Travelogue | Thiruvattar Aruvikkarai

On the visit of our relative’s house, one evening we went to a temple, which was Aruvikkarai Bhahavathy Temple (Malayalam: തിരുവട്ടാര്‍ അരുവിക്കര, Tamil: திருவட்டார் அருவிக்கரை).  It is between the places Thiruvattar and Mathoor.  Till we reached the temple, we were no any idea about the temple or the place.  When we reached the place, what to say?   Really we excited.  What a wonderful place it was!  Either we didn’t plan this trip; we would have missed this wonderful place.  Because it was a small village and not much popular area, only because of the temple people used to visit here, that too local people. 

First we went to the temple.  It was an old temple. Here they worship the Godess Bhagavathy Amman and Saptha Kanyakamar (Seven ).  The temple located down from the land level and it’s on the rocks and it was encircled with walls.  We went inside the temple and prayed the God few minutes and came around the temple.  That time we saw a stone in a different shape.  We asked the temple priest about it.  He told that, in olden days people used to scratch the sandalwoods here to make sandal.  Now the sandal is getting readymade.  He was telling that olden days scratching were a very good exercise for their body. 

temple entrance

stone used for scratch sandalwood

Then we saw a door on the walls and it was closed. We requested the sweeper to open the door.  Happily she opened the door.    When she opened the door we saw the real treasure of that place.  Wow, amazing!  What a beautiful place!  Just a minute we became stilled.   Because we saw a scene that a river was flowing, jumping, dancing over the rocks.  Really it was a great treat for our eyes.  We stood more time there and took some beautiful photos also.  By thanking the sweeper and temple priest we came out from the temple.

Outside we saw few more temples, which were connected with the Bhagavathy Temple.  We went to those temples also.

Lord Ganesh temple

Nagaraja temple

Then the sweeper itself told us that if we go to the other side of the temple you can take more scenes and can take more beautiful photos also.  According to her instruction, we went the other side of the temple.  Oh!  Really, really it was a surprise.

By the side there was a channel, which took water from the river and distribute to other places of the village and also hydraulic system was made in the river.  

There is a check dam across the river Paraliyar.  Water was flowing over the check dam to the rocks like a waterfall.  Since it was summer season, the water level was very less in the river.  So the people were using the check dam to move edge to other edge.  When the water level increases in the river people cannot walk through the check dam.  Many houses were locating both the sides of the river and people were using the check dam were taking bath in the river itself.   

Many different kinds of small fishes were swimming in the water between the rocks.  So it’s quiet common that a crane was standing there for catching the fishes.

When we return from the aruvikkarai temple we saw another old temple with out any protection.  We went there also.  

Really the unknown Aruvikkarai was very great and beautiful place to visit.  So we are happy that to introduce a new tourist area.  We have the plan to visit the place once again.

Location

Aruvikkarai, near Mathoor, Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, INDIA

How to reach

Trivandrum: Trivandrum-Marthandam-Thiruvattar-Thiruvattar Kangrai jn-Aruvikkarai  47km

Nagercoil: Nagercoil-Thucklay-Azhakiyamandapam-Virkilambi-Thiruvattar-Thiruvattar Kangrai jn-Aruvikkarai 32km

Nearest

Railway Station: Kuzhithurai (Marthandam)

Bus Station: Thiruvattar

Airport: Trivandrum International Airport

Nearby Attractions

Mathoor Aqueduct, Thirparappu, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Chitharal Rock cut temple