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Pandalam

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Pandalam
പന്തളം
town
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictPathanamthitta
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)

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.

Legend

According to legend, Lord Ayyappan, 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 :

History

It is believed that the Pandya kings of Tamil Nadu 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.

Trade and commerce

The centuries old Kurunthottayam market, (now known as the Pandalam market) is one among the largest agricultural markets in Central Travancore. 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.

Politics

Pandalam is considered to be one among the iron forts of the Left Democratic Front. The panchayat was once converted to a municipality and later converted back to a panchayat. Before the formation of Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikara taluk of Alappuzha district. Pandalam has strong presence of all major political parties of Kerala. It used to support LDF candidates in the assmebly elections.

Educational Institutions

For a small place, Pandalam hosts a lot of 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. Alumni 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 College, Pandalam
  • NSS School of Nursing, Pandalam
  • Govt. ITC Cherical Pandalam

Schools

  • NSS Girls High School,Pandalam
  • 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
  • SVLP School Cherickal, Mudiyoorkkonam, Pandalam
  • Marthoma LP School Mudiyoorkonam Pandalam
  • Marthoma English Medimum School Arathilmukku Pandalam
  • Vyasa Vidya Peedom, Thonnallur, Pandalam
  • St.Johns School, Keerukuzhi, Thumpamon, Pandalam
  • St.Pauls High School, Manpilali, Thumpamon, Pandalam
  • St. Bursouma's Public School, Ayranikudy, Pandalam
  • M.G.Higher Secondary School,Thumpamon,Pandalam

How to reach

The Road, Rail and Air distances to Pandalam are listed below:

Road

  • 105 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala
  • 120 km to the south of Kochi, the state's commercial capital
  • 51 km to the south of Kottayam

Rail

Air

Famous people

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pandalam.

References

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