St. Mary's Church, Bharananganam

St. Mary's Church, Bharananganam, The mortal remains of the St. Alphonsa is entombed at this church which is now a famous pilgrim centre. Thousands gather at this holy shrine every year during the feast. Annual festival: Feast of the St. Alphonsa (July).Bharananganam known as Lisieux of India after the birthplace of St. Theresa of Lisieux in France, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. The thousand year old St. Mary's Church here is one of the famous pilgrim centers of the Christians in Kerala. Also known as Anakkallu Palli, it is the place holding the mortal remains of St.Alphonsa.

Bharananganam had been a sleepy backwater of a village till it shot into fame in the 1950’s in the wake of the cult of St. Alphonsa. Perched between the High Ranges in the east and the flat coastal strips to the West, it has undulating terrain like every place in Kerala’s Midland. It is situated on the bank of the Meenachil River. The soil on either side of the river is remarkably fertile.