Pathiramanal
Encyclopedia
Pathiramanal is a small island inMuhamma
panchayat of Alappuzha district
. The name 'Pathiramanal' means 'Sands of night'. The scenic beauty of both sides of the lake as well as that of the island is mind blowing. It is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.
panchayath.
-Kumarakom
water route. It takes around 40 minutes from Kumarakom to reach Pathiramanal. The journey through Vembanad Lake
is a marvellous experience.
Nearest railway station : Alappuzha
Nearest airports : Cochin International Airport
, about 85 km north of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
, about 150 km towards the south.
, Night Heron
, Cormorant
, Darter
, Indian Shag, Purple Heron
, gulls, terns, large egrets, Intermediate Egret
, Cattle Egret
, Indian Pond Heron
, Little Egret
, Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Stork-billed Kingfisher
, Watercock
, Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Cormorant
and Whiskered Tern
. Some people have even reported seeing the Monarch flycatcher.
Muhamma
Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.It is home to the famous Cheerappanchira kalari, where Ayyappan had his training in the martial arts; the Communist Party of India leader, Mrs. Susheela Gopalan Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala...
panchayat of Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. It was formed as Alleppey District on August 17, 1957. The name of the district was officially changed to Alappuzha in 1990. The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories. Most of...
. The name 'Pathiramanal' means 'Sands of night'. The scenic beauty of both sides of the lake as well as that of the island is mind blowing. It is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.
Geography
The Pathiramanal Island is 28.505 ha. It is about 1.5 km from Muhamma boat jetty and about 13 km from Alapuzha. From the jetty close by Baker Bungalow the distance to the island is about 5 km and from Kumarakom 4 km towards northwest.- Maximum length: 550m (SW to NE)
- Maximum width: 450m (SE to NW)
- Perimeter: 1800 m
- Estimated Area: 19.6 ha
- Distance to the nearest main land: 810m
History
The island (also known as Anantha Padmanabhan Thoppu) was purchased by Chevalier ACM Anthraper, from M/s Bheemji Devji Trust of Cochin and was under the private ownership until the late seventies. In 1979 after Land Reforms Acts were enforced in the State, the property came under government ownership. The island was returned to the government as a surplus land that crossed the land ceiling. It was later transferred to the Tourism Department and the idea of leasing it out to private enterprises was under consideration. The island at present is uninhabited. Till late seventies of the 20th century 14 worker families resided in the island, who were later rehabilitated on the mainland in the MuhammaMuhamma
Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.It is home to the famous Cheerappanchira kalari, where Ayyappan had his training in the martial arts; the Communist Party of India leader, Mrs. Susheela Gopalan Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala...
panchayath.
Getting There
The island is an hour and half drive by motor boat or 30 minutes by speed boat from Alappuzha town. One can also take the boats plying in the MuhammaMuhamma
Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.It is home to the famous Cheerappanchira kalari, where Ayyappan had his training in the martial arts; the Communist Party of India leader, Mrs. Susheela Gopalan Muhamma is a census town in Cherthala...
-Kumarakom
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam , in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala.-Environment:...
water route. It takes around 40 minutes from Kumarakom to reach Pathiramanal. The journey through Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
is a marvellous experience.
Nearest railway station : Alappuzha
Nearest airports : Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...
, about 85 km north of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Thiruvananthapuram 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,...
, about 150 km towards the south.
Birdwatching
The island is a Birdwatcher's paradise. It is home to around 91 local species of birds and 50 migratory birds. One can see Pintail Ducks, Common TealCommon Teal
The Eurasian Teal or Common Teal is a common and widespread duck which breeds in temperate Eurasia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian Teal is often called simply the Teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range...
, Night Heron
Night heron
The night herons are medium-sized herons in the genera Nycticorax, Nyctanassa and Gorsachius. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for “night raven” and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the...
, Cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
, Darter
Darter
The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
, Indian Shag, Purple Heron
Purple Heron
The Purple Heron is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia...
, gulls, terns, large egrets, Intermediate Egret
Intermediate Egret
The Intermediate Egret, Median Egret, or Yellow-billed Egret is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder from east Africa across tropical southern Asia to Australia. It often nests in colonies with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs...
, Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...
, Indian Pond Heron
Indian Pond Heron
The Indian Pond Heron or Paddybird is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Iran and east to India, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They are widespread and common but can be easily missed when they stalk prey at the edge of small water-bodies or even when they roost...
, Little Egret
Little Egret
The Little Egret is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.-Subspecies:Depending on authority, two or three subspecies of Little Egret are currently accepted....
, Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Stork-billed Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
The Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis , is a tree kingfisher which is widely but sparsely distributed in the tropical Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. This kingfisher is essentially resident throughout its range.This is a very large...
, Watercock
Watercock
The Watercock Gallicrex cinerea is a waterbird in the rail and crake family Rallidae. It is the only member of the genus Gallicrex....
, Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Cormorant
Little Cormorant
The Little Cormorant is a member of the Cormorant family of seabirds: Aptly named, the Little Cormorant is small in comparison with other cormorants, only 55 cm in length with an average mass of 442.5 g...
and Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern
The Whiskered Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details....
. Some people have even reported seeing the Monarch flycatcher.