hindus and comprises the central temple of Lord Parthasarathi with a network of temples and sacred groves around. Boat race is part of the temple festival here. The boat race is conducted on day of Uthrittathi in the month of Chingam Being a Vishnu temple in close proximity to
Sabarimala The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple () is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ayyappan, who is also known as Dharma Shasta and is the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini (female avatar of the god Vishnu). The temple is situated atop th ...
means that during every Sabarimala season, Aranmula becomes a veritable hotspot for religious tourism.


Geography

Fertile wetlands, locally called Puncha, rich biodiversity and a soothing climate make Aranmula an apex model of the ecofriendly culture of Kerala. The region, as remote sensing maps show, has a rich stock of ground water which feeds the river Pampa and the estuaries like Vembanad. The rice producing belts like Kuttanad downstream benefit from the water cycle. Nearby important towns are
Thiruvalla Thiruvalla, () also spelled Tiruvalla, is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of and has a population of 52,883 people, down from 56,837 in 2001. It is also the H ...
(18 km)
Chengannur Chengannur () is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipalityhttps://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located south east of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about ...
(10 km),
Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality, city in southern Kerala, India, spread over an area of . It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37,538 (as of 2011 census). The Hindu pilgrim centre Sab ...
(15 km), Konni (25 km)
Pandalam Pandalam is a municipality in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is known for its connection with Ayyappan and Sabarimala. It recognised ''as the cultural capital of Travancore'', Pandalam hosts educational institutions rang ...
(14 km). The nearest railway station is Chengannur and airports are in
Kochi Kochi ( , ), List of renamed Indian cities and states#Kerala, formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the Ernakulam district, district of Ernakulam in the ...
and
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
.


Geographic Coordinates

Aranmula is located at . It has an average elevation of .


Temples

The Aranmula Parthasarathi 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. Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple is 4 km 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 kottaram Aranmula Vadakke Kottaram (Aranmula Palace) is a royal palace in Kerala, India 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


Aranmula Panchayat

Shija T Toji is the panchayat president while NS Kumar (Makkan)is the vice-president.


Politics

Aranmula Assembly constituency is part of
Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency) Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is a newly formed constituency in the Central Travancore region of Kerala for the election of a member of the Lok Sabha. The ...
. Smt Veena George is the present MLA of the constituency.


Education

Aranmula offers a range of educational institutions catering to various age groups and academic pursuits. Schools like SVGV Higher Secondary School, Kidangannoor provides primary and secondary education, while the College of Engineering Aranmula under CAPE (Government of Kerala) offers technical education at the higher level. This variety ensures that students in Aranmula have access to quality education from primary 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. 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.


Notable people

* Sugathakumari, poet


See also

* Aranmula Boat Race *
Aranmula Kannadi Aranmula Kannadi, meaning the Aranmula mirror, is a handmade, metal-alloy, first surface mirror made in Aranmula, a small town in Pathanamthitta in the States and union territories of India, state of Kerala, India. Description Unlike norm ...
* തങ്കയങ്കി * Aranmula International Airport * Aranmula Palace * Kozhippalam


References


External links


aranmula.net aranmula.co.inAranmula Village is chosen as the best district in Kerala

Controversy surrounding the private airport project in AranmulaAranmula Heritage VillageManorama News: Aranmula - Wonders of Kerala
{{Pathanamthitta district Villages in Pathanamthitta district