Pandalam is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

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 ...

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 ...

. Pandalam is known for its connection with

Ayyappan Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between S ...

and

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 ...

. It recognised ''as the cultural capital 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 ...

'', Pandalam hosts educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to post graduate, training,

Ayurveda Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

, and engineering colleges. There are seven colleges and 23 schools at Pandalam, including

N. S. S. College, Pandalam N. S. S. College, Pandalam is a higher education institution in Kerala, affiliated to the University of Kerala. It is one of the three oldest colleges established and managed by the Nair Service Society. The college was founded by Mannathu Padma ...

. The Kerala state government plans to make the place a special

Township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...

, by including the Pandalam municipality and Kulanada panchayat. The neighborhoods of Pandalam town include

Thumpamon Thumpamon is a village in Pandalam (5 km Approx), a part of Adoor thaluk in Kerala, India. One of the greatest attractions of this village is the Achankovil, Achenkovil River, which is known for its natural sceneries along the riverbank. T ...

, Pandalam Thekkekara, Kulanada,

Nooranad Nooranad (also anglicized as ''Noornad'' or ''Nooranadu'') is a developing town in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located at a distance of 8 Km south-west of Pandalam, in Kayamkulam route. Padanilam ...

Padanilam Padanilam is a town located in ''Onattukara'' region of Alappuzha district, Kerala. The word ''Padanilam'' means "land of battles" (''pada'' means "battle" and ''nilam'' means "land"). It is located on the banks of river Achankovil. The Padanil ...

Venmony Venmony is a village in Chengannur taluk of Alappuzha district of Central Travancore area in Kerala state, India. Venmoney is 18 km south of Thiruvalla, 11 km east of Mavelikkara and 9 km northwest of Pandalam. 12 km from ...

Trade and Commerce

The centuries-old ''Kurunthottayam'' market (now known as the Pandalam market) was one among the largest agricultural markets in central

. Kerala's widest suspension bridge was constructed in Pandalam over the

Achankovil river Achankovil is a long west flowing river in Kerala, India. It flows through the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The river drains vast tract of fertile plains of Upper Kuttanad in the Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. It ...

. The bridge is 70 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. There are several devotional places at Pandalam. The most famous are Valiyakoikkal Temple,

Mahadeva Temple Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism and is considered part of the Trimurti alongside Brahma and Vishnu. Numerous temples dedicated to Shiva exist across India and beyond, often featuring lingams as representations of the deity. Hin ...

, Puthenkavil Bhagavathi Temple, Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi Temple,

Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple is an ancient temple near Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. This temple has two Sreekovils (sanctum sanctorum). Both Sreekovils are round (vatta). It is an age old temple whispe ...

, Kadakkad Sree Bhadrakali Temple and the Thattayil Orippurathu Bhagavathi Temple. Nooranad

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple Padanilam Parabrahma Temple (പടനിലം പരബ്രഹ്മ ക്ഷേത്രം ) is situated at Padanilam in Mavelikara taluk of Alappuzha district in Kerala, India. It is one of the major temples in erstwhile Travancore sta ...

, which is famous for its

Maha Shivaratri Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half (night start with darkness - ...

''Kettukazhcha'' is located 8 Km South West of Pandalam town.

Legend

According to legend, Lord

, the presiding deity of

, had his human sojourn at Pandalam as the adopted son of the King of Pandalam. During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, devotees come to Pandalam in large numbers to worship the deity of Valiyakoikkal Temple near the

Pandalam Palace Pandalam dynasty (Malayalam:പന്തളം രാജവംശം,Tamil language, Tamil: பந்தளம் ராஜவம்சம்) a royal dynasty emerged from a branch of Pandya dynasty, Pandya kingdom. which existed in Kerala d ...

. This temple is on the banks of river

Achenkovil Achankovil is a long west flowing river in Kerala, India. It flows through the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The river drains vast tract of fertile plains of Upper Kuttanad in the Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. I ...

. Three days prior to the Makaravilakku festival, the

Thiruvabharanam 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. T ...

(sacred ornaments) are taken in a procession from Pandalam to

History

It is believed that the

Pandya The Pandya dynasty (), also referred to as the Pandyas of Madurai, was an ancient Tamil dynasty of South India, and among the four great kingdoms of Tamilakam, the other three being the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Cheras. Existing sinc ...

kings of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

fled to Pandalam in the face of an attack from

Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...

s and settled there in the land they bought from Kaipuzha Thampan, a landlord. The Pandya dynasty had provinces on either sides of the Western Ghats. The King of Pandalam helped

Marthanda Varma Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: ; 1706 – 7 July 1758) was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore (previously Venadu) from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja") ...

to conquer the

Kayamkulam Kayamkulam () is a municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located south of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kayamkulam has ...

province. In return for this help, Marthanda Varma did not attempt to attack and conquer Pandalam during the expansion of his kingdom. The princely state of Pandalam had extended up to

Thodupuzha Thodupuzha () is a municipality and taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located west of the district headquarters in Painavu and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Thodupu ...

Idukki Idukki (ഇടുക്കി; ) is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district co ...

district once. Pandalam was added to

in 1820. Before the formation of

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, Pandalam was in

Mavelikara Mavelikkara () is a municipality in the Onattukara Region of Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is located south of the district headquarters in Alappuzha and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 ...

taluk of

Alappuzha Alappuzha (, आलप्पुळ) or Alleppey is a municipality and town on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the district headquarters of the district, and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvana ...

district.

Colleges

* NSS College Pandalam * Mannam Ayurveda Co-operative Medical College, Pandalam * NSS Polytechnic College, Pandalam * NSS Training College, Pandalam * NSS Nursing College, Pandalam
Govt. ITI cherickal, Pandalam (Under SC department Govt. of Kerala)
in Cherickal.

Hospitals

* NSS Medical Mission Hospital * CM Hospital * Chitra Multi-Speciality Hospital * Mannam Ayurveda Medical College Hospital * Primary Health Centre Kadakkad, Pandalam

Landmarks

Pandalam Bridge

Pandalam Bridge Pandalam Bridge, popularly known as Kurunthottayam Bridge, is a concrete bridge constructed at Pandalam junction in Kerala, India. Kerala Public Works Department commissioned the bridge and opened for public at December 2016. The cost of the bri ...

, popularly known as ''Kurunthottayam Bridge'', is situated in Pandalam junction.

Pandalam Suspension Bridge

Pandalam Suspension Bridge, is a pedestrian suspension bridge in Pandalam, that connects Pandalam with Kulanada.

Pandalam Palace

, placed on the banks of

, was home to the royal family of Pandalam.The royal family of this palace enjoys a significant position in the history of Kerala. It is believed that they have descended from the Pandya kings of Madurai. Pandalam Palace carries not just historical importance, but a considerable religious magnitude as well. According to legends, Lord

Ayyappa Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between Sh ...

was born to the King of Pandalam.There is a temple on the banks of Achankovil river which is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa are carried from Pandalam Palace to

as a grand procession three days prior to the

makaravilakku Makaravilakku is a fire lit by the Travancore Devaswom Board secretly on the Makara Jyothi day for 3 times at ponnambalamedu with the help of Forest department, KSEB, Kerala police and other agencies of Government of Kerala. It can be see ...

festival

Famous Personalities

Gallery

File:Pandalam kshethram1.JPG, Valiyakoikkal Temple File:പന്തളംപുഴ.JPG,

File:Pandalam palace2.JPG, Pandalam Palace File:പന്തളം കൊട്ടാരം.JPG, Pandalam Palace File:NSSCollegePandalam2.jpg, NSS College, Pandalam File:Pandalam Central Junction.jpg, Pandalam Central Junction File:Pandalam KSRTC Bus Station.jpg, Pandalam KSRTC Bus Station File:Mavarappara.jpg, Mavarappara

References

External links

Information portal about Pandalam
{{Pathanamthitta district Cities and towns in Pathanamthitta district