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60.5 Th. |
Kottayam, among the States more mountainous districts, provides some
of Keralas finest natural scenes sandwiched between serene
palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western ghats on the east.
Much of this beauty is laid out in all its glory along the road which
winds from Kottayam to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady
through plantations of rubber, tea, coffee and pepper.
Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India, thanks to
its strength as a producer of cash crops. Most of India's natural
rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam,
also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary
commodities board.
Kottayam came into limelight when it was declared the first fully
literate municipal town of India, an event that triggered a mass
movement to make Kerala the country�s only state to achieve total
literacy. Kottayam is also the birthplace of the state�s publishing
industry, and is home to a number of globally renowned newspapers and
magazines including Malayala Manorama (India�s largest circulated
daily), The Week, Mathrubhumi, and Deepika.
Major Attractions
Champakara (Ayurvedic
Centre)
18 kms from Kottayam is Champakara, which is an important Ayurvedic
Centre for 'Thirummuchikilsa'. Sreerangam CVN Kalari Chikilsa Kendram
attracts people from all over India and abroad.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
12 kms west of Kottayam town is this small village Kumarakom, which
has a beautiful bird sanctuary on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and
is an ideal place for backwater cruises. The 14-acre sanctuary is an
ornithologist's paradise and a favourite haunt of migratory birds like
Siberian stork, Egret darter, Heron and Teal. There are also different
varieties of local birds like waterfowl, wild duck, cuckoo, owl, water
ducketc. The sanctuary is open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and the best
months to bird watch are between June and August. Close to the
sanctuary, in the beautifully wooded ground near the backwaters, is
coconut lagoon heritage resort, which is one of India's most discrete
holiday destinations. Guests stay in genuine 'Tharawad' (traditional
wooden) cottages and love this unique culture.
Grampi hill station
The picturesque hill station of Grampi, situated 5 kms from Peerumade
is also known as the Parunthupara, meaning the eagle rock.
Ilaveezhapoonchira
Located at distance of 55 kms from Kottayam and 20 kms from Thodapuzha,
this is another picnic spot located in the midst of the beautiful
hillocks near Kanjar.
Pala and Kanjirapally (Rubber Plantations)
Nourished by the Meenachil and Aanimala rivers respectively, these two
places are centers of Rubber Plantations.
Kesari Waterfalls
The Kesari waterfalls, also known as Valanjamkanam falls, lies between
Kuttikanam and Murinjapuzha on the Kottayam-Kumaly route.
Valanjamkanam is a 3 hr. journey from Kottayam by any bus to Kumaly;
trek to Kuttikanan offers additional adventurous spirit and closeness
to nature.
Maramala Waterfalls
This lies a few kms away from Eerattupetta. It is exactly 7 kms from
Teekoy rubber estate. From here a private vehicle can take you further
2 kms after which the road is not motor able. To reach the falls one
has to trek through the estate over the rocky path. The waterfall is
about 60 metres in height, falling into a 12-meter deep pool and joins
the River Teekoy way down.
Chandragiri Cruises
This offers boat trips to the nearby islands and palm grove. The
boarding point is Chandragiri Bridge and nearby, is a mosque and also
the ancient Kizhur Sartha Temple.
Ayyampara
43 kms from Kottayam, this is a well known scenic spot of rocky
plains, where a 100 acres of flat rock makes a natural granite stadium
to enjoy the sunset and the view of the town below. It is a good place
for trekking.
Elaveezhapoonchira (mountains)
Elaveezhapoonchira, formed of imposing mountain ranges with rocky
cliffs is on the eastern periphery of Kottayam district. It is a
beautiful picnic spot, accessible from Pala, located in the middle of
hillocks. About 3000 feet above sea lever, the pristine beauty of
nature is preserved almost intact here. There is also a famous ancient
mosque at Thazhathanangady near Thalikotta Palace, which attracts many
devotees.
Koottickal
Situated in the western ghats, 5 kms north of Mundakayam in Kottayam
district, is Koottickal .The majesty of the mountain ranges combined
with the beauty of the forest and the artificial lake created by the
check dam of the River Manimala makes the spot linger in ones mind.
Amruthameda, which is famous for medicinal plants, is nearby.
Koottickal is well connected by roads to the main cities. The
waterfall at Vadakkemala, near Kootickal is another attraction.
Panchalimedu
Situated 7 kms from Muundakkayam - Kuttikanam stretch on the Kottayam
- Kumali road, lies Panchalimedu at an altitude of about 2500 feet
above sea level. A 3-hour trek from Valliankavu, also connected by bus
service from Kottayam. According to legends, the Pandavas had stayed
here and the pond beside a small temple is where Panchali, their wife
is said to have had bath.
Wagamon (Trekker's Paradise)
Situated at an elevation of 1100 metres above sea level, Wagamon is
called the trekker's paradise because it is an ideal place for
trekking and a beautiful tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of
tea plantations, meadows, valleys and dales. It is about 60 km from
Kottayam. The other attraction of this place is Kurisumala, a
sky-scraping mountain with a small church on its peak. There is also a
monastery on this hill, called Kurisumala Ashramam, which has a small
community of ascetics who follow Christian faith but combines with it
the Indian spiritual traditions and Gandhian thoughts. People of all
faith are welcome to visit this place.
Vembanad Lake
16 kms from Kottayam town, is a vast network of rivers and canals,
which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vemanad Lake,
which is situated in Kumarakom village. The lake is an enchanting
picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourist destination. It
provides boating, fishing and sight seeing experiences that are truly
exhilarating. The Kumarakom tourist village also offers houseboat
cruises and holiday packages.
Distance
from major cities
Cochin |
106 Kms |
Calicut |
292 Kms |
Trivandrum |
155 Kms |
How to reach there
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Cochin Airport is the nearest airport
just 76 kms from kottayam. |
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Kottayam Railway Station is well
connected with all nearby states & major cities of Kerala. |
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Kottayam is connected to all major
cities with wide network of roads. |
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