Pathanamthitta: A unique Pampa River Heritage Journey will be organised on Monday, September 21, offering participants an opportunity to explore the cultural heritage and history of the Pampa river basin through a combination of road travel and a boat journey.

The heritage study tour is being organised by the Perumpranad Historical Study Society and will travel from Kozhenchery to Veeyapuram, tracing important historical, religious and cultural landmarks along the Pampa River.

The journey will begin from the premises of the Kozhenchery St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church. Participants will travel by road to Chengannur, from where the journey will continue by boat along the Pampa River. The first phase of the heritage journey will conclude at Veeyapuram, where the Pampa River meets the Achankovil River.

Exploring the Heritage of the Pampa River

The journey is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to experience the cultural heritage, religious traditions, architecture, crafts and riverine history of the Pampa basin.

The route covers a wide range of heritage sites representing different religious and cultural traditions, as well as traditional arts and crafts associated with central Kerala.

Major Attractions on the Heritage Journey

The important places included in the itinerary are:

• Kozhenchery St. Thomas Mar Thoma Old Church
• Kozhenchery Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
• Maramon Palakkunnathu Tharavadu
• Maramon Mar Thoma Old Syrian Church
• Samashti Orthodox Retreat Centre
• Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
• Aranmula Kannadi (metal mirror) manufacturing centre
• Aranmula Vastu Vidya Gurukulam
• Birthplace of Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi
• Malakkara Alappurath Gurukulam
• Puthencavu St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral
• Chengannur Mahadeva Temple
• Chengannur Old Syrian Church
• Kallissery Knanaya Valiyapalli
• Muthuvazhi Subrahmanya Temple
• Kaduvettur St. Mary's Church
• Nakkida
• Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Temple
• Parumala Orthodox Church
• Mannar traditional metal vessel manufacturing centre
• Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple
• Veeyapuram Reserve Forest
• Veeyapuram Dharmasastha Temple
• Veeyapuram Erathodu St. George Orthodox Church

Aranmula's Traditional Craft Heritage

Among the notable stops on the journey is Aranmula, one of Kerala's important cultural heritage destinations. Participants will visit the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple and an Aranmula Kannadi manufacturing centre, providing an opportunity to learn about the region's distinctive traditional metal-mirror craft.

The itinerary also includes the Aranmula Vastu Vidya Gurukulam, highlighting Kerala's traditional architectural knowledge and heritage.

Journey Along the Pampa

The transition from road travel to a boat journey along the Pampa River is one of the distinctive features of the programme. The river has played an important role in the social, cultural and economic history of the region, while its banks are home to numerous temples, churches, traditional settlements and cultural institutions.

The journey will conclude its first phase at Veeyapuram, where the Pampa and Achankovil rivers meet. The area also includes the Veeyapuram Reserve Forest, adding a natural heritage component to the journey.

Connecting Heritage, Culture and Tourism

The Pampa River Heritage Journey brings together religious heritage, traditional architecture, handicrafts, cultural history and river tourism in a single itinerary.

Such heritage journeys can also contribute to greater awareness of lesser-known attractions along Kerala's rivers, encouraging visitors to explore destinations beyond conventional tourist circuits.

Those interested in participating in the heritage study journey can contact Manish Kuzhivelil, Secretary, Perumpranad Historical Study Society, at 9037470750.

With its combination of road travel, boating and heritage exploration, the Pampa River Heritage Journey on September 21 offers a distinctive way to experience the cultural landscape of central Kerala and the historic communities that have developed along the Pampa River.