Puthuppally: St. George Orthodox Church and Perunnal

Puthuppally is a clearly defined destination for a culture-focused trip: the annual Puthuppally Perunnal takes place at St. George Orthodox Church. The festival is also called the Feast of St. George. Its religious setting and procession give your travel plans a specific occasion.

Church and festival

St. George Orthodox Church, the venue for the Perunnal, is located on the east bank of the Kodoorar Rivulet. This identifies both a specific church and an annual festival in Puthuppally.

The Puthuppally Perunnal lasts two days and takes place in the Malayalam month of Medam, which falls between April and May. It is seen as a sign of religious solidarity: people take part regardless of caste or religious affiliation. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the specific festival dates for your chosen year before booking a hotel.

The procession includes the Ponkurisu, the church’s Golden Cross. It is carried only in the procession of the annual Perunnal. This makes it possible to distinguish the two-day festival as a whole from the cross associated with its procession, as separate elements of the same tradition.

The information answers two different questions for your scheduling: two days refers to the duration of the festival, while Medam refers to the recurring period between April and May. If you are planning your trip around the Perunnal, check the specific festival dates for your chosen year before booking.

Kottayam as a regional context

The wider destination of Kottayam also offers a distinct nature experience at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary covers 14 acres on the shores of Vembanad Lake. It is home to 91 native bird species and 50 migratory species. Houseboats and motorboats can be hired for birdwatching trips on the lake. Birdwatching and boat trips offer a different focus from the church festival in Puthuppally.

Another landscape attraction in the wider destination of Kottayam is Aruvikuzhy Waterfalls: they cascade down five tiers from a height of 100 feet and are suitable for trekking. St. Mary’s Church is located at the top of the waterfalls. The waterfall, trekking, and church bring landscape and culture together in a regional setting distinct from Puthuppally’s processional tradition.

Poonjar Palace is also part of the regional attractions of Kottayam. The palace in Kottayam district is 600 years old, served as the seat of the Kingdom of Poonjar, and is built primarily of wood in Kerala’s traditional architectural style, with royal influences. It was built by the Poonjar Rajas, an ancient dynasty connected to the royal family of Travancore. The museum displays antiques, rock-cut lamps, and sculptures from an earlier period. The palace can be explored along the Erattupetta–Pala route.

Discover more destinations: Kottayam, Anthiyalam, Anthinad, Muppaikad, Thiruvarpu, Kanjirappally, Manimala, Vazhappally West

Return to the main travel overview: Kottayam.