Pathanamthitta
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Pathanamthitta | |
---|---|
Town | |
Town Street after a monsoon shower | |
Country | |
State | Kerala |
District | Pathanamthitta |
Government | |
• Collector | Hari Kishor IAS |
Elevation | 31 m (102 ft) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, English |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 689645 |
Telephone code | 91-468 |
Vehicle registration | KL – 03 |
Website | www |
Pathanamthitta is a town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 38,000. The Hindu pilgrim centre Sabarimala is situated in the Pathanamthitta district; as the main transport hub to Sabarimala, the town is known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'.[1]
Etymology
There are different versions on how the name Pathanamthitta came about. One view is that the name is derived from two Tamil / Malayalam words Pathanam and thitta, which together mean "array of ten "family" houses by the riverside". Another opinion is that is pattanam (town) which became 'pathanam'. Thus, Pathanamthitta meant a town by the riverside.
Pathanamthitta town is located on the fertile banks of the River Achenkovil.
Geography
Pathanamthitta has an average elevation of 18 metres (62 ft) above sea level.[2]
The main trunk road to Sabarimala is from Pathanamthitta. The Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Muvattupuzha Road/SH-08) and T.K.Road (Thiruvalla-Kumbazha Road/SH-07) pass through Pathanamthitta. www.pathanamthittainfo.com . Main Roads passing through pathanamthitta are T.K Road, Adoor Road, Azhoor Road, Mannarakulanji Road
- Major townships around Pathanamthitta
Climate
The town enjoys a tropical climate, the monsoons start in June.[3] 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.[4]
Winter begins in December. December through February are the winter months. The lowest temperatures are experienced during January.
According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) study on ambient air quality among 123 Indian cities, Pathanamthitta was found to have the cleanest air in India, in terms of least concentration of dust particles in air. Two out of three least polluted cities in India are from Kerala, Kollam being second least polluted. As per the database, in Pathanamthitta, the annual mean of PM10 and PM2.5 is recorded at 23 and 10 respectively, which is closer to the recommended level of concentration of particulate matter. While a number of Indian cities are among the world's most polluted, Pathanamthitta's air quality is comparable to some of the cleanest cities in North America, Europe and Australia.
Transportation
Air
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (113 km), Cochin International Airport, at Nedumbassery, Kochi (142 km) are the nearest airports and proposed Aranmula International Airport is about 13 km from the district headquarters. In central Travancore most of household depending on remittance of their sons and daughters from foreign destinations. An airport in central Travancore is an aspiration of millions of central Travancorians working all over the world who support the Government exchequer with much needed foreign currency. Today they had to ply 4 hours long to & fro journey to Nedumbassery and Trivandrum airports. Vested interested urban lobbies are delaying the airport with supporting environmentalists.
Rail
Tiruvalla railway station (Code: TRVL) (30 km) is the only railway station in the District. Chengannur railway station (Code: CNGR) (24 km) is the nearest Railway station. Kollam Junction Railway Station (Code: QLN) is 62 km away from Pathanamthitta. The location of Chengannur private bus stand in front of the station makes it the more convenient one. Direct Bus services to Pathanamthitta are operated from both Tiruvalla and Chengannur. The proposed Chengannur - Adoor -Kottarakkara - Thiruvananthapuram railway line passes through the district.
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 city 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 Kollam, 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. KSRTC is running chain services that connect Pathanamthitta with the City of Kollam via Adoor. Plenty of A/C Luxury Bus services are operated from Pathanamthitta to Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore and Mumbai on a daily basis.
KSRTC bus stations in Pathanamthitta district are Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Adoor, Pandalam, Mallapally, Ranni, and Pamba.
Culture zone
Places around Pathanamthitta city within a distance of 15 km include, Elanthoor, Ranny, Vadaserikara, Kozhencherry, Kadammanitta, Vazhamuttom, Pandalam, Manjinikara, Omallur, Malayalappuzha, Kodumthara, Elavumthitta-Muloor Smarakam, Kodumon, Ayroor Cherukolpuzha, Ulanadu, Kaipattoor, Mylapra, Uthimoodu, Thumpamon, Maroor, Pramadom, Konni and Valamchuzhy. The places beyond these are Thiruvalla, Nilackal, Parumala, and Maramon. Pathanamthitta lies on the road route to the pilgrim town of Sabarimala, which is 65 km away. The Chettikulangara temple, at Mavelikkara is about 35 km from Pathanamthitta. Padanilam Parabrahma Temple is situated 26 km from Pathanamthitta. Aranmula is around 14 km from Pathanamthitta. Aranmula Temple is one of the biggest temples in South India en route to Sabarimala.
Sabarimala Mandala Pooja.[5]
Cherukolpuzha Hindu matha convention[6][7]
Aranmula annual boat race.[8]
Making of the wonder mirror of the world. What is Aranmula Kannadi - Why It is world famous, What is the speciality?[9]
Maramon Convention is the largest Christian [clarification needed] gathering in Asia. The annual convention will be held during the first half of February.[citation needed][10]
Notable people from Pathanamthitta District
See List of people from Pathanamthitta District
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[11] Pathanamthitta had a population of 12.34 lakh. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pathanamthitta has an average literacy rate of 93%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 96%, and female literacy is 92.5%. In Pathanamthitta, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. There are five engineering colleges and one medical college in Pathanamthitta District.
Pathanamthitta still has quite few settlements of aborigines called 'adivasis' deep in the forest area including areas like Thanithoddu, Chittar. The people from the settlements prefer not to be disturbed by the crowd from outside civilizations or lifestyles.[citation needed]
Religion
Hinduism and Christianity are the main religions followed here. There are certain section who follow other religions also. Various sections of Hindus, Christians and Muslims co-exist harmoniously.
The temple of Lord Dharmasastha, a world famous forest pilgrim centre, is situated in the Sabarimala part of the western ghats in the Pathanamthitta district, which is hence known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'.
The Shivaparvathy temple Anikkattilammakshethram and mahadeva temple vaipur is also in the district.
The famous Christian center is Parumala St Peters, St Pauls and St Gregorios Orthodox Church (http://parumalachurch.org) famous for the tomb of Saint Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni).
- 'St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra', also known as Mylapra Valiyapalli is a pilgrim centre which is situated at Pallipadi junction near Pathanamthitta town (2 km). - See more at: http://www.mylapravaliyapalli.com
Politics
Pathanamthitta assembly constituency was part of the Idukki (Lok Sabha constituency) but now Pathanamthitta is a separate Lok Sabha constituency.[12] Pathanamthitta comes under Aranmula Assembly constituency. Earlier, Pathanamthitta itself was an Assembly constituency. But after delimitation, Pathanamthitta lost its named constituency.
Educational institutions
- Catholicate Higher Secondary School
- Kiddies crown preschool & day care (play school)Near old pvt bus stand.
- St Mary's Central School, Pathanamthitta
- Kendriya Vidyalaya , Pathanamthitta
- Holy Angels Model School , Pathanamthitta
- amritha vidialayam KALLARAKADVU PATHANAMTHITTA
- Holy Angles Model SchoolMundukottakal Po Pathanamthitta Kerala
- SDA School,Pathanamthitta.
References
- ^ http://www.keralatravels.com/resourcepage.php?sid=14&rid=281 KeralaTravels
- ^ "FallingRain Map". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ http://www.mustseeindia.com/Pathanamthitta-weather
- ^ http://www.pathanamthitta.com/physiography.htm
- ^ "Mandala Pooja/ Makaravilakku". Sabarimala.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "About it". Hmmp.org. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "Festivals of India-Aranmula-Vallamkali (Boat Race )". Festivalsofindia.in. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "Festivals of India- Aranmula Boat race". Festivalsofindia.in. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "The Making of Aranmula kannadi". Youtube.com. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "pathanamthittainfo.com". pathanamthittainfo.com. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Assembly Constituencies – Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- pib.nic.in
- www.qualitydentalspa.com