Attractions in Kottayam District.

Kottayam

Kottayam is the land of Letters, Lakes and Latex. There are a lot of interesting places and much to do for a tourist in this beautiful land.

In and around Kottayam Town .......

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home for a lot of migratory birds including the Siberian Stork. This 14 acre natural forest is 14 Kms away from the town.

"Pathiramanal" the uninhabited Island with untamed vegetation, can be reached by boat in 10 minutes from Kumarakom..

The ‘Thirunakkara Mahadevar Temple’ at Kottayam is 2 Kms. away.The ‘Ettumanoor Siva Temple’ at a small hamlet 12 kms away depicts antique stone and wood carving along with beautiful murals.

Kudamalloor Devi Temple is famous for its architecture as well as its beautiful murals.

Kottayam Cheriyapalli; an old church bult around 5 centuries ago and a major tourist attraction is only 2 Kms away.

Kottayam Valiyapalli; another old church is also worth seeing.

Meenachil River :

Kottayam Town is situated on the banks of Meenachil River, made famous by Arundhati Roy in her masterpiece "God Of Small Things".

It is also very near to 'Parippu'; a typical Kerala Village with vast streches of paddy fields.

The C.M.S Press, the first Malayalam printing press in Kerala which was built in 1821 by the C.M.S Missionary from England, Benjamin Bailey, and the first college in Kerala, the C.M.S College, bult in the year 1840, are in Kottayam Town.

What to do ...............

A boat cruise from Kottayam to Kumarakom through the Meenachil river and the various canals via Thazhathangady or from Kottayam Boat Jetty through the vast paddy fields is a beautiful and rare experience.

KUMARAKOM

The land of lakes, canals and paddy fields, Kumarakom transports you to sheer ecstasy. Located just 10 kms. away from the town of Kottayam, this vibrant place on the eastern banks of' the Vembanad backwater lake offers you a breathtaking view of nature at its purest, most untarnished state.

Spanning 900sq kms., the Vembanadu lake is an abundant fish reserve. The locally evolved technique of country fishing is an interesting spectacle. Kumarakom is the only place which practices manual mining of substantial shell reserves from the lake bottom for manufacturing cement. The local population still clings on to traditions and prefers to live adhering to their old ways. 70% of the people live-off the backwater lake. The interwoven canals connect almost all the population with the massive lake.

The bird sanctuary houses migratory birds including the Siberian Storks which stays at Kumarakom till the winter is over. Pathiramanal, a natural uninhabited island in the Vembanad backwater lake just across Kumarakom, is the home of a lot of rare birds.

Houseboats are another unique product you see in abundance at Kumarakom. These are huge country boats converted into floating living quarters with all modern facilities.

Pala ...........

Pala is situated around 22 Kms from Kottayam Town.

Vagamon

It is a very ideal tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, deep puzzling valleys and dales.   The enchanting hill station dotted with tea gardens will soon be one of India's foremost eco-tourism projects.

Vagamon 64 kms. from Kottayam situated at an elevation of 1100 metres above sea level is a trekker's paradise. 

The breeding centre of the Kerala Live stock board is located here.

Other Attractions in and around Pala are Ayyampara, Poonjar Palace, Numerous Plantations, a typical Kerala village etc.

Iellaveezhapoonchira is a fast developing trekkers paradise.

Rubber plantations of Mundakayam is an amazing experience to behold.

Restaurants of Kottayam

Kottayam Main Page ...