| Pandalam | |
| — town — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Pathanamthitta |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
Pandalam (പന്തളം) is one among the fastest growing towns in Kerala, India. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town. It is also a renowned educational and health care center in central Travancore.Pandalam hosts a lot of educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to Post Graduate, Training, Ayurveda and Engineering Colleges.
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According to legend, Lord Ayyappan, the presiding deity of Sabarimala had his human sojourn at Pandalam as the son of the King of Pandalam. During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, devotees come to Pandalam in large numbers to worship the deity of Valiyakoikkal Temple near the Pandalam Palace. This temple is on the banks of river Achenkovil. Three days prior to the Makaravilakku festival, the sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan (known as Thiruvabharanam) are taken in a procession from Pandalam to Sabarimala. Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk, before forming the Pathanamthitta district.
Other famous worship centers in Pandalam are :
Colleges
Schools
It is believed that the Pandya kings of Tamil Nadu fled to Pandalam after losing a battle and settled here in the land they bought from Kaipuzha Thampan, a landlord. The Pandya dynasty had provinces on either sides of the Western Ghats. The King of Pandalam helped Marthanda Varma to conquer the Kayamkulam province. In return for this help, Marthanda Varma did not attempt to attack and conquer Pandalam, during the expansion of his kingdom. The princely state of Pandalam had extended up to Thodupuzha in Idukki district once. Pandalam was added to Travancore in 1820. Before the formation of the Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district.
The centuries old Kurunthottayam market, (now known as the Pandalam market) is one among the largest agricultural markets in Central Travancore. Situated in the heart of this township till late 1990s, this market was later shifted to a more convenient place by the Pandalam - Mavelikkara road. Pandalam is now a modern township with adequate facilities, well connected by road to other places of the state.
Pandalam is a panchayat and former assembly constituency. The panchayat was once converted to a municipality and later converted back to a panchayat. K. Prathapan is the present President of the Pandalam Panchayath. Before the formation of Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikara taluk of Alleppey district. Pandalam has strong presence of all major political parties of Kerala. It used to support LDF candidates in the assmebly elections. In the recent panchayat elections, Pandalam has been won by UDF. In 2011, Pandalam was discontinued as a constituency for the assembly elections and it is now a part of the Mavelikara constituency, which was won by Left Democratic Front. Pandalam is also part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency won by United Democratic Front.
The Road, Rail and Air distances to Pandalam are listed below: