Places to visit

Aranmula

Held after the festival of Onam, the Aranmula Boat Festival draws a crowd of thousands. The village is requested to come to the scene through devotional Vanchipattu songs that are sung by oarmen, singers and all the others who have gathered to watch the race. Aranmula is situated 9 km west of Chengannur on the Ernakulam-Kollam road.

Perumthenaruvi

The waterfall formed by the Pamba River as it plunges into a rocky ravine about 100 ft below, Perumthenaruvi is a popular picnic spot. The picturesque location and the perfect setting for camping make it a well-liked destination.

Sabarimala

The temple dedicated to Lord Ayyapa is situated high on the Western Ghats and can be reached only by foot. The temple is thronged by thousands of pilgrims everyday, especially during the time when the Makarajyothi (a divine light that appears above the shrine) is seen. People of any religion can visit this temple. However, for women, entry is allowed only to those below the age of ten or above the age of 60.

Mannadi

Mannadi has a memorial dedicated to Diwan Velu Thampi Dalawa of the erstwhile state of Travancore, who rebelled against the British. An ancient Bhagavathi Temple with exquisite sculptures is also nearby. The Kerala Institute of Folklore and Folk Arts are also close by.

Kaviyoor

Temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman on the banks of River Manimala, make Kaviyoor an important pilgrimage centre. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, 3 km east of Tiruvalla, at Trikkakudi, is famous for its beautiful Pallava style of architecture.

Climate

The town enjoys a tropical climate, the monsoons start in June. The months of April-May can get pretty humid. The best weather is from October to February.
Pathanamthitta experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Typical summer months are from March to May. The warmest month in Pathanamthitta is April. Although summer doesn’t end until May, the city often receives locally developed heavy thundershowers in May (although humidity remains high).
The monsoon lasts from June to August, with moderate rainfall. Most of the heavy rainfall in the city fall between June and July, and June is the wettest month of the year. Last weeks of June is also days of floods. The three major rivers viz Pampa, Achankovil and Manimala swell with rainwater.Winter begins in December. December through February are the winter months. The lowest temperatures are experienced during January.

How to Get There

Air

Thiruvanathapuram International Airport (113 km) and Cochin International Airport, at Nedumbassery, Kochi (142 km) are the nearest airports.

Rail

Chengannur (26 km) and Thiruvalla (30 km) are the nearest railway stations.

Road

Pathanamthitta is the meeting point of two major State Highways T.K.Road (SH - 07) and Main Eastern Highway ( Punalur-Muvattupuzha Road / SH - 08 ). The town is well connected to major towns and cities inside and outside Kerala by the State run K.S.R.T.C and private buses as well as Luxury Services. Both the KSRTC and private buses play equal roles in satisfying the transportation needs of the town. The cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur etc are connected by KSRTC services whereas hi-range townships like Punalur, Kumali, Pala and the Malabar Area of Northern Kerala are connected by private bus services. Plenty of A/C Luxury Bus services are operated from Pathanamthitta to Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore and Mumbai on a daily basis.