Kottayam is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Kerala, God’s Own Country. Kottayam is one of the most delightful places in India and one gets bedazzled by its beautiful backwaters, the panoramic view of the landscapes, vivid imageries of the sky at its famous Vembanad Lake, the tall Western Ghats and the ever alluring Arabian Sea. An ideal place to experience nature in full glory, Kottayam is a town that never fails to delight the traveller. Not only is this place embedded with the luxury of nature in its most diverse and splendid forms, but also, it has rich essence of culture and tradition. History:
Kottayam used to be an important commercial, culture and political center in Kerala. Right from the ancient times, Kottayam has been a very politically active state. It was in Kottayam that an epic struggle for eradication of the concept of untouchability took place during the British Raj in 1925. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore [Kottayam was a part of Travancore then] were denied not only entry into temples but also access to temple roads.
The maximum temperature here is 25 Degrees C and the minimum drops down to 17 Degrees C. The weather is pleasant like it is in the other parts of Kerala. The best time to visit Kottayam is anytime between October and March.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.
A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) is sufficient.
It is recommended to take a flight till Cochin, and from there, one can hire a vehicle or take a bus and drive towards Kottayam. The distance is 88 kms.
Domestic Flights
For domestic travelers, the airports at Cochin and Kozikhode serve as ideal.
International Flight:
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 88 Kilometers away from here.
Road Travel
If driving from Cochin, one will have to take National Highway Number 49 southwards to reach Kottayam. The distance is about 88 kms. A lot of State Highways are also connected and pass through Kottayam.
Train Travel
Since Kottayam is a major tourist place in Kerala and the most important cultural and educational districts, it is well connected by railways. The railway station of Kottayam is located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from the bus station. There are regular trains from major cities of Kerala.
Vembanad Lake: This is one of the most beautiful lakes in entire South India. This lake is huge in size, and you can see a lot of traditional cargo boats and some modified luxurious cruise boats and house boats. These boats grace the back waters.
Pathiramanal: This is a beautiful island located in the Vembanad Lake. It has a rich expanse of greenery that soothes the senses of the tourists from all over the world.
Kumarakom bird sanctuary: This bird sanctuary lies in the sleepy village of Kumarakon located on the coast of Vembanad Lake. It is home to many mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters that run through the dense forests. You can find a variety of migratory bird species here. A lot of types of house-boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching.
The Poonjar Palace: It is located in the Meenachil area of Kottayam. One can see collection of antiques and exquisite furniture which include a palanquin, beautiful chandeliers, jewel boxes, a variety of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (dancing Lord Siva ), and weapons.
Reflecting the religious make up of the population, Hindu temples and Christian churches dot the townscape. Notable among them are Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple and two churches known as Cheriya Palli and Valiya Palli and Thazhathangadi Muslim Palli(Juma Masjid).
During the festive months of August and September, the river and the back waters regale with celebration. The serene backwaters come alive during Onam with a spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races.
The ancient churches, and temples, and back waters remain open all year long for domestic and international tourists. However due to heavy rainfall, sometimes the boats may not be active in the backwaters and Vembanad Lake.
As it is a famous tourist attraction in Kerala, one can find a lot of accommodations. There are a lot of good, comfortable hotels in Kottayam and Vaikom as a large number of people love to visit this part of Kerala.
There are lot of local stalls and restaurants where one can relish the world famous South Indian cuisine and filter coffee. But because of the boom of the tourism industry, you can find a lot of luxurious hotels and restaurants in the district.
There is no night life in Kottayam but during the boat races and regular South Indian festivals, the place lights up and one can enjoy long nights filled with the vibrancy of culture, arts and entertainment..
· Idukki: It is a district in the state of Kerala. Idukki is known for the splendid green mountains, streams and spices. It is one of the main tourist destinations in Kerala with its hill stations, Devikulam and Munnar, surrounded by lush hills, tea plantations and valleys.
· The Thekkady Periyar Tiger Reserve is 104 Kilometers away, in the Idukki District. The drive from Kottayam till this district is full of picture postcard like sceneries and landscapes.
· Munnar: It is one of the most popular hill stations in India and located in the Western Ghats in South India. The name is often used to refer to the whole tourist area of Idukki District of which the town forms a part. The area is surrounded by vast jungles and beautiful mountains and has some amazing picturesque locales that are a delight for any photographer.
· Vaikom: This is situated on the western side of Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It shares its border with the Vembanad Lake. It is the oldest township in Kottayam district and amongst the oldest in Kerala. It is famous for its luxurious cruises in the backwaters.
· Wagamon: It is a hill station located in Kottayam-Idukki border of Kerala, India. Wagamon has a warm and friendly place with cool climate. A lot of European tourists come to spend their winter here as the temperature is always pleasant here: between 10 and 23 degree Celsius during summer. It is situated 1,100 meters above sea level.
Kottayam is a delight for any traveler. It is an ideal destination for people who look for a serene getaway, and even for the adventure seekers. Normal family outings can be savored in the backwaters over a luxury liner or a traditional house boat. You can also go and let your senses exhilarate amidst the scenic hill stations.
