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Thazhathangady , a heritage zone in kottayam district. This place is the cradle of communal harmony and culture.  Kerala government understood the potential of this area to tourism. Recently kerala government launched a beautification project of Thazhathangadi . This village has a good ancestor history. Not only the devotees  but also the tourists are also coming here for enjoying the artistic elegance of  this village.

Aruvithura is a famous pilgrim centre located in kottayam district. It is about 35 km away from kottaym town. It is belongs to oldest churches in kerala. the history says that the church was built by saint Thomas.  The annual celebration is fall on 23 , 24 ,25 of april. The church belongs to syro Malabar rite in the pala diocese. Friday is a holy day in this church. Hundreds of devotees are comes here and participate in special prayers .

Address

St george forane church

Aruvithura p o

Kerala india

Kottayam valiyapally

It is one of the oldest Syrian knanaya church . it was built in 1550.

Good shephered church

It is the first church in vijayapuram diocese, it is located in kottayam district , behind of civil kottaym civil station. The renovation of the church done in 1964. the church reflects Italian style. the annual feast of st sevastian I held on 20 january .

St george orthodox church puthuppally

It is about 8 km away from kottaym town. The church is dedicated to st george. St .george church is popularly known as puthuppally pally. Thousands of devotees are coming here to participate in the annual festival.

St mary’s church athirampuzha

It is about 10 km away from kottaym town. The church dedicated to st mary. The original church constructed during 1080 ad. The annual feast last for 5 days which attracts thousands of devotees.

St mary’s cheriya pally

It is one of the oldest church in kerala. the church was constructed in 1579. the church reflects temple architecture.

St mary’s church manarcad

It is about 10 km away from kottaym town. It is famous for ‘ettu noyambu’. It begins on the 1 st day of September. The annual feast held on 8 th and 9 th September. Thousands of devotees are take part in ettu noyabu perunnal.

Cherpunkal is a  little town located in kottayam district near to palai. Cherpunakal is famous in the name of mar sleeve foronae church cherpunkal. It is believed that the church was established by saint Thomas . the church is one of the famous and biggest church belongs to pala diocese and it is dedicated to infant jesus.  The church built in goethic architecture. The present church was constructed on the same place where the old church constructed in 1101 was located. It is believed that the present church construction starts on june 8 1905. at that time fr Mathew kizhakkara was the vicar of the cherpunkal church . the church completed in 1909.

First Friday celebration

Every first Friday is holy day for cherpunkal church. About 1 lakh of devotees are comes here for  pouring  oil into the ‘ever burning lamp’ and take part in novena prayer.

Address

Holy cross forane church

Cherpunkal po

Pin 686572

Kottayam dt.

Kerala india

Bharananganam is the place where saint alphonsa lived and died. it is located 33 km away from kottayam town. Bharananganam is  a sacred place, thousands of  pilgrims are coming every year. The crystalline waters of meenichil river flows through the three sides of bharananganam town.  This place is well known for Christianity .millennium old forane church is well popular all over the world.

St Alphonsa life history

Saint alphonsa was born on 19 th august 1910. the birth place is known as kudamaloor. It is rural village in kottayam district. Alphonsa was the fourth child of mary and joseph. In her childhood she was called as annakutty. Her mother died , when she was very young. She was brought up by her aunt annamma belongs to muricken family, in muttuchira. In her childhood she was inspired by st Theresa of lisieux.  The little alphonsa liked to dedicate his life to Christ. she burn his foot in ash , at the age of 13 to escape from marriage proposal .  Because of her strong prayer , aunt allowed her to join in convent. She joining francisian clarist convent located at bharananganam in 1927. she got her postulant’s veil on 2 august 1928. sister alphonsa spent 20 years in bharananganam. Sister alphonsa suffered serious health problems in her life. But she faced all these problems with prayer finally died on 28 th july 1946. she was buried at church of bharananganam in pala diocese.

After her death , her students starts praying to god with her name and they got favors . after this her tomb became a pilgrimage centre and number of miracles happened. The first officially decalered miracle is that of a  child namely jithin, the child is miraculously cured due to prayers at the alter of saint alphonsa shrine.  In 1985 the miracle was approved. Pope benedict xvi canonized sister alphonsa on 12 october 2008.

Saint alphonsa lived in calrist convent near to st mary’s forane church bharananganam. The tomb of saint alphonsa located in the montuary of chapel. Here you can see a museum near to chapel.

Bharananganam route map

Cochin-ettumanoor-palai-bharananganam

Trivandrom-kottayam-ettumanoor-palai-bharananganam

Airport and rail

Nearest airport is nedumbassery international airport at cochi(3.5 hours journey from airport to bharananganam)

Nearest railway station is at kottayam(2 hours journey from railway station to bharananganam)