Pandalam is a place in Adoor thaluk of Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised as the educational and cultural headquarters of Central Travancore, Pandalam hosts educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to post graduate, training, ayurveda, and engineering colleges. There are seven colleges and 23 schools at Pandalam, including N. S. S. College, Pandalam. The Kerala state government plans to make the place a special Township, by including the Pandalam municipality and Kulanada panchayat.The Pandalam area conists of Pandalam municipality, Kulanada panchayath, Pandalam Thekkekara panchayath & Thumpamon panchayath.

The centuries-old Kurunthottayam market (now known as the Pandalam market) is one among the largest agricultural markets in central Travancore. Kerala's widest suspension bridge was constructed in Pandalam over the Achankovil river. The bridge is 70 metres long and 2.5 metres wide.

There are several devotional places at Pandalam. The most famous are Valiyakoikkal Temple, Mahadeva Temple, Puthenkavil Bhagavathi Temple, Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi Temple, Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple, Kadakkad Sree Bhadrakali Temple, Thattayil Orippurathu Bhagavathi Temple, Kadakkad Juma Masjid, India Pentecostal Church of God[IPC], Assemblies of God Church[AG], Thumpamon St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Cherickal Juma Masjid, Pandalam Arathil St. George Orthodox MahaEdavaka, St. Bursouma's Orthodox Church, St Thomas Orthodox Church and St Peter's malankara Catholic Church.

History

It is believed that the Pandya kings of Tamil Nadu fled to Pandalam in the face of an attack from Cholas and settled there 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 Pathanamthitta district, Pandalam was in Mavelikara taluk of Alappuzha district.

Literacy
Pandalam has higher literacy rate compared to Kerala. In 2011, literacy rate of Pandalam village was 96.74% compared to 94.00% of Kerala. In Pandalam, Male literacy stands at 97.84% while female literacy rate was 95.80%.

Educational Institutions

NSS College Pandalam
Mannam Ayurveda Co-operative Medical College, Pandalam
NSS Polytechnic College, Pandalam
NSS Training College, Pandalam
NSS Nursing College, Pandalam
Government ITC, Cherickal

Schools

NSS Higher Secondary School
NSS High School for Girls
NSS LP & UP School
Govt Higher Secondary School, Thottakkonam
Eminence Public School
St. Thomas English Medium High School
Govt LP School, Poozhikkad
Amrita Vidyalayam, Kurampala
St.John's school Thumpamon
SVLPS School Cherickal
Hospitals
NSS Medical Mission Hospital
CM Hospital
Chitra Multi-Speciality Hospital
Mannam Ayurveda Hospital
Source - Wikipedia [Mar 2021]