Places to Visit in Pathanamthitta: A Complete Travel Guide

Pathanamthitta rarely comes on a normal Kerala trip list. Most people know it only because of Sabarimala. If you are not going for Sabarimala pilgrimage, you probably won’t even think of Pathanamthitta.

Which is strange, because once you spend some time here, you realize there is a lot more to this district. Thick forest, big reservoir where elephants come to drink water, waterfalls on the Pamba River, small river towns with very old temples. It is not about big famous landmarks. It is about places that are still quiet and untouched.

If you have one day or two days around here, these are the places actually worth your time.

Top Places to Visit in Pathanamthitta

1. Sabarimala Temple

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

You can’t make a Pathanamthitta list without Sabarimala. This temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is one of the biggest pilgrimage centres in the world. Between November and January, lakhs of devotees come here.

The temple is deep inside forest hills. You have to go via Pamba and trek up. During the season, the whole atmosphere is different – chanting, pilgrims walking in groups, bonfires on the way, everyone saying Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa. Even if you go off-season, the place is peaceful. The forest around and the Pamba River make it worth visiting, just without the crowd.

2. Gavi Eco Tourism

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

If you like forest and wildlife more than temples, go to Gavi. This is managed by Kerala Forest Department. There is a reservoir where you can do boating, jeep safari inside forest, and trekking.

You can see elephants, bison, and a lot of birds if you are lucky. It is not a resort type experience. Permits are limited, you have to book in advance through the forest department website. And there are not many hotels inside. That is exactly why it stays quiet and clean.

If you can, stay one night in Gavi. The early morning boat ride when mist is still sitting on the water is the best part. Food options are very limited inside Gavi, so check our guide to restaurants in Ranni

before you head in – Ranni is the last proper town with good food options on the way.

3. Perunthenaruvi Waterfalls

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

Perunthenaruvi is on the Pamba River, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Pathanamthitta. Water doesn’t fall from one straight height, it spreads across wide flat rocks. Looks very photogenic, especially just after the monsoon.

It is a popular picnic spot for families from Adoor and Ranni. There are shallow pools where you can get into the water and sit. During monsoon flow becomes very strong, so be careful, don’t go too inside. If you are going around lunch time, restaurants in Adoor  are a convenient option for a meal.

Historical Places in Pathanamthitta

4. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

Aranmula is on the banks of Pamba River and has one of the oldest Krishna temples in Kerala. The temple is very old and has a strong tradition.

Two things make Aranmula famous. One is Aranmula Kannadi – a metal mirror made with a 500-year-old secret technique, found nowhere else in the world. Very expensive, but totally unique. Second is Aranmula Boat Race. The snake boats here are not like Alleppey race for competition, they have their own ritual and history connected to the temple.

5. Thiruvalla Temples 

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

Thiruvalla is full of old temples. The main one is Sree Vallabha Temple, more than 1000 years old, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The town itself still feels like an old temple town, even though new buildings have come up around.

Walk around the temple pond in the evening, you will see that old charm is still there. After darshan, restaurants in Thiruvalla give you plenty of good options to stop for a meal.

6. Konni Elephant Training Center

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

Konni has one of the oldest elephant training centres in Kerala, run by the Forest Department. Here you can see elephants being bathed in the river, fed, and trained for forest work.

It is not like a zoo or a tourist elephant camp where they make elephants do tricks. These elephants are actually used for forest work, so the whole setup feels more real and grounded. Kids love this place. You can spend an hour here easily. The best time is in the morning when they bring elephants to the river for a bath.

Famous Places in Pathanamthitta 

7. Adavi and Kakki Reservoir

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

If you like trekking and offbeat places, go to Adavi near Konni. Adavi has a small trekking trail through forest and a coracle boat ride. Nearby Kakki Reservoir is surrounded by dense forest, very peaceful.

The drive to Kakki itself is beautiful – winding hill roads, green everywhere, especially during and after monsoon. It is not crowded at all, mostly locals and a few travellers who know about it.

8. Nilackal

Image Credits: Jobin Scaria

Most people know Nilackal only as the base camp for Sabarimala pilgrims where vehicles stop during the season. But there is also St. Thomas Church here, believed to be one of the oldest churches in Kerala, set up by St. Thomas himself.

The area around is forest and quiet hills. Even outside Sabarimala season, it is a good stop if you like the religious history of Kerala – Hindu and Christian traditions existing side by side in the same forest.

Pathanamthitta is not just a pilgrimage stop. From the forest calm of Gavi to the wide rocks of Perunthenaruvi, from the old temples of Aranmula and Thiruvalla to the elephant bath at Konni, it has a lot that most travellers skip.

It rewards you if you slow down. Don’t rush from one spot to another. Sit by the Pamba River for some time, take the boat ride in Gavi, walk around Aranmula village.

Give it a couple of days, and you will see why this district deserves its own place on the Kerala map, not just as the way to Sabarimala.