Parayakadavu/Amritapuri

Parayakadavu (now partially known as Amritapuri) is a coastal village in Alapadu Panchayathu, Kollam District. It is situated on a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Arabian Sea a few species of ham and the TS Canal.

Alapadu Panchayathu is approximately 16 km long and its narrowest point is as thin as 33 meters.In that Parakadavu is the smallest village in these 16km.

In Parayakadavu the most famous things are "Sree Ponnabhagavathy Maha Shetram" & "Matha Amritanandamayi Math". Both are the Famous pilgrimage center's in Parayakadavu ..

Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram is situated in Parayakadavu. It is also the International Headquarters of Mata Amritanandamayi Math. It is located 29 km away from Kollam City, and about 110 km north of Thiruvananthapuram and 120 km south of Cochin. Amritapuri is also the name by which the location of the ashram is now known.

Even though the place is named Parayakadavu meaning "The pier of the Pariah", the majority of the community of Parayakadavu belong to the Arayan caste which is not known to be related genealogically to the Pariahs.