Aranmula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aranmula
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Village
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Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
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 Aranmula
Location in Kerala
Aranmula
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Pathanamthitta |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | KL-03 |
| Nearest cities | Thiruvalla Kozhencherry |
Aranmula is a special village in Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural heart of the Pathanamthitta district. This village is about 116 km from Trivandrum, which is the capital of Kerala. Aranmula sits right on the banks of the beautiful Pampa River.
For a very long time, Aranmula has been a significant place for religious visits. It was also an important trading spot when rivers were the main way to travel. You can easily reach Aranmula from the Chengannur railway station, which is only 10 km away.
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Discovering Aranmula's Culture
Aranmula is famous for its exciting 'Vallam Kali', also known as the Snake Boat Race. The United Nations has even listed Aranmula as a global heritage site. This means it is a very important place culturally.
The Famous Snake Boat Race
The boat race is a big part of the temple festival here. It happens on the day of Uthrittathi in the month of Chingam. Imagine long, thin boats shaped like snakes, with many people paddling together! It is a thrilling sight.
A Place of Worship
Aranmula is a sacred place for Hindus. It has the main temple of Lord Parthasarathi. Many other temples and holy groves are also found nearby. Because it is a Vishnu temple close to Sabarimala, many people visit Aranmula during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
Nature Around Aranmula
Aranmula has very fertile wetlands, called Puncha. It also has a rich variety of plants and animals. The climate is very soothing, making Aranmula a great example of Kerala's eco-friendly culture.
Water and Land
Maps show that this area has a lot of groundwater. This water feeds the Pampa River and other water bodies like Vembanad. The rice-growing areas downstream, like Kuttanad, benefit from this natural water cycle.
Nearby Places
Some important towns close to Aranmula are Chengannur (10 km away), Pathanamthitta (15 km away), and Pandalam (14 km away). The closest railway station is Chengannur. For air travel, you can use the airports in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Location Details
Aranmula is located at 9.33 degrees North and 76.68 degrees East. It is about 7 meters (23 feet) above sea level.
Important Temples
Aranmula Parthasarathi Temple
The Aranmula Parthasarathi Temple is one of the most important and oldest temples in Kerala. It is one of the 108 special Vaishnava temples in India. This temple is even mentioned in old Tamil writings.
The temple covers a large area and is located on the banks of the Pampa River. The whole temple complex is built on high ground. The main idol is of Lord Krishna. He is shown as the charioteer of the warrior Arjuna from the Kurukshetra War.
To reach the Eastern Tower, you climb 18 steps. From the Northern tower, 57 steps lead down to the Pampa River. The temple also has beautiful wall paintings from the 18th century. The "Thanka Anki," which are golden ornaments for Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala, are kept here.
Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple
The Pulikkunnumala Mahadeva Temple is about 4 km from Aranmula. People traditionally believe that this old temple was a place of worship for the Pandavas, who are famous characters from ancient Indian stories.
Education in Aranmula
Aranmula has many schools and colleges for students of all ages. Schools like SVGV Higher Secondary School, Kidangannoor provide education from primary grades to high school. For higher studies, the College of Engineering Aranmula offers technical education. This means students in Aranmula can get a good education from a young age all the way to professional courses.
Protecting the Environment
There was a plan to build an airport in Aranmula. However, many people and groups worked to protect the environment.
Airport Project Stopped
On May 25, 2015, the Indian government's Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to stop the approval for the proposed Aranmula Airport Project. Before this, on May 8, 2015, the Ministry of Defence also withdrew its permission. Earlier, on May 28, 2014, a court called the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already canceled the environmental permission for the project. This shows how important it is to protect nature.
Notable People
- Sugathakumari, a famous poet
Images for kids
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Aranmula Vadakee Kottaram
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Parthasarathi Temple
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Thalam for boats
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Aranmula Kannadi
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Chundan boat
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Poet Sugathakumari
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Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race
