Pathiramanal Island is an important tourist location of Alappuzha district. The name `Pathiramanal` means `Sands of night`. The island is located in the Vembanad Lake. The scenic beauty of Pathiramanal Island is awesome for the tourists. Pathiramanal Island is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.
Pathiramanal Island is measured about 28.505 hectares. Pathiramanal Island is about 1.5 km from Muhamma boat jetty and about 13 kilometres from Alapuzha. From the jetty close by Baker Bungalow the distance to Pathiramanal Island is about 5 kilometres and from Kumarakom 4 kilometres towards northwest. The length of the Pathiramanal Island is about 550 meters and the width of Pathiramanal Island is 450 kilometres. The perimeter is about 1800 meters.
Pathiramanal Island which is also known as Anantha Padmanabhan Thoppu was purchased by Chevalier ACM Anthraper, from M/s Bheemji Devji Trust of Cochin and was under the private ownership until the late seventies. In 1979 after Land Reforms Acts were enforced in Kerala, the property came under state government ownership.
Pathiramanal Island was returned to the government as a surplus land that crossed the land ceiling. It was later transferred to the Tourism Department of Kerala and the idea of leasing it out to private enterprises was under consideration. The island at present is uninhabited.
Pathiramanal Island is the paradise for birdwatchers. It is the dwelling place of around 91 local species of birds and 50 migratory birds. Pintail Ducks, Common Teal, Night Heron, Cormorant, Darter, Indian Shag, Purple Heron, gulls, terns, large egrets, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Watercock, Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Cormorant and Whiskered Tern are found in Pathiramanal Island.
The great scenic beauty of Pathiramanal Island, the wide water front, waving coconut palms, floating weeds and hyacinths, tiny birds building nests on weeds, birds swooping fishes are the common scenes in this place. This is not only the paradise for the birdwatchers but also it is the place for professional and amateur photographers. Pathiramanal Island is quite interesting place where the many varieties of rare herbs, shrubs and medicinal plants are seen among the dense foliage of this tiny island of South India.
