Parumala

Located in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, Parumala is a small village and an island in the Pampa River. Lying very close to Mannar town, this small tourist spot is best known for the churches, Chettikkulangara temple, and the Bharani festival here which attracts lakhs of pilgrims throughout the year.

This place has a connection with history as the tomb of the declared saint of St. Geevargese Mar Gregorios, popularly referred to as Parumala Thirumeni is situated here.
Also, utter tranquility and divinity are experienced in the Parappukadu Devi Temple which is completely free from the tourist crowd. This temple has enough resemblance with Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram in that this temple’s towers are lookalike in nature.
The church attractions here are the Indian Orthodox Church & St.Mary’s Forance Church. In 52 AD, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is believed to have founded the St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Indian Orthodox Church here, also known as Parumala Church. A festival commemorating the saint’s death is held every year on the 1st and 2nd of November.
And then comes the much celebrated Chettikkulangara Bharani that brings a village to life. The Mavelikkara village celebrates Chettikkulangara Bharani with so much togetherness that pilgrims and tourists from all over the world flock to this place.