Kottayam Welcomes All Tourists with Its Wonderful Attractions

Kottayam is a central district in Kerala which lies almost in the middle of the stretch of the State from North to South. The city of Kottayam is an important trading centre for spices and commercial items like rubber. Besides the bustling commerce, the place is also a good spot for tourists with its regional scenic landscapes, bird sanctuaries, temples, backwaters and other attractions.

Kottayam is a unique place in Kerala with all types of land orders low, middle and high. The best time to visit the place is during autumn or spring. During both this season Kottayam is at its best. Travelling during this time is very comfortable for light weather conditions and pleasant climate.

How to Reach Kottayam?

Kottayam has not airport. The nearest airport is at Cochin (Kochi) which is just 76 kilometres from the city. You can take road route via National Highway 47 which connects Kochi and Kollam via Kottayam. The place is well connected by railway lines to other cities and major places of interest in Kerala. Being land of backwaters you can expect wonderful water routes to Kottayam from Kollam, Cochin and other nearby towns and cities.

Things You Must Not Miss

Peermed: This is a wonderful hill resort situated at an altitude of 1066 meters. The hill resort is a wonderful tourist attraction because it provides memorable experience of a scenic beauty of Kerala and its wild life.

Thirunakkara Shiva Temple: A famous Shiva temple in Kottayam. The store house of typical Kerala cultures and traditions of Hindu beliefs draw millions of tourists and pilgrims to this temple every year. The walls of temples are painted very beautifully with images of deities and traditional activities of Kerala. Phalguna Utsav is a much celebrated event in the month of March which is a wonderful experience in this place of worship and devotion.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: The bird sanctuary is spread across 14 acres of land. The bird sanctuary is the heaven for migratory birds. Visit the place to witness some wonderful birds like egrets, teals, herons, darters, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild ducks, migratory birds like Siberian stork and others. The best way to watch the birds is to take a boat trip on canoe through the quiet and still water. It will take just 2 hours to go round about the islet.

Vembanad Lake: This is a fast developing tourist spot in Kottayam. The lake which is 83 km in length and 15 km in width has traditional House Boats, Cruise Boats with gracious facilities of toilets, kitchens and bathrooms and others. The House boats move around the lake most of the time providing visitors ample freedom to enjoy the lake at any hour.

Churches: Kottayam has some famous old Churches in its must see list. The Churches were building by different missionaries and sources and today they are wonderful spots for tourists. The St Mary's Church, St Joseph's Monastery and St Mary's Orthodox Church are few important Churches of Kottayam which are worth visiting.

Accommodation: Being a tourist spot, there is no hassle in accommodation in Kottayam. You can easily find comfortable and affordable accommodations in boathouse, resorts and common luxurious hotels. If you wish to spend your holidays in luxurious houseboats you should book one in advance to avoid last minute hassles.