Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Johnson K Varghese · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Parumala Church, formally St Peter and St Paul's Orthodox Church, stands on a river-island tract of the Pamba near Mannar in Pathanamthitta district, and belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. People travel here for the tomb of Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (1848-1902), known across Kerala simply as Parumala Thirumeni, who was declared a saint by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in 1947 and is generally described as the first person of Indian origin to be canonised. His mausoleum inside the church is the focus of the visit; alongside it the church keeps his deathbed, his Bible and vestments he used. The seminary he founded at Parumala, the first block of which was consecrated in 1887, still shares the riverside compound, and the older church buildings carry the sloping tiled roofs and woodwork of traditional Kerala building.
October to February is the comfortable stretch, when the monsoon has passed and the riverside compound is dry and mild. The great occasion is Parumala Perunnal, the feast marking St Gregorios's death anniversary on 2 November, with a procession and days of observance around it; it draws crowds from across Kerala and abroad and is genuinely packed, so elders who want a quiet visit at the tomb should come in the weeks before or after rather than on the feast days themselves.
The nearest railhead is Thiruvalla, about 11 km away on the Kerala main line, with Chengannur a similar short drive; both are well served by trains from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and beyond. By road the church sits close to Mannar junction on the Thiruvalla-Mavelikkara road, reached by KSRTC and private buses as well as taxis and own vehicles. For flights, Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is the usual arrival point, roughly 115-120 km to the north, with Thiruvananthapuram airport a broadly comparable distance to the south.
This is a working church and seminary, not a monument, so modest dress and quiet conduct at the tomb are expected, and services may be in progress when you arrive. Entry is open to visitors of all faiths. There is no long climb or trek, which makes it manageable for elders. If your visit depends on attending a particular service or on access during the Perunnal days, confirm directly with the church office before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Parumala Church in Parumala for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Who is Parumala Thirumeni and why is his tomb visited?
Parumala Thirumeni is the popular name of Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (1848-1902), a Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church who lived and taught at Parumala. He was canonised by his church in 1947 and is widely described as the first Indian-origin saint. Pilgrims come to his mausoleum inside the church to pray, and many visitors are not from the Orthodox Church at all.
Can non-Christians visit Parumala Church?
Yes. The church is open to visitors regardless of faith, and it is well known locally for the mixed crowd it draws. Dress modestly and keep quiet inside, particularly near the tomb and during services.
When is Parumala Perunnal and should we plan our yatra around it?
The feast is centred on 2 November, the saint's death anniversary, with observances and a procession over the surrounding days. It is the most atmospheric time to come but also by far the most crowded, with long waiting at the tomb. Families travelling with elders or small children often prefer a normal day in the October-February season. No agent or operator can arrange faster access at the tomb; the church manages its own arrangements.
Plan your Parumala Church yatra
Family & group yatras · Free expert callback
Enquiry received!
Our travel expert will call you back soon (during Mon–Sat · 9–6 IST).
Ref: —Couldn’t send right now
No problem — reach us instantly on WhatsApp or call and we’ll take your enquiry directly.