Aranmula Ballavpur Banawasi Chaugan Hodka Jyotisar Karaikudii Kumbalangh Lachen Naggar Nepura Pochampalli Pranpur Samode Sualkuchi

Aranmula is synonomous with the unique art of the hand cast Kannadi bell metal mirror, its origin interlaced with the Aranmula Parthasarathi temple, its alloy-preparation and clay-moulding techniques a closely guarded secret held by just two families in the village...

Aranmula is also home to the Pampa Palliyodam, the annual snake boat pageant held on the last day of Onam, where the sight of these sinuous craft slicing through the water to the rhythmic sounds of synchronised rowing is a mesmerizing one.

A home stay in this temple town, surrounded by green hillocks and girdled by the river Pampa brings alive the rural lifestyle and rich traditions of Kerala.


See & Do

Learn about the intricate colour and painting processes of murals at the Mural Art Gallery, Vasthuvidya Gurukulam. Find out about Kerala's 12 art disciplines at Vijnanakalavedi Cultural Centre. Take in colour and costume, movement and mime of the majestic dance form of Kathakali at Vijnanakalavedi. Sit in on a vaastu class at Vaastu Vidya Gurukulam. Get your fingers into sambar and aviyal, fish and tapioca.


Get There

• Airports: Kochi (130km), Thiruvananthapuram (195km), both via Alleppey
• Rail link: Chengannur (9km)
• Road: located on the route from Thiruvananthapuram to Kottayam

Stay

• Home stays with local families
• Vijnanakalvedi Cultural Centre

On the Spot

• Contact Manoj S Nair at Vastu Vidya Gurukulam: 0468.2319740, +91.94475.61233
• Contact Louba Schild at Vijnanakalavedi: 0468.2314483, +91 .94471.14483
• Email: aranmula@exploreruralindia.org