Aryankavu

Aryankavu
village
Aryankavu Kuthira festival
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	KL-25
Coastline	0 kilometres (0 mi)
Nearest city	Kollam 78 kilometres (48 mi)
Nearest town	Punalur 36 kilometres (22 mi)
Climate	Tropical monsoon (Köppen)

Aryankavu is a village in Punalur , Kollam district, Kerala. It lies on National Highway 744 near Thenmala. It is a mountain pass in Western Ghats. The Punalur-Shenkottai metre gauge railway line also passes through Aryankavu. Aryankavu is 78 km away from Kollam and 36 km away from Punalur.

Geography

It is located at 8°58′0″N 77°8′35″E.

Palaruvi water falls

The Palaruvi Falls is located in the forest 5 km away from Aryankavu vehicle check post. The name `PAL' means milk & `ARUVI' means stream.

Kadamanpara sandal forest

It is the second largest natural sandal forest after Marayoor. It is situated in aryankavu gramapanchaythu.

Aryankavu Junction

There are several shops, hospitals and several government offices and Kerala state check posts.

Rose Mala

Rose mala is a place in aryankavu which is 11.8 km away from aryankavu junction.It is one of the eco tourism spot. There are many beautiful places in Rose mala.

Nedumpara

Nedumpara is a place which is 11 Km away from aryankavu.Harrisons malayalam limited has a rubber estate in this place named as Isfield Estate.one of the highest peak of aryankavu panchayath is located in nedumpara,which is locally known as Nedumpara Motta.panchayaths first school T C nariyarath Memorial Higher Secondary School(TCNMHSS) located in the valley of 27th Hills. nedumpara is home for Multiple sports clubs Like Players Cricket Team and NSAC Football Academy.Incredible Nedumpara is the official facebook page which holds local updates from the place in social medias.

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Bourdillon's plot

It is the world's first stump planted plantation of teak which located near the palaruvi water falls in aryankavu. A British man named Thomas F Bordillon was its leader.He was then conservator of travancore.

Religion

Aryankavu Shastha Temple

Aryankavu is famous for its Ayyappan temple.The Ayyappa Temple at Aryankavu in Kollam District is one among the five most important temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in Kerala. The shrine is also known as Aryankavu Shastha Temple. Lord Ayyappa is depicted here as a teenager (young boy). Ayyappa is known as Tiru Aryan 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 Aryankavu Sastha Temple 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 concluding days of the Sabarimala Mandala Kalam. The most important festivals observed here include Pandiyan Mudippu, Trikkalyanam and Kumbhabhishekam. The temple can be accessed by traveling on Kollam – Punalur – Tenkasi road or by traveling on the Trivandrum – Tenkasi road.

Catholic Churches

There are two catholic churches: St. Mary's Catholic Church Archdiocese of Changanassery & St. George Malankara Catholic Church Arankavu. The St.George Malankara Catholic Church was established 1950's. The founder of the Church was Mr.K.V Abraham Vaidyer(Kaleekal) also known as Kannadi Vaidyar. He was a famous Ayurvedic physician as well as a member of the Grama Panchayat in 1957. The St.George Malankara Catholic Church can be accessed by traveling on Kollam – Punalur – Tenkasi road or by traveling on the Trivandrum – Tenkasi road.

See Also

• Palakkad Gap
• Aralvaimozhi