national park
Periyar National Park
A tiger and elephant reserve set around a scenic artificial lake in the Western Ghats, offering boat safaris through the wildlife sanctuary.
49 km · about 55 min drive
Kerala, India · Asia
Erāttupetta sits on the route: 15 minutes from Lālam, 49km from Periyar National Park.
Erāttupetta is a town located in Kerala, India. With a population of 34,814, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Erāttupetta sits in India, where you drive on the left. It's in the Asia/Kolkata time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Erāttupetta to your route.
St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura, more familiarly known as Aruvithura Church, is a Syro-Malabar Catholic church located at Aruvithura, in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. Traditionally, it is believed that the Syrian Catholic Church at Aruvithura was established in the 1st century.
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first edifice of the church at Aruvithura was made of granite stones in the manner of Hindu temples. As it is traditionally believed, St. Thomas, the apostle of India preached the Christian faith in the important and popular villages of Malabar. It is believed that St. Thomas the Apostle of Jesus visited Aruvithura and converted prominent families into Christianity, and lay a cross on the banks of the Meenachil River. This is the first church in the Palai diocese and was built in the 1st century. St. Thomas founded seven and a half churches there. It is reported that the church was rebuilt once or twice before the 16th century. The ancient churches were constructed and maintained by the prominent families in the area until the 16th century. In the beginning of the 16th century a new church was built under the leadership of Kallarackal Kathanar by the prominent families.
The church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mother, assumed into heaven. In the 14th century when either the Nilakkal Church or the Chayal Church founded by St. Thomas was destroyed, several families migrated to Aruvithura bringing with them a statue of St. George. Ever since the advent of the statue, the people began to have unflinching faith in the saint and he has been particularly beneficial in bestowing favours on his followers. Because of the numerous favours obtained through the intercession of the saint, in the 16th century, the church was dedicated to him and his statue was placed in the central niche above the main altar. As a result, St. Mary's church Aruvithura became known as St. George's Church Aruvithura.
The 16th-century church was demolished in 1951 but the sanctuary with its vaulting within the right transept of the cruciform church was preserved to enshrine the statue of St. George, its second patron. Some believe the statue to be miraculous. The church is a cruciform building in the Gothic style, facing to the west towards Jerusalem. It was completed in 1952.
The St. George Church is famous for its feast, known locally as Aruvithura Thirunal. The celebration typically takes place over three days in April, most commonly from the 23rd to the 25th, and attracts devotees from all over Kerala. The feast is renowned for the grand procession of St. George through the town, the fireworks display, and the beautiful church illumination.
However, an unfortunate firecracker accident at the Aruvithura Perunnal occurred in 2015, which took one life and injured several others. Following this tragedy, there were calls for stricter regulations on fireworks displays at religious festivals in Kerala.
The Pala diocese, under which Aruvithura falls, reportedly issued a ban on the use of crackers at festivals in its churches in October 2015, directly in response to the Aruvithura mishap.
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Erāttupetta offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Erāttupetta is located in Kerala, India, Asia. The coordinates are 9.6875 latitude, 76.7789 longitude.
Erāttupetta has a population of approximately 34,814 people, making it a town in India.
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3 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
A tiger and elephant reserve set around a scenic artificial lake in the Western Ghats, offering boat safaris through the wildlife sanctuary.
49 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
A network of interconnected canals, rivers, and lagoons where houseboats glide through palm-fringed waterways in southern India.
53 km · about 60 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Rolling emerald hills blanketed with tea gardens at 1,600 meters elevation in the Western Ghats, offering cool mountain air and scenic drives.
54 km · about 65 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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