Located on a cliff by the Varkala beach is the famous Janardhana Swamy Temple. Pilgrims are also attracted by the natural mineral spring on the rocks cliffs on the Papanasini beach here. An annual event of the village of Anandhapalli in Pathanamthitta district, the Maramadi harvest festival is conducted on a huge stretch of freshly ploughed paddy fields or kandams which form the 'stadium' for the race. A pair of oxen managed by three persons on a plough form a participating unit. 400 such units participate in the race which starts at noon and continues up to dusk.
Excited villagers crowd around the 'stadium' to cheer the participants.
Chengannur, about 20 km. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 92 km. News from Kerala Tourism Jumbo jets to be operated from CIAL Air India will operate Boeing 747 - Jumbo jets for the first time in Kerala from the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbasserry from June 21. The airport has already found a place in aviation history by being the first new airport in the country to begin commercial operations with an international flight. Air India's largest aircraft, Boeing 747 is capable of carrying 400 persons and 22 tonnes of cargo, and has a non-stop flight range from Kochi to London without any technical halt.