Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple in Pathanamthitta Kerala

The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is located On the banks of the holy river Pampa,Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one among the best tourist spots in Kerala attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.There are four entrances. The entrance on eastern side has 18 wide steps strong enough for elephants to climb. The temple has 8 tuskers which are housed in temple’s own anakottil, the stable of elephants.

The sacrosanct gems, called Thiruvabharanam of Ayyappan are taken in parade to Sabarimala every year from Pandalam, and Aranmula Temple is one of the stops coming. Additionally, the Thanka Anki, brilliant clothing of Ayyappa, gave by the ruler of Travancore, is put away here and taken to Sabarimala during the Mandala period of late December. Aranmula is likewise known for snake boat race held each year during Onam connected to the legends of the Mahabharata. The sanctuary has four pinnacles over its doors on its external divider. The Eastern pinnacle is gotten to through a trip of 18 stages and the Northern pinnacle entrance trip through 57 stages prompts the Pampa River. The sanctuaries have compositions on its dividers tracing all the way back to mid 18 century

A ways off of 15 km from Pathanamthitta, Sri Parthasarathi Temple is a well-known Hindu sanctuary arranged at Aranmula. Situated on the banks of the blessed stream Pamba, it is one of the most old spots of journey in Kerala, and among the should remember places for Pathanamthitta bundles.

Sri Parthasarathi Temple is devoted to Lord Sri Krishna. It is one of the 108 Divyadesams devoted to Krishna, a symbol of Vishnu, who is venerated as Parthasarathi. This sanctuary is accepted to be one of the five sanctuaries worked by the Pandavas. The other four being Chengannur (Yuddhisthra), Tiruppuliyur (Bhima), Tiruvanvandur (Nakula) and Tirukkodittaanam (Sahadeva). Aranmula sanctuary is supposed to be worked by Arjuna to appease for the wrongdoing of having killed Karna on the combat zone, against the dharma of killing an unarmed adversary.

As indicated by the legend, the sanctuary was first worked at Nilakal close to Sabarimala, and the diety was brought here in a pontoon made of six bits of bamboo. Hence the spot inferred the name Aranmula which implies six bits of bamboo. Aranmula Parthasarathi Temple houses the Thiruvabharanam (the hallowed gems) of Lord Ayyappa, which are taken in parade to the Sabarimala sanctuary consistently. It is one o fthe noticeable journey locales close to Trivandrum.

Viewed as one of the must-visit Pathanamthitta traveler puts, the Aranmula Parthasarathi sanctuary is a basic construction in Kerala style of engineering and the symbol of Parthasarathi is six feet high. The dividers of the sanctuary are perfectly enhanced with fine paintings of the eighteenth century. The sanctuary has four gopurams (towers) on four sides of its external divider.

The yearly sanctuary celebration that goes on for 10 days is commended as the commemoration of the establishment of the sanctuary icon. The celebration which falls during the Onam season is more famous for its water fair known as Aranmula Vallamkali. A custom of sending rice and different materials on a water boat as a contribution for a dining experience to the close by town identifies with the beginning of the celebration and this practice is proceeded even today. The celebration starts with the kodiyettam (banner raising) and finishes up with Arattu (the heavenly plunge of the picture of the divinity) in the Pamba River. Garudavahana ezhunallathu is a bright parade held during the celebration where Lord Parthasarathi is taken on the garuda mount to the Pampa waterway manage an account with the backups of caparisoned elephants and Panchavadyam.

One more celebration praised here is the Khandavanadahanam in the Malayalam month of Dhanus. During the celebration, a copy of a woodland is made before the sanctuary with dried plants, leaves, and twigs. Then, at that point, a huge fire is lit representing the Khandavana woods fire of the Mahabharata. Ashtami Rohini, the birthday of Sri Krishna is additionally celebrated in this sanctuary.

Attractions
Aranmula Boat Race, Valla Sadya

Instructions to Reach
Closest rail route station: Chengannur, around 11 km away Nearest air terminal: Trivandrum International Airport, around 117 km away Located in Pathanamthitta locale, Aranmula is a suburb of Kozhencherry and very much associated by street with different towns like are Pathanamthitta at 10 km, Pandalam at 14 km and Chengannur at 10 km

Timing
The sanctuary is open from 4 am to 11:00 am and 5 pm to 8 pm