Aranmula, a village in the district of Pathanamthitta, is known for its ancient temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Among the many attractions that Aranmula is known for the famous annual regatta of snake boat race on the holy river Pamba during the festival of Onam. Aranmula is also famous for the art of making metal mirrors called Aranmula kannadi.
- Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
There are many legends associated with this temple, the most famous one being the tale of Pandavas. After crowning Parikshit as the king, the Pandavas set out on a pilgrimage to install the idol of Lord Vishnu at various places. Arjuna, the third Pandava prince, had the idol installed at Aranmula. There are claims that Arjuna had installed the idol someplace else but later brought it to Aranmula on a boat made of six bamboo stacks, hence giving the village the name Aranmula, where “Aru” means six and “Mula” means bamboo. It has to be noted that doors to the inner sanctum are never entirely shut, it is said that the doors are partially shut as a symbolic representation of Lord Krishna granting permission to Arjuna to visit him at any time. The temple is said to be in existence even before 1st Millennium CE. Since then, it has been known to be one of the beautiful pieces of architecture in Kerala. It also hosts a variety of rituals on various occasions. These include an ancient art form called Arjuna Nritham and Aranmula Vallakai (Aranmula boat race).
- Aranmula Kannadi
The village around the temple is famous for a particular type of mirror made of a unique alloy of tin and copper. These mirrors have been made here for centuries by families living around the temple. These mirror makers had ancestors come from Sankarakovil in Tamil Nadu to make a special crown for the king. One day the kind noticed his reflection in his crown and had requested them to make more mirrors using the same method. Hence the Aranmula Kannadi came into existence. Unlike other mirrors, the Aranmula Kannadi has no glass surface. The procedure behind its creation is rathr tedious. Broken pieces of old mirrors are sandwiched between mud slabs. This is heated, and an iron rod is placed between the gaps to create a hole. A molten mixture of the alloy is poured into the object through the hole. The object is then covered with a mixture of baked soil and natural soil so as to seal the opening. Once the process is complete, the entire thing is placed on the hearth. As the materials placed inside melts under the extreme heat, the mud mould is broken, and the metal piece is taken out. The surface is then polished to make it look like a mirror.
- Vijnana Kalavedi Centre
There is also the legendary Vijnana Kalavedi Centre that houses some of the finest classes and teachers for a variety of art forms like Kathakali, classical dances, classical music and Kalaripayattu. Visitors can stay here for an extended period and observe the ancient crafts being passed on diligently to the next generation. Aranmula is today one of the model tourism villages declared by Kerala Tourism. It has now become famous as a major centre for cultural tourism in Kerala. It attracts visitors, especially those from outside India.
At Spice Routes, we pride ourselves in giving you a complete Alleppey experience. We provide not only luxurious houseboats but also make sure you enjoy your stay with us by arranging a tour of Aranmula Village. If you are looking for a complete luxury holiday in south India, please reach out to us.
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