Pandalam
Encyclopedia
Pandalam is one among the fastest growing towns in Kerala
, India
. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town. It is also a renowned educational and health care center in central Travancore
.Pandalam hosts a lot of educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to Post Graduate, Training, Ayurveda and Engineering Colleges.
, the presiding deity
of Sabarimala
had his human sojourn at Pandalam as the son of the King of Pandalam. During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, devotees come to Pandalam in large numbers to worship the deity of Valiyakoikkal Temple
near the Pandalam Palace
. This temple is on the banks of river Achenkovil. Three days prior to the Makaravilakku festival
, the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan (known as Thiruvabharanam) are taken in a procession from Pandalam to Sabarimala
. Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk, before forming the Pathanamthitta district.
Other famous worship centers in Pandalam are :
Schools
fled to Pandalam after losing a battle and settled here in the land they bought from Kaipuzha Thampan, a landlord. The Pandya dynasty had provinces on either sides of the Western Ghats
. The King of Pandalam helped Marthanda Varma
to conquer the Kayamkulam
province. In return for this help, Marthanda Varma did not attempt to attack and conquer Pandalam, during the expansion of his kingdom. The princely state of Pandalam had extended up to Thodupuzha
in Idukki district once. Pandalam was added to Travancore
in 1820. Before the formation of the Pathanamthitta district Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district.
. Situated in the heart of this township till late 1990s, this market was later shifted to a more convenient place by the Pandalam - Mavelikkara
road. Pandalam is now a modern township with adequate facilities, well connected by road to other places of the state.
and later converted back to a panchayat. Before the formation of Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikara taluk of Alleppey district. Pandalam has strong presence of all major political parties of Kerala
. It used to support LDF
candidates in the assmebly elections. In the recent panchayat elections, Pandalam has been won by UDF
. Since 2011election onwards Pandalam assembly constituency had been discontinued and be a part of Mavelikara constituency won by LDF
. Pandalam is part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency won by UDF
.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town. It is also a renowned educational and health care center in central Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
.Pandalam hosts a lot of educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to Post Graduate, Training, Ayurveda and Engineering Colleges.
Legend
According to legend, Lord AyyappanAyyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...
, the presiding deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
of Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
had his human sojourn at Pandalam as the son of the King of Pandalam. During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, devotees come to Pandalam in large numbers to worship the deity of Valiyakoikkal Temple
Valiyakoikkal temple
Valiakoikkal Temple is the family temple of the Pandalam Royal Family. The temple is located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. It is situated within the Pandalam Palace premises. The main deity is Ayyappan. Procession of the Thiruvabharanam towards Sabarimala shrine starts from the...
near the Pandalam Palace
Pandalam Palace
Pandalam palace is the permanent home for the royal family of Pandalam. It is cituated on the banks of river Achankovil. Although most of the original buildings have vanished by flood and fires, a few still remain which could be witnessed in the area among the newly constructed buildings.There are...
. This temple is on the banks of river Achenkovil. Three days prior to the Makaravilakku festival
Makara Jyothi
Makara is the name of a zodiac sign in Indian languages known as Capricorn in English. "Jyoti" means "light" in Sanskrit. Thus "Makara Jyoti" means "Light of Capricorn"....
, the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan (known as Thiruvabharanam) are taken in a procession from Pandalam to Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
. Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk, before forming the Pathanamthitta district.
Other famous worship centers in Pandalam are :
- Pandalam Valiyakoikkal TempleValiyakoikkal templeValiakoikkal Temple is the family temple of the Pandalam Royal Family. The temple is located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. It is situated within the Pandalam Palace premises. The main deity is Ayyappan. Procession of the Thiruvabharanam towards Sabarimala shrine starts from the...
- Pandalam MahadevarShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
Temple - Muttar Sree Ayyappa Temple
- Kurampala Puthankavil BhagavathiBhagavathiBhagavathi or Bhagavati is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra states of India. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali...
Temple - Thonnallur Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi TemplePattupurakkavu Bhagavathi templeThonnallur Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi temple is a famous Hindu temple located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala state, India. The deity in this temple is Bhadrakali. This temple is part of the famous Hindu temples at Pandalam, which include Valiyakoikkal temple, Mahadevar temple and...
- Kaippuzha Sree KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
Swami Temple - Poozhikkad Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
- Kadakkadu Devi Temple
- KadakkadKadakkadKadakkad isa place near pandalam.The word derived from 'kadayanikkad'...
Mayayakshikkavu Sree Krishna Swami Temple - Kadakkad Juma Masjid
- Thumpamon Orthodox Cathedral
- Kurampala St. Thomas Orthodox Church
- Thumpamon Thazom Vadakkumnatha Temple (A temple with two sreekovilSreekovilThe Sreekovil, also known as the Sanctum sanctorum, is the building in which the idol of the deity in a Hindu temple is installed.The area around the Sreekovil is referred as to the Chuttapalam, which generally includes other deities and the main boundary wall of the temple...
s) - Pandalam Mutharamman Kovil
- Pandalam Marthoma Church Mudiyoorkonam
- Arathil St.George Orthodox Church Mudiyoorkonam
Educational Institutions
Colleges- NSS College, Pandalam: Established in the year 1950, this special grade post graduate college is one among the most reputed educational institutions in the state. Alumini include noted film director Padmashri Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Dr V N Rajasekharan Pillai (Vice Chairman, NAAC), Narendra Prasad (Actor), Pandalam Sudhakaran (Former Minister).
- N.S.S Training College, Pandalam: Established in the year 1957
- Mannam Co-operative Ayurveda Medical College
- NSS Polytechnic, Pandalam
- NSS School of Nursing, Pandalam
- Govt. ITC Cherical Pandalam
Schools
- NSS Higher Secondary School, Pandalam (Formerly NSS High School for Boys)
- NSS English Medium Upper Primary School, Pandalam
- Government Higher Secondary School, Thottakkonam, Mudiyooykoonam, Pandalam
- St Thomas High School, Kurampala, Pandalam
- Eminence Public School, Pandalam
- Mannathu Parvathy Amma Memorial NSS High School for Girls, Pandalam
- Muslim Educational Trust (M.E.T)
- Government Upper Primary School, Thonnallur, Pandalam
- Government Upper Primary School, Mangaram, Pandalam
- Government Upper Primary School, Poozhickadu, Pandalam
- MSM Lower Primary School, Pandalam
- Government Upper Primary School, Cherical, Pandalam
- Marthoma LP School Mudiyoorkonam Pandalam
- Marthoma English Medimum School Arathilmukku Pandalam
- Vyasa Vidya Peedom, Thonnallur, Pandalam
Hospitals
- NSS Medical Mission Hospital
- CM Hospital
- Chithra Hospital
- Mannam Ayurveda Medical College
History
It is believed that the Pandya kings of Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
fled to Pandalam after losing a battle and settled here in the land they bought from Kaipuzha Thampan, a landlord. The Pandya dynasty had provinces on either sides of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
. The King of Pandalam helped Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
to conquer the Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam is a town and a municipality in Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient maritime trading centre. One of the largest power plants in Kerala, run by the NTPC, is located in Kayamkulam. Krishnapuram Palace is located nearby and an old cashew factory.Kayamkulam is...
province. In return for this help, Marthanda Varma did not attempt to attack and conquer Pandalam, during the expansion of his kingdom. The princely state of Pandalam had extended up to Thodupuzha
Thodupuzha
Thodupuzha is a town and a municipality in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 35.43 km2. It is 62 km from Ernakulam. Geographical Classification of Thodupuzha Region is Midland or Idanad....
in Idukki district once. Pandalam was added to Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
in 1820. Before the formation of the Pathanamthitta district Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district.
Trade and commerce
The centuries old Kurunthottayam market, (now known as the Pandalam market) is one among the largest agricultural markets in Central TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. Situated in the heart of this township till late 1990s, this market was later shifted to a more convenient place by the Pandalam - Mavelikkara
Mavelikkara
Mavelikara is a town in Alappuzha district of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 12.65 km2. It is in the southern part of Alappuzha district on the banks of the Achankovil River. Mavelikara is located 8km east of National Highway. Mavelikara is known as the capital of...
road. Pandalam is now a modern township with adequate facilities, well connected by road to other places of the state.
Politics
Pandalam is a panchayat and an assembly constituency. The panchayat was once converted to a municipalityMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and later converted back to a panchayat. Before the formation of Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikara taluk of Alleppey district. Pandalam has strong presence of all major political parties of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It used to support LDF
Left Democratic Front
Left Democratic Front is a coalition of left winged political parties in the state of Kerala, in India. This is one of the two major political coalitions in Kerala, each of which have been in power alternatively for the last two decades. LDF is the coalition that is presently in oppposition...
candidates in the assmebly elections. In the recent panchayat elections, Pandalam has been won by UDF
United Democratic Front (India)
United Democratic Front is an alliance of political parties of Kerala state in India. This alliance is led by the Indian National Congress....
. Since 2011election onwards Pandalam assembly constituency had been discontinued and be a part of Mavelikara constituency won by LDF
Left Democratic Front
Left Democratic Front is a coalition of left winged political parties in the state of Kerala, in India. This is one of the two major political coalitions in Kerala, each of which have been in power alternatively for the last two decades. LDF is the coalition that is presently in oppposition...
. Pandalam is part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency won by UDF
United Democratic Front (India)
United Democratic Front is an alliance of political parties of Kerala state in India. This alliance is led by the Indian National Congress....
.
Road
- 105 km to the north of ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, the capital city of Kerala - 120 km to the south of Kochi, the state's commercial capital
- 51 km to the south of KottayamKottayamKottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
Rail
- 16 km from ChengannurChengannurChengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...
railway station - 18 km from MavelikkaraMavelikkaraMavelikara is a town in Alappuzha district of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 12.65 km2. It is in the southern part of Alappuzha district on the banks of the Achankovil River. Mavelikara is located 8km east of National Highway. Mavelikara is known as the capital of...
railway station - 27 km from KayamkulamKayamkulamKayamkulam is a town and a municipality in Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient maritime trading centre. One of the largest power plants in Kerala, run by the NTPC, is located in Kayamkulam. Krishnapuram Palace is located nearby and an old cashew factory.Kayamkulam is...
railway station
Air
- 119 km from Thiruvananthapuram International AirportThiruvananthapuram International Airport-Cargo:-Facilities:The newly built Terminal 3 has three additional jetways and parking bays to accommodate 8 aircraft. The terminal is built opposite to the current terminal across the runway and is closer to the city side.The terminal, constructed by the AAI and designed by the UK firm,...
- 140 km from Kochi International Airport
Famous people
- Pandalam Kerala VarmaPandalam Kerala VarmaKerala Varma , most commonly known as Mahakavi Pandalam Kerala Varma, was a poet and publisher. He was born in Pandalam, and belonged to the Pandalam Royal Family. He started writing Sanskrit poems from age 12, and Malayalam poems from age 19...
- PoetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary... - Pandalam K. P. - PoetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
- M. N. Govindan NairM. N. Govindan NairM.N. Govindan Nair popularly known as MN was born in Pandalam presently in Pathanamthitta District.-Political life:He was one of the foremost leaders of the Communist Party of India in Kerala...
- PoliticianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
,Former Minister and MP - Pandalam P. R. - PoliticianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
- P. K. ManthriP. K. ManthriP. K. Manthri was a renowned Indian cartoonist.Manthri was born to Poomangalathu Kesavan and Kochikka, at Pandalam in Kerala, India. His father was a school manager and headmaster. Manthri studied painting from the Ravi Varma School of Arts, Mavelikkara...
- CartoonistCartoonistA cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising... - V. S. ValiathanV. S. ValiathanV. S. Valiathan was an acclaimed artist and recipient of the prestigious Raja Ravi Varma Award of 2006, instituted by the Kerala Government. He is well known for his classical style of painting. He was considered to be the last link of Raja Ravi Varma tradition. He was the recipient of Chitrakala...
- ArtistArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
(Recipient of Raja Ravi Varma AwardRaja Ravi VarmaRaja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
) - Kadammanitta Vasudevan PillaiKadammanitta Vasudevan PillaiProf. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai, is a Padayani exponent from Kerala, India. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Kerala Folklore Academy.-Early and professional life:...
- PadayaniPadayaniPadayani, also called Padeni, is a traditional folk dance from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples...
exponent - Pandalam SudhakaranPandalam SudhakaranPandalam Sudhakaran is an Indian politician married to Ajitha Sudhakaran. He is the son of the late Kochadichan....
- PoliticianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, Former Kerala State Cabinet Minister - Pandalam Balan - Singer