Maniyar is a beautiful village situated on the Pathanamthitta-Gavi route. Not many visits here though it is on the way to Gavi; only 2% of the visitors to Gavi are said to visit Maniyar. Usually the Gavi trip is done through Pathanamthitta - Vadaserikkara- Perunad – Angamuzhy route (98km). But if you go forward another 8km instead of turning left from Vadaserikkara, you will reach Maniyar. From here you can continue your journey to Gavi via Maniyar – Angamuzhy – Gavi route (102km). Usually a trip to Gavi takes you through5 dam sites but if you go via Maniyar, you can see 7 dams. The Maniyar dam was commissioned in the year 1971 as a project to store water from the Sabarigiri dam project. Operated by the Pampa Irrigation Project, it uses water for irrigational purpose and the remaining water is used to produce hydroelectric power. This is also the first private project to produce electricity and is operated by Carborundum Universal Limited. There is no entry fee for this dam. The visitors can also drop in at the nearby AVT rubber factory and get to know how rubber is processed to make the products here. A visit to Maniyar during rainy season is something to look forward to. The visitors can swim and take a bath in the wild stream here without any fear. It is also a safe place to enjoy your holidays with your family. There is also a children’s park nearby. After spending some good times at Maniyar, you can move on to the next dam (Ayyappa Hydro-electric Project) which lies just 2km away from here. Another 12-km journey and you will reach Chittar and then move on to Gavi. If you can plan an extra hour, your journey to Gavi via Maniyar is going to be an unforgettable experience.
