Aranmula Heritage Village

Aranmula Heritage Village is a traditional village on the banks of the Pampa River in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. Declared a heritage village by the Government of Kerala, it is known for the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, the unique Aranmula Kannadi metal mirrors, and the annual Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali boat race. The village preserves Kerala's traditional architecture, crafts, and cultural practices.

Visitors can explore a riverside heritage settlement with traditional Kerala-style houses, narrow lanes, and artisan workshops. The central attraction is the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Visitors can observe craftsmen making Aranmula Kannadi (handmade metal mirrors) with GI tag, visit mural painting centers, walk along the Pampa River ghats, and see snake boats used for the annual boat race. The village offers a quiet, cultural and religious atmosphere.

Aranmula is centered around the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, believed to have been built centuries ago and associated with the 18th-century traditions of Travancore. The village has preserved traditional crafts like the Aranmula Kannadi, whose metal-mirror making technique is said to be several centuries old and passed down through generations of craftsmen. The Aranmula boat race tradition is linked to the temple festival and the legend of transporting offerings across the Pampa River.

Aranmula is a major cultural centre of Kerala known for the Aranmula Kannadi (GI-tagged metal mirror), Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali snake boat race held during Onam, traditional mural paintings, and the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple which is one of the 108 Divya Desams. The village represents Kerala's intangible heritage including classical arts, crafts, and temple festivals and is recognized as a heritage village by Kerala Tourism.