Arthunkal St. Andrew's Forane Church

The Arthunkal St. Andrew's Forane Church is located at  Arthunkal, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India was originally built by the Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. It was rebuilt in 1584, under the then vicar Fr. Jacoma Fenicio, whom the devotees claim, possessed magical powers to heal the body and mind. Devotees fondly referred to him as "Arthunkal Veluthachan", which in English translates to "fair skinned father". Fr. Fenicio died in 1632. Eight years after his death, the church was rebuilt again, this time facing the west towards the long white-sand beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea. In 1647, a statue of St. Sebastian, struck with arrows all over his bleeding body (he was executed on the order of the Roman emperor for embracing the Christian faith) sculptured in Milan, was brought and placed in the Arthunkal church.

Arthunkal St Andrew's Basilica (St. Andrew's Forane Church at Arthunkal) is one of the sacred churches in Kerala, attracts lakhs of devotees both Christians and non-Christians every year from all parts of the State. The feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated on a grand scale for eleven days in a year. Owning to the unmanageable crowding of pilgrims and the resultant confusion on January 20 the final day of the feast, the church authorities have instituted another minor feast on the 8th day after the principal feast (Octave). This is known as 'Ettam perunnal'. Of late this feast also has attained as much importance as the principal feast.

Holy Mass Timing

Daily Mass at 0530 am, 0700 am and 0530 pm. Baptism on 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1030 am. St Sebastian's Novena, Holy Mass & Adoration on Thursdays at 1100 am and 0430 pm. Daily Adoration in the Old church from 0800 am to 0530 pm.

How to Reach
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery is about 80 km from Arthunkal
Nearest Railway station : Cherthala (6 km) / Alappuzha (22 km).

Kadammanitta Devi Temple

Kadammanitta Devi temple is one of the prominent temples in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. It is located within 8 km from Pathanamthitta district. It is mainly prominent for Padayani which is a notable traditional art performed inside the temple. This art form is mainly devoted to mother Goddess.

The word Padayani means the military formations or rows of soldiers, but in this folk arts, a series of divine and semi-divine impersonation wearing huge marks or 'KOLAMS' of different shapes, colours, and designs painted on the stalls of arecanut fouds. The most important of the kolams usually presented in a Padayani are BHAIRAVI (Kali), Yakshi (Fairy), Pakshi (Bird), etc. The Padayani performance is accompanied with a song namely ‘Padayanipattu’ (Songs of Padayani). The musical instruments uses in this art form are ‘Thappu’, ‘Chenda’, ‘Para’ and ‘Elathalam’. The dance is performed in remembrance of the mythological war between Goddess Bhadrakali and Darika Demon. In Kadammanitta Devi Temple Padayani is performed in the month of March-April.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Thiruvalla, about 30 km from Pathanamthitta

Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 105 km from Thiruvalla.