About Aryankavu
Aryankavu (Ariencavu) one of the Beautiful Tourist places in Kollam district Kerala state. Aryankavu (Ariencavu) lay down The Valley of Western Ghats Range (SahyParvatham). Aryankavu (Ariencavu) situated about 73 kms east of Kollam, Aryankavu (Ariencavu) is one of the important pilgrim centres of the district. Aryankavu (Ariencavu) is an important trade route for merchants from either side of the Western Ghats. The chief attraction of Aryankavu (Ariencavu) is Palaruvi Waterfall and the Shrine dedicated to Mother of Lady, St: Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, St: George Malankara Catholic Church, one of the famous Temples has dedicated to Lord Sastha (Ayyappan) and the one of longest rail tunnel sharing Kerala and Tamilnadu . Aryankavu Shastha Temple has some fine sculptures and mural paintings. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple during the mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festivals in December.
PALARUVI WATER FALL
Palaruvi waterfalls, the meaning of Palaruvi is River of Milk. Palaruvi waterfall is one of the well-known waterfalls in southIndia, Palaruvi falling from a height of 300 feet. Palaruvi waterfall is situated 70 kms from Kollam, on Kollam-Sencottah NH 208 highway at Aryankavu. The scenic beauty, with the hills, valleys and cascades, covered with dense tropical forests, is breath taking. Season to visit the place is June-January. All trains towards Sencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. Buses plying between Kollam & Sencottah also pass through this place. About 5 kms away from Aryankavu in the deep forest is Palaruvi waterfall location
PALARUVI WATER FALL
Palaruvi waterfalls, the meaning of Palaruvi is River of Milk. Palaruvi waterfall is one of the well-known waterfalls in southIndia, Palaruvi falling from a height of 300 feet. Palaruvi waterfall is situated 70 kms from Kollam, on Kollam-Sencottah NH 208 highway at Aryankavu. The scenic beauty, with the hills, valleys and cascades, covered with dense tropical forests, is breath taking. Season to visit the place is June-January. All trains towards Sencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. Buses plying between Kollam & Sencottah also pass through this place. About 5 kms away from Aryankavu in the deep forest is Palaruvi waterfall location
KOLLAM TOWN
Railway Station at Kollam is situated just 1 km from the heart of the town, Chinnakkada. This junction is a major stop for all express, super fast and passenger Trains. From Kollam passenger Trains are available travel to Aryankavu. And also KSRTC operates Express, Fast Passenger and Ordinary buses connecting to Aryankavu from Kollam, Trivandrum, Kottarakara, Punalur, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. Also train and buses available from Sencottai, Tenkassi, Thirunelveli, Thuthukudy, Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
ARYANKAVU AYYAPPA TEMPLE
Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple (Aryankavu Shastha Temple) situated about 73 km east of Kollam and 31 km from Punalur is the beautiful place Aryankavu, one of the important pilgrim centers of the district. The main attraction of Aryankavu is the Ayyappa Temple alias Aryankavu Sastha Temple dedicated to Lord Sastha, one among the five ancient Ayyappa temples. The unique feature of the temple is that it is built about 35 ft below the road level and has some fine structure and mural paintings. The legend behind the the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to that of Sree Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala .The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brought up by the Pandi Raja of Madhura and not the Raja of Pandalam. The two main festivals of this temple, Mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festival, celebrated in ecember draws thousands of pilgrims. It is believed that Swami Ayyappan married Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held every year in Aryankavu and the marriage rituals are according to the Sourashtra community .Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of Mandalapooja'. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu.
The shrine at Aryankav is known as Aryankavu Shastha Temple and Lord Ayyappa is depicted as a teenager (young boy) here. Ayyappa is known as Tiruaryan here and therefore the place got the name Aryankavu. Surrounded by forests, the temple is located on the Trivandrum – Tenkasi National Highway. Just like in Sabarimala, women from the age 10 to 50 are not allowed inside the Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple. The rituals and pujas followed at AryankavuSasthaTemple is that of Tamil tradition. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has idols of Devi, Shiva and Sastha. A young Ayyappa sits in the middle with Devi on the left side and Shiva on the right side. The festival at the temple is celebrated during the last days of the Sabarimala Mandala Kalam. The most important festivals observed here include Pandiyanmudippu, Trikalyanam and Kumbhabhishekam.
Railway Station at Kollam is situated just 1 km from the heart of the town, Chinnakkada. This junction is a major stop for all express, super fast and passenger Trains. From Kollam passenger Trains are available travel to Aryankavu. And also KSRTC operates Express, Fast Passenger and Ordinary buses connecting to Aryankavu from Kollam, Trivandrum, Kottarakara, Punalur, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. Also train and buses available from Sencottai, Tenkassi, Thirunelveli, Thuthukudy, Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
ARYANKAVU AYYAPPA TEMPLE
Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple (Aryankavu Shastha Temple) situated about 73 km east of Kollam and 31 km from Punalur is the beautiful place Aryankavu, one of the important pilgrim centers of the district. The main attraction of Aryankavu is the Ayyappa Temple alias Aryankavu Sastha Temple dedicated to Lord Sastha, one among the five ancient Ayyappa temples. The unique feature of the temple is that it is built about 35 ft below the road level and has some fine structure and mural paintings. The legend behind the the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to that of Sree Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala .The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brought up by the Pandi Raja of Madhura and not the Raja of Pandalam. The two main festivals of this temple, Mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festival, celebrated in ecember draws thousands of pilgrims. It is believed that Swami Ayyappan married Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held every year in Aryankavu and the marriage rituals are according to the Sourashtra community .Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of Mandalapooja'. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu.
Nearest Village
The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Kulathupuzha near Thenmala in Kollam District of Kerala is an important shrine visited by Ayyappa devotees especially during the Mandala-Makaravilaku season. This Shasta shrine is located on the banks of Kulathu Puzha, a tributary of KalladaRiver, and is in the reserve forest. The deity here is Manikantan or the child form of Lord Ayyappa.The deity is popularly referred as Dharma Shasta. There are two main deities in this small temple – Lord Shiva and Shasta. Shiva is in the form of Shiva Linga and that of Shasta or Ayyappa is a stone image.The shrine also houses an elaborately carved idol of Lord Vishnu. There are also shrines of Ganesha and Devi in the compound.
There is an interesting legend regarding the origin of the Ayyappa Temple at Kulathupuzha. Once and elderly Brahmin returning from his Rameshwaram pilgrimage camped on the Kallada Riverbank. His servants started the preparation for the evening meal and they looked out for stones to create the makeshift oven. They found a fixed stone nearby and brought two stones to create the oven. But the fixed stone was bigger than the two stones. The servants placed two stones on top of other to adjust the height. Suddenly, the first stone grew a bit taller. The poor servants raised the level of the two stones again but the fixed stone again grew a bit taller. This exercise of adjusting the height continued for awhile. Finally frustrated with the fixed stone, one of the servants hit the fixed stone with another stone. Suddenly blood gushed out of the fixed stone and the scared servants ran and reported the matter to the Brahmin. The Brahmin sprinkled some tirtha (sacred water) brought from Rameshwaram on the bleeding fixed stone. Soon, Lord Ayyappa appeared in the form of child before the Brahmin and his servants.
The local chief who came to know about this incident built at temple for the deity.
Kulathupuzha town is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottai road. Kulathupuzha is 60 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram and 64 km east of Kollam. Nearest railway station is at Thenmala. It must be noted that the meter gauge railway line from Kollam to Shenkottai is non-functional due to the upgrading work taking place.
There is an interesting legend regarding the origin of the Ayyappa Temple at Kulathupuzha. Once and elderly Brahmin returning from his Rameshwaram pilgrimage camped on the Kallada Riverbank. His servants started the preparation for the evening meal and they looked out for stones to create the makeshift oven. They found a fixed stone nearby and brought two stones to create the oven. But the fixed stone was bigger than the two stones. The servants placed two stones on top of other to adjust the height. Suddenly, the first stone grew a bit taller. The poor servants raised the level of the two stones again but the fixed stone again grew a bit taller. This exercise of adjusting the height continued for awhile. Finally frustrated with the fixed stone, one of the servants hit the fixed stone with another stone. Suddenly blood gushed out of the fixed stone and the scared servants ran and reported the matter to the Brahmin. The Brahmin sprinkled some tirtha (sacred water) brought from Rameshwaram on the bleeding fixed stone. Soon, Lord Ayyappa appeared in the form of child before the Brahmin and his servants.
The local chief who came to know about this incident built at temple for the deity.
Kulathupuzha town is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottai road. Kulathupuzha is 60 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram and 64 km east of Kollam. Nearest railway station is at Thenmala. It must be noted that the meter gauge railway line from Kollam to Shenkottai is non-functional due to the upgrading work taking place.
