Temple

Aranmula

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Set in a pristine corner of Kerala, Aranmula is a sacred temple town famous for the incredible craftsmanship of its craftsmen. Enlisted by the United Nations as a global heritage site, there is a reference to this temple in Tamil classics- one of the 108 Vaishnava temples in India. The first fact that comes to any tourist’s mind who, at least has heard or visited this place is, Aranmula Mirror- which is the only panoramic mirror in the world made with no glass! The special metal mirror has always fascinated the locals as well as the native and foreign tourists for its awe-inspiring charm and mirror clarity. Known also for the ancient Sree Krishna Temple and a network of other temples, which are an abode of magnificent murals, carvings, and paintings. One will be overwhelmed after watching the utmost craftsmanship of Kerala culture here. With numerous tourist attractions all around, Aranmula- the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district- has a glorious space on the tourism map of Kerala. The village, enduring as a decoration to the banks of the holy river Pampa, has a unique ritualistic feast of `Vallasadya’ to offer to its visitors. Vallasadya is a sacred, ritual offering made to the deity of the temple- Lord Parthasarathy- that has over 70 of Kerala’s traditional dishes included. And probably, Vallasadya is one of the largest vegetarian feasts in India. Another attraction is a world-famous festival, namely, the Aranmula Boat Race. It is a must-see festival of Kerala that is conducted as part of the temple festival here on the day of Uthrittathi in the Malayalam month of Chingam.

The list of attractions Aranmula has takes us to one more legendary tourist place- Vijnana Kalavedi. Founded with the mission of housing the finest training in a variety of Kerala’s own artforms, classical music, and Kalaripayattu, this art institute offers stay options for visitors who want to observe the antiquity and ancient crafts in more detail and explore how those are passed on to the young generation. Aranmula is not only a pilgrim-based village but also a village with rich biodiversity. Puncha, which translates to fertile wetlands, and a tranquil climate give way to a soothing and calm environment that anyone would want to have. The scenic beauty is appended by a rich stock of groundwater here. Kuttanad, Vembanad, and the River Pamba are a few examples of sights which get benefited from these groundwaters.

An exploration of Aranmula will not be complete without visiting the Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple and the Aranmula Palace. The temple which is 4km away from Aranmula is believed to have been the worship place of the Pandavas. And the Palace, which was built around 200 years back, is originally known as Aranmula Vadakke Kottaram. “Thiruvabharana Ghosha Yathra”- which is the march holding the divine ornaments to the Sabarimala has a stop here. This palace is an outstanding creation in the old architectural form Nalukettu that is based on Vasthu and Thachu Shastra (Science of carpentry).