Photo 1 / 4East gopuram above the stairway. Photo: Gnoeee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
About the Temple
Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple stands on the bank of the Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district, about 10 km from Chengannur. It honours Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer, and tradition credits Arjuna with the shrine. The temple is known for the Uthrattathi snake boat race and the Vallasadya feasts offered to the boat crews, and it has wood carvings from the epics and 18th-century wall paintings.
Why visit
- Make the third stop of the Pancha Pandava round at Arjuna's temple.
- Time a visit with the Vallasadya feasts or the Uthrattathi boat race.
Temple Timings
- Morning
- 4:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Evening
- 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Official source, checked 22 Oct 2026 · Source
Closed between sessions; timings may change for special rituals. Busy in the Vallasadya season and on the Uthrattathi boat race day.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
45 minutes to 1.5 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Not confirmed. No dress rule from the temple or the Travancore Devaswom Board was found. Travel sites say men wear a dhoti without a shirt and women wear a sari or salwar; carry suitable clothes and ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Phones
Not confirmed. No phone rule for this temple was found; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Access
The temple sits on a raised base. Wikipedia describes 18 steps up to the eastern tower and 57 steps from the northern tower down to the Pamba. Wheelchair access was not found; ask at the temple office.
Reported by en.wikipedia.org, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
Highlights
- Linked to Arjuna
The shrine is traditionally attributed to Arjuna, one of five temples tied to the Pandavas.
- Place in the Pancha Pandava round
A 2017 Malayala Manorama feature says darshan starts at Thrichittatt and then follows the brothers from eldest to youngest, so Arjuna's temple is visited third. It adds that when all five are covered in one day, darshan before the noon puja is held to be especially meritorious.
- Uthrattathi boat race
Snake boats race on the Pamba on Uthrattathi star in Chingam as an offering to Krishna, the temple's deity.
- Carvings and wall paintings
Wood carvings from the Ramayana and Mahabharata cover the roof and some pillars, and the walls carry paintings from the early 18th century.
Sources: incredibleindia.gov.in, specials.manoramaonline.com, keralatourism.org, keralatourism.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
- By air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) · about 116 km
- By train: Chengannur (CNGR) · about 10 km
- By road: Aranmula is on the Chengannur to Kozhencherry road, about 11 km from Chengannur. Pathanamthitta is about 15 km and Pandalam about 14 km away, with KSRTC and private buses.
Sources: keralatourism.org, incredibleindia.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Chengannur Mahadeva TempleA major Shiva and Parvati temple in Chengannur town.8.4 km away
- Thrichittatt Mahavishnu TempleThe Yudhishthira temple, first stop of the Pancha Pandava round.9.2 km away
- Aranmula villageThe heritage village around the temple, known for its handmade metal mirrors (Aranmula kannadi). Coordinates are Wikipedia's village point.0.9 km away
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, keralatourism.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
What are the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple timings?
4:00 AM – 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Official source, checked 22 Oct 2026. Busy in the Vallasadya season and on the Uthrattathi boat race day.
Is there a dress code at Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple?
Not confirmed. No dress rule from the temple or the Travancore Devaswom Board was found. Travel sites say men wear a dhoti without a shirt and women wear a sari or salwar; carry suitable clothes and ask at the entrance.
Can I take my phone inside Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple?
Not confirmed. No phone rule for this temple was found; ask at the entrance.
Which Pandava is linked to Aranmula temple?
Arjuna. Tradition holds that he built the temple, and the deity is Krishna as Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer.
When is the Aranmula boat race?
Kerala Tourism says the Uthrattathi boat race is held on the Uthrattathi star in the Malayalam month of Chingam, which falls between mid-August and mid-September. Confirm the year's date locally.
What is the Aranmula Vallasadya?
A ritual feast served at the temple to the crews of the snake boats, with dozens of Kerala dishes, offered to the deity. Kerala Tourism puts the season from mid-August to early October; in 2026 it was reported from 19 July to 16 September.
In what order are the Pancha Pandava temples visited?
A 2017 Malayala Manorama feature says pilgrims start at Thrichittatt and follow the brothers in order, which makes Aranmula the third stop. This is custom, not a rule.