Pathanamthitta

By plane

Cochin International Airport (http://www.cochin-airport.in/) 142 km, or Thiruvananthapuram International airport at 113 km. Direct flights there from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka. An airport is planned at Aranmula, 55 kms from Sabarimala shrine, to connect temple town with other parts of India and seasonal international flight, expected to complete by 2014.

Alternatively reach major international gateway airports at Chennai Madras, Mumbai Bombay, New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.

By plane

Cochin Airport has started scheduled copter services from the Airport Helipad to Nilakkal Helipad, operated by Bharat Airways Helicopters.

By road

To reach Pathanamthitta by road:

Kochi

Alappuzha - Changanassery - Tiruvalla - Pathanamthitta

Thiruvananthapuram

Kottarakkara - Adoor - Kaipattoor - Pathanamthitta

Munnar / Thekkadi

Kanjirappally - Erumeli - Ranni - Pathanamthitta

Thenkasi

Punalur - Konni - Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta is well connected to other cities Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore through Kochi NH-17, Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore through Thrissur NH-47.

By bus

Both the state run KSRTC and private luxury bus operators connect Pathanamthitta from other cities. There are daily direct bus services from Mumbai, Chennai & Bangalore. Frequent buses are available from cities like Kottayam, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Mangalore & Madurai. KSRTC operates chain services during Mandala pilgrimage time and on every 1st and 2nd day of Malayalam Months to cater pilgrim crowds to Sabarimala. Karnataka STC and Tamil Nadu SETC also operates special services during pilgrimage season. But expect heavy congestion during pilgrimage season. Luxury buses also operate, though its not as common other non-A/c services.

By train

Pathanamthitta do not have any railway station inside the town. The nearest railway stations are Thiruvalla railway station is 30 km away and Chengannur railway station is 26 km away. During Sabarimala pilgrimage season, special trains ply connecting Chengannur and Thiruvalla from other parts of India. Special trains will carry images of Lord Ayyappa and marked as Sabarimala Special SS. A major Sabari-Rail line project is under construction, planned to create a Sabarimala temple railway station. Chengannur and Thiruvalla Rail stations are well connected with regular buses to Pathanamthitta, right from the arrival gate at every 2 minutes.