God’s own
country, Kerala is a land that is immensely blessed by the charms of
Nature. One can see Nature in varied forms in this tiny coastal state
that is the very tip of India. Flanked by the Western Ghats and the
Arabian Sea, the geographical position of Kerala by itself promises
great sights to the travellers. From chilly hill stations that are
adorned by luscious greenery to beaches with sands that glitter golden,
the southern state of India has everything that will fill the minds of
travellers. Kerala has reached a new level where it has become one of
the most loved tourist destinations in the world. Kerala is home to 14
beautiful districts. Every district has its unique charm and grace.
Pathanamthitta is one of the 14 districts that have a great historical
significance as a tourist site. Pathanamthitta is a district that is
situated in the southern part of India. There are four municipalities in
Pathanamthitta namely, Thiruvalla, Pandalam, Adoor and Pathanamthitta.
The headquarters of the district is the town of Pathanamthitta. It
houses a lot of waterfalls, religious destinations and historical
sights. Travellers love Pathanamthitta and the graph of Kerala tourism
is proving it. Travel planners in Kerala, like Holiday Mango, offer specific tour packages to Pathanamthitta ranging from Honeymoon tour packages to family packages. Pathanamthitta is a unique destination and is ideal for honeymoon couples who wish for a quiet happy time.
Konni Elephant Training Centre:
Elephant is the most popular animal of Kerala. The natives love
elephants. In fact, who doesn’t love elephants? Konni is a beautiful
place surrounded by dense forests. It is situated 11 km away from the
town of Pathanamthitta. Konni has the largest population of wild
elephants in the entire state. Here, you get a chance to witness how
elephants are tamed. Many attractive adventurous tourist activities are
conducted in Konni. You also get a chance to try out the elephant safari
in Konni Elephant Training Centre. The centre houses a large wooden
cage; in fact, not large but the humungous cage that can accommodate at
least three to four elephants. The cage is locally known as the
‘aanakoodu’ and is one of the major attractions of the training centre.
Konni is one of the best tourist destinations for families to enjoy.
Konni is one of the best tourist destinations in the district of
Pathanamthitta and should not be missed if you are an ardent elephant
lover.
Gavi:
Gavi is a village that is worth visiting. Situated in the
Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, Gavi is one of the best destinations
that promote eco-tourism. Gavi has a lot of specialities. It is a part
of the Ranni Reserve Forest as well as the Periyar Tiger Reserve due to
which it houses a large variety of flora and fauna. While in Gavi, you
might get a chance to encounter some rare species of animals like the
tigers, sambars, barking deer, Indian Gaurs and Nilgiri Martens. Gavi is
also home to Gopher trees. You can only find two gopher trees in the
entire country and both the trees belong to Gavi. The Forest Department
of Kerala offers a lot of tourist activities for the travellers visiting
Gavi. Tourists can indulge in activities like a Nature walk, spice
garden visits and bird watching. Another interesting fact about Gavi is
that it has a pleasant cool climate even during the summer. If you are a
nature lover, you should definitely visit Gavi for you are going to
love the place like no other. Gavi is a perfect place for honeymooners.
The profound serenity that the place offers is quite magical. Do add
this in your honeymoon tour package to Kerala to enjoy the most romantic moments with your soul mate.
Aruvikkuzhy Waterfall:
Aruvikuzhy Waterfall is one of the most beautiful honeymoon
destinations located in Pathanamthitta, You should not confuse this with
the Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall in Kottayam. Located almost 7km from
Kozhancherry and 2km from Thadiyoor in Pathanamthitta, the waterfall is
one of the most popular tourist spots in the area. In the native
language Malayalam, Aruvikkuzhy means ‘deep streams of water’. Many
streams join together to form this amazing waterfall. Aruvikkuzhy is a
well-known movie location spot as well. Due to the mesmerizing scenic
beauty offered by the waterfalls, it is often selected as the ideal spot
to shoot song sequences for movies.
Aranmula:
Situated around 15 km from the Pathanamthitta town, Aranmula is a
temple town located near the banks of the sacred river Pamba. The town
gets its name from the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple that is centuries
old. Aranmula is well-known amongst the natives of Kerala for the
‘Aranmula Vellamkali’, an annual boat race that has millions of fans in
Kerala. Another important part of Arunmula is the souvenir called
‘Aranmula Kannadi’ that is a handcrafted metal alloy mirror. Aranmula
Kottaram is another tourist attraction of the area. Yet another
speciality of the town is the fact that UN has enlisted the village as a
global heritage site. You should not miss this village for anything as
it offers spectacular scenic beauty and the variety of flora and fauna
found in the area is another commendable part.
Muloor Smarakam:
Muloor S Padmanabha Panicker was one of the most influential poet and
social reformer of the pre-independence era. The Muloor Smarakam has
been built as a tribute to the great poet. The Muloor Smarakam is
located in a village named Elavamthitta that is around 12km from
Pathanamthitta town. The house where the memorial stands were the house
of Muloor S Padmanabha Panicker. It was later converted to Muloor
Smarakum by the Culture of Kerala State Government. The historical
significance and the rural beauty that the area withholds attracts loads
of visitors every year especially poets and writers. The apt time to
visit the Muloor Smarakam will be from October to February. You can also
learn more about mural paintings and ‘vasthuvidya’ as you visit the
place.
Perunthenaruvi Falls:
Perunthenaruvi Falls is yet another honeymoon spot that will blow your
mind. The thunderous waterfalls gushing out adds to the beauty and
provides a very serene atmosphere that makes the romantic soul happy.
The waterfall adorns the banks of the Pamba river and is located at a
distance of 28 km from Pathanamthitta. Actually, the name Perunthenaruvi
means ‘honey stream’ in the local language. This stunning waterfall is
equally popular among the domestic and foreign tourists. The water falls
from a height of 60 to 100ft and falls into a cool pool that eventually
flows down as multiple streams. You could spend an entire day amidst
the falls where you can indulge in a fun time with your loved ones.
Perunthenaruvi Falls should be added into your itinerary to
Pathanamthitta.
Pandalam Palace:
Pandalam Palace is one of those places that have great historical as
well as religious importance. The connection has with Sabarimala, one of
the most important religious destinations in Kerala makes it all the
more important. It is said that the ancestors of Lord Ayyappa, the deity
of Sabarimala, was from the Pandalam Palace. In fact, the myths also
say that Lord Ayyappa was the descendant to the throne of Pandalam. The
palace is situated 10 km away from one of the most popular towns of
Pathanamthitta, Adoor and is situated in the banks of Achankovil. Though
a major part of the palace has been ruined by flood and other natural
calamities, a part of it which consists of two complexes that are
essentially temples which are the Valiyakoikkal Temple and the Kaipuzha
Temple. Both the temples are separated by a distance of 1km. Pandalam
Palace is one of the most important tourist attractions of
Pathanamthitta. Every year thousands of tourists, especially the
devotees of Lord Ayyappa visit the palace in large numbers.
Kakki Reservoir:
Kakki Reservoir is one stunning sight as you see from a distance. The
sprawling body of water with slight ripples, bordered by luscious
greenery in the backdrop of the serene sky that splashes a blue-grey
shade everywhere. Truly, one of the best sights to behold. The Kakki
Reservoir is a dam that has been built across the river Pamba and is
situated at a distance of 70km from the town of Pathanamthitta. The
reservoir is surrounded by extreme beauty of the valleys and the forests
that houses a large variety of flora and fauna. You may have a chance
to encounter elephants, deer and tigers in the forests that surround the
reservoir. The apt time to visit the reservoir would be from January to
May. Since there is a scarcity of public vehicles to the destination,
it is best to reach the place via a private vehicle. Kakki Reservoir
makes for a great honeymoon destination due to its serene surroundings.
Kaviyoor Rock Cut Temple:
Rock cut temples are always a source of curiosity. Kaviyoor Rock Cut
Temple is one of a kind and is a very important site in Kerala. It is
one of the three rock-cut caves temples in Kerala. This temple is
dedicated to Lord Siva. A Siva Linga which is almost 3 feet high is
enshrined in the cave temple along with idols of Ganapathy, Maharshi and
Dwarapalakas. The temple is said to be constructed in the 8th century,
in the Pallava style architecture on the banks of River Manimala, which
is why it has a huge historical and architectural significance. The
Kaviyoor Rock Cut Temple is located at a distance of 28 km from the town
of Pathanamthitta. You can approach the temple both by private and
public transports.
