Pathanamthitta’s pilgrim identity is not only Hindu. Along the same holy Pampa that carries devotees toward Aranmula and Sabarimala lie two of Kerala’s greatest Christian sites — Parumala Church and the Maramon Convention grounds — reminders that this is a district where sacred traditions have long shared a river.
Parumala Church
On the banks of the Pampa at Parumala, near Thiruvalla, stands the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, one of the most important pilgrimage centres of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is the mausoleum of Geevarghese Mar Gregorios — Parumala Thirumeni — who died in 1902 and became the first canonised Christian saint from India. His feast, the Parumala Perunnal, draws great crowds of pilgrims of all faiths each year.
The Maramon Convention
A little upriver, on the vast dry sandbed of the Pampa between Maramon and Kozhencherry, the Maramon Convention is held each February — a week-long Christian gathering organised by the Mar Thoma Church and reckoned the largest Christian convention in Asia. Enormous crowds gather on the riverbed for the sessions; when the meeting ends and the monsoon returns, the river reclaims the ground until the next year.
- Parumala Church is open to visitors year-round; the Parumala Perunnal feast (early November) is its biggest occasion.
- The Maramon Convention is held on the Pampa sandbed each February — expect very large crowds and plan travel accordingly.
- Both are active places of worship and pilgrimage — dress modestly and be respectful.
- They sit near Thiruvalla and Chengannur, easy to combine with Aranmula on a Pampa-valley day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Parumala Church known for?
It’s a major pilgrimage centre of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on the Pampa near Thiruvalla, and the mausoleum of St. Gregorios of Parumala (Parumala Thirumeni), who died in 1902 and was the first canonised Christian saint from India.
What is the Maramon Convention?
A week-long Christian gathering held each February on the dry sandbed of the Pampa river between Maramon and Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta, organised by the Mar Thoma Church and considered the largest Christian convention in Asia.
When is the Maramon Convention held?
Annually in February, on the Pampa riverbed. It draws very large crowds for its week of sessions before the ground is given back to the river later in the year.