2409:4073:21F:9048:9ABD:B691:BDF2:DC1A: quick cleanup section for accuracy additionally and cleaned formatting based on references

2025-09-06T13:25:13Z

quick cleanup section for accuracy additionally and cleaned formatting based on references

imported>Rdp060707: Reverted edits by 106.206.219.11 (talk) to last revision by 103.104.46.2: nonconstructive edits

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Reverted edits by 106.206.219.11 (talk) to last revision by 103.104.46.2: nonconstructive edits

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{{about|the town is in Pathanamthitta District|other uses|Pandalam (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pandalam
| other_name = Panthalam
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Pandalam palace2.JPG
| image_caption = Pandalam Palace
| nickname = ''''Kurunthottayam''''
|pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.225|N|76.679|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pathanamthitta District]]

| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipality
|leader_title = Municipal chairperson
|leader_name = Susheela Santhosh ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]])
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 28.72
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 49099
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 689501
| registration_plate = KL 26
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], English
}}
'''Pandalam''' is a municipal town in [[Pathanamthitta]] district [[Kerala]], India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with [[Lord Ayyappa]] and [[Sabarimala]]. Rightly recognised as the educational and cultural headquarters of Central Travancore, Pandalam hosts educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to post graduate, training, ayurveda,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ayurveda varsity taking shape at Pandalam — Defunct sugar mill's brush with health|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2005/09/24/stories/2005092402211900.htm|access-date=27 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line}}</ref> and engineering colleges. There are seven colleges and 23 schools at Pandalam, including [[N. S. S. College, Pandalam]]. The Kerala state government plans to make the place a special [[Township]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Pandalam to be made a special township: V.S. Sivakumar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/pandalam-to-be-made-a-special-township-vs-sivakumar/article4018571.ece|access-date=27 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> by including the Pandalam municipality and [[Kulanada]] panchayat.<ref name=OC>{{cite news|title=Government to set up township at Pandalam|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/government-to-set-up-township-at-pandalam/article5524084.ece|access-date=2 January 2014|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> The Pandalam area consists of the Pandalam municipality, [[Kulanada]] panchayath, [[Pandalam Thekkekara]] panchayath & [[Thumpamon]] panchayath.

The centuries-old ''Kurunthottayam'' market (now known as the Pandalam market) is one among the largest agricultural markets in central [[Travancore]]. Kerala's widest suspension bridge was constructed in Pandalam over the [[Achankovil|Achankovil river]].<ref name=bridge>{{cite news|title=Suspension bridge at Pandalam gets ready|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/suspension-bridge-at-pandalam-gets-ready/article5396696.ece|access-date=27 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> The bridge is 70 metres long and 2.5 metres wide.<ref name=bridge/>

There are several devotional places at Pandalam. The most famous are [[Valiyakoikkal Temple]], [[Pandalam Mahadeva Temple|Mahadeva Temple]], Puthenkavil Bhagavathi Temple, [[Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi Temple]], [[Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple]], [[Kadakkad Sree Bhadrakali Temple]], [[Thattayil Orippurathu Bhagavathi Temple]], Kadakkad Juma Masjid, Town Juma Masjid, Muttar Juma Masjid, Cherikkal Juma Masjid, India Pentecostal Church of God[IPC], Assemblies of God Church[AG], Thumpamon St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Pandalam Arathil St. George Orthodox MahaEdavaka, [[St. Bursouma's Orthodox Church]], Pandalam MarThoma church, St Thomas Orthodox Church and St Peter's malankara Catholic Church.

==Legend==

According to legend, Lord [[Ayyappan]], the presiding deity of [[Sabarimala]], had his human sojourn at Pandalam as the adopted son of the King of Pandalam.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=9780143415176|page=43|author=Roshen Dalal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Men and Masculinities in South India|url=https://archive.org/details/menmasculinities00osel|url-access=limited|year=2006|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=1843312328|page=[https://archive.org/details/menmasculinities00osel/page/n161 145]|author=Caroline Osella, Filippo Osella}}</ref> During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, devotees come to Pandalam in large numbers to worship the deity of [[Valiyakoikkal Temple]] near the [[Pandalam Palace]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pandalam Palace decries government affidavit|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Pandalam-Palace-decries-government-affidavit/article16440847.ece|access-date =21 April 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>http://sabarimala.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&Itemid=92</ref> This temple is on the banks of river [[Achenkovil]]. Three days prior to the [[Makara Jyothi|Makaravilakku festival]], the [[Thiruvabharanam]] (sacred ornaments) are taken in a procession from Pandalam to [[Sabarimala]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hundreds throng Pandalam to worship Thiruvabharanam|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/10/stories/2011011058310300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115031119/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/10/stories/2011011058310300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2011-01-10|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>

==History==
It is believed that the [[Pandya]] kings of [[Tamil Nadu]] fled to Pandalam in the face of an attack from [[Chola]]s<ref>{{cite book|title=Sacred Spaces: Exploring Traditions of Shared Faith in India|year=2003|publisher=Penguin Books|location=Navi Mumbai|isbn=9780143029311|page=27|author=Yoginder Sikand}}</ref> and settled there 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 [[Pathanamthitta]] district, Pandalam was in [[Mavelikara]] taluk of [[Alappuzha]] district.

==Literacy==
Pandalam has higher literacy rate compared to Kerala. In 2011, literacy rate of Pandalam was 96.74% compared to 94.00% of Kerala. In Pandalam, Male literacy stands at 97.84% while female literacy rate was 95.80%.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Colleges==
* [[NSS College Pandalam]]
* Mannam Ayurveda Co-operative Medical College, Pandalam
* NSS Polytechnic College, Pandalam
* NSS Training College, Pandalam
* NSS Nursing College, Pandalam
* Government ITC, Cherickal

== Schools ==

* Govt Higher Secondary School, Thottakkonam
*NSS B.H.S Pandalam
* NSS High School for Girls
* NSS LP & UP School
* NSS Higher Secondary School, Pandalam
* Eminence Public School
* St. Thomas English Medium High School
* Govt LP School, Poozhikkad
*Amrita Vidyalayam, Kurampala
*St.John's school Thumpamon
* SVLPS School Cherickal

== Hospitals ==

* NSS Medical Mission Hospital
* CM Hospital
* Chitra Multi-Speciality Hospital
* Mannam Ayurveda Hospital

== Landmarks ==

=== Pandalam Bridge ===
[[Pandalam Bridge]], popularly known as ''Kurunthottayam Bridge'', is situated in Pandalam junction.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pandalam bridge set to be commissioned by November 30|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Pandalam-bridge-set-to-be-commissioned-by-November-30/article16078286.ece|access-date=1 January 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Pathanamthitta|date=22 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pandalam Suspension Bridge Ready to be used|url=http://news.justkerala.in/pandalam-suspension-bridge-ready-to-be-used.php|access-date=1 January 2017|work=Kerala News|location =Kerala}}</ref>

===Pandalam Suspension Bridge===
[[Pandalam Suspension Bridge]], is a pedestrian suspension bridge in Pandalam, that connects Pandalam with Kulanada.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suspension bridge at Pandalam gets ready|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/suspension-bridge-at-pandalam-gets-ready/article5396696.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>

===Pandalam Palace===
[[Pandalam Palace]], placed on the banks of [[Achankovil river]], was home to the royal family of Pandalam.The royal family of this palace enjoys a significant position in the history of Kerala. It is believed that they have descended from the Pandya kings of Madurai. Pandalam Palace carries not just historical importance, but a considerable religious magnitude as well. According to legends, Lord [[Ayyappa]] was born to the King of Pandalam.There is a temple on the banks of Achankovil river which is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappa are carried from Pandalam Palace to [[Sabarimala]] as a grand procession three days prior to the [[makaravilakku]] festival.

==Notable people==
[[File:Pandalam Kerala Varma.jpg|thumb|Pandalam Kerala Varma]]


*[[Pandalam Kerala Varma]]: Poet
*[[M. N. Govindan Nair]]: Former State Secretary of CPI, Former State Cabinet Minister and MP
*[[V. S. Valiathan]]: Artist
*[[Benyamin (writer)|Benyamin]]: Novelist
*[[Dr. Biju]]: Film director
*[[P. K. Manthri]]: Cartoonist
*[[Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai]]: Padayani artist
*[[Pandalam Sudhakaran]]: Former Kerala minister

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="135">
File:Pandalam kshethram1.JPG|[[Valiyakoikkal Temple]]
File:പന്തളംപുഴ.JPG|[[Achankovil river]]
File:Pandalam palace2.JPG|Pandalam Palace
File:പന്തളം കൊട്ടാരം.JPG|Pandalam Palace
File:NSSCollegePandalam2.jpg|NSS COLLEGE, PANDALAM
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Pandalam}}
* [http://www.pandalam.org Information portal about Pandalam]

{{Pathanamthitta district}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Pathanamthitta district]]

Pandalam - Revision history

2409:4073:21F:9048:9ABD:B691:BDF2:DC1A: quick cleanup section for accuracy additionally and cleaned formatting based on references

imported>Rdp060707: Reverted edits by 106.206.219.11 (talk) to last revision by 103.104.46.2: nonconstructive edits