Manikantan Aalthara, Temple,Pandalam

Manikantan Aalthara is a temple located near Pandalam Palace, about 15 km from Chengannur, Pathanamthitta District. This is a small shrine built around a banyan tree. The main central road from the temple leads to the palace.

The processions from the Valiyakoyikkal Temple on the Mandalam day, 11th day of the Malayalam month Dhanu, and on Ayyapan's birthday ('Uthram' in the month of Kumbham) come to this temple. The 'Nayattuvili' (call to go for hunting) and the 'Aazhi' (fire walking)and Chirappu , Annadanam are the main functions performed here before the procession goes back to the temple.


Phone - 04734 209762

The small shrine built around a holy banyan tree, by the main central road, marks the entrance to the palace precincts. The ceremonial processions that emanate from the Valiya koikkal temple in the palace complex on the Mandalam day(11th Dhanu) and on Ayyapan's birthday ('Uthram' in the month of Kumbham) reach here and perform the 'nayattuvili' (call to go for hunting) and 'aazhi' (fire walking) before they return to the temple.

 

On the left of the road from Manikantan Aalthara to the Valiya koikkal temple is the Nalukettu(quadrangular house) and straight ahead, at the far north is the Vadakkekottaram(northern palace). Both date back to the dim corridors of a distant past, a fact which accounts for their present dilapidated look. The prayer rooms ('Thevarapuras') of both these places are still intact. Idols of 28 gods and goddesses ,apart from 'Sreechakram' and 'Salagramam' are worshipped in these rooms. The presence of the idol of Madurai Meenaskshi here signifies the royal family's Madurai origins.