Kerala is all about exploring the Indian culture in a unique manner. From traveling to this picturesque destination to experiencing its events and festivals, one can experience a lot of things in Kerala. One of such things is a festival called Aarattu. In fact, more than a festival, we can call it a traditional ritual which gives an insight into the South Indian culture.
Aarattu is a word that is majorly used for the holy bath. This eminent festival of Kerala has been named so because, during this ritual, people bathe the idol of Lord Padmanabha in a Holy Kund (pond) in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple's premises.
The devotion with which this ritual is carried and the elegance and ceremonial preparations behind it make up for an unmissable sight.
Major Attractions of Aarattu Festival 2024
1. A Treasure Trove of Indian Culture. Aarattu is an amazing ritual that celebrates Kerala as a cultural extravaganza in its full glory. When it comes to Indian history, legends and myths; South India is not less than a treasure trove. Time and again, the southern regions have played a vital role and have been a part of many many interesting folklores in India that make Bharat what it is - a nice blend of incredible nuances all mixed together.
2. The Ceremonial Procession. On the occasion of this ritual, the idol of Lord Padmanabha is given a holy bath. The whole process is a special sight. These idols are taken in a ceremonial procession to the beach by the Travancore royal family. After the bath, a proper puja is also conducted. During the procession, devotees can be seen dancing and beating drums. There are many decorated elephants as well. The celebrations continue till the night time when the colorful lamps make a very vivid scene under the starlit sky. And amid all this, the perpetual smile on the face of devotees makes this ritualistic Indian festival a success and worth discovering. The blend of all these activities is a very interesting spectacle to witness.
3. Celebrations at Sree Krishnaswamy Temple. Did you know that these celebrations are also held at the Sree Krishnaswamy Temple? It is located at the Ambalapuzha district of Kerala. Here the ceremonies start with a flag hoisting ceremony. After this ceremony, Gods are given a sacred bath.
How to Reach
Thiruvananthapuram is an amazing city in Kerala. For tourists, it is a great place to experience a part of India in its truest form. The city is located at a distance of 2,901, 732, 1,722, 2,451 km from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata respectively. Let’s see how you can get there.
By Air. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) was established in 1932. This airport primarily serves this city and its neighboring cities as well. It is the fifth international airport of India declared by the Prime Minister of our country.
After Kochi, it is considered as the second busiest airport here. And the 14th busiest airport in all of India. It has two terminals - the first terminal operates domestic traffic and the other one is responsible for handling international operations mainly. After deboarding at the airport, you will need to travel 5 km by some means of public transportation.
Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Kochi
By Train. There are many railway stations located in Thiruvananathapuram. Thus, depending upon your location you can choose from any of the train stations. However, your best option would be to deboard at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. The best part is that this station is located at just a 2 km distance from the temple.
It is considered as the largest train stations in Kerala. This railway station sees a lot of passenger movements and is also a reliable source of revenue generation for the authorities. It is interesting to know that the building of this railway station is an important landmark around the area.
Here is how you can reach here by the train networks.
- Delhi - Board Trivandrum Rajdhani Express from Hazrat Nizammudin Railway Station and deboard at the Trivandrum Station
- Madurai - Board Punalur Pass from Madurai Junction and deboard at the Trivandrum Central
- Coimbatore - Board Vivek Express from Coimbatore Junction and deboard at the Trivandrum Central
- Hyderabad - Board Sabari Express from Secunderabad Junction and deboard at the Trivandrum Central
- Chennai - Board Anantapuri Express from Chennai Egmore and deboard at the Trivandrum Central
By Road. Depending upon your location, you can also travel here by road as well. You can either travel by your own vehicle, cab or even a bus.
Depending upon the budget a person can choose between the luxury, regular and sleeper coach buses. From Madurai, the bus fares start from Rs.600. From Kochi, the bus fares start from Rs.400. From Mangalore, the bus fares start from Rs.1,000. From Coimbatore, the bus fares start from Rs.500
Here is how you can reach here by the following routes
- Coimbatore - 385 km via NH66 or NH544
- Ooty - 469 km via NH44
- Kannur - 485 km via NH66
- Mysuru - 671 km via NH44
- Puducherry - 641 km via NH38 or NH44
- Anantapur - 736 km via NH38 or NH44
- Hubli - 1,114 km via NH44 or NH67
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
