Kottayam

Kottayam is one of the larger towns in Kerala, south India. It is near to Kochi. The city is India's first 100% literate city, also known as Letter Capital of Kerala, due to headquarters of more than a dozen publishing houses and newspaper companies as well as several famous colleges and university. The city is one of the strongest centers of Kerala's indigenous Church, the Malankara Orthodox Church, a major non-Catholic church.

Mural at Thirunakkara Grounds, Kottayam

Understand

Kottayam is a town in south-central Kerala, sandwiched between the Vembanad Lake and the Kerala hill-country. Best known as a hub of trade and commerce, Kottayam is also a centre for education and literature, and as a centre of Kerala's large Christian population.

The lingua franca in Kottayam is Malayalam, the official language of the state of Kerala. Travellers should not face much difficulty in getting by with English, as the language is widely understood, at least at a rudimentary level. Most sign-boards above shops are in English as well. On the other hand, conversing with the locals in Hindi, India's national language, is a far more difficult task and is best avoided.

Get in

By plane

Kochi International Airport (Cochin) 93 km away, is the nearest airport. The airport has flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Tiruvananthapuram, Agatti, Mangalore, Goa, Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and international airports in the Middle East. The airport is served by Go Air, IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Srilankan Airlines, Silk Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Oman Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Traveller, Etihad Airlines, Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways, Bahrain Air and Air Asia. From the airport, it is possible to reach Kottayam either by road (buses and taxis are available, and recommended for convenience) or by rail via railway stations at either Angamali (the closest to the airport, but very few trains stop here), Ernakulam Junction or Ernakulam Town.

Alternatively Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) airport, 152 km away, can be used as an entry point, followed by road or rail travel to Kottayam. In addition to the destinations listed for Kochi International Airport, flights to Male in the Maldives are available from here. Other options are Kozhikode (Calicut), Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Mumbai airports and further travel to Kottayam by road or rail.

By train

Kottayam offers long-distance trains. The town is linked to most major cities in India by trains, categorized as being either express or non-express. Short-haul trains also pass through Kottayam, connecting it to most cities and towns in Kerala.

By bus

Buses connect Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Coimbatore to Kottayam. The quality of buses varies significantly. Seats on comfortable, safe and air-conditioned buses that ply on long-distance routes cost more.

• KSRTC Kottayam

By road

Roads connect Kottayam to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha (Alleppey), Chennai, Kannur, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Bangalore, and Coimbatore.

By boat

Frequent ferries (run by the Kerala State Water Transport Corporation) from Alappuzha (Alleppey) run throughout the day. Plying through the backwaters, it takes approximately two hours to reach Kottayam. This is the cheapest mode of travel in the state, though not nearly the fastest.

Get around

• Bus - Kottayam has a comprehenhsive local bus system which is inexpensive. Be warned, however, buses can become extremely crowded during rush hour.
• Autorickshaw - This is another inexpensive way of getting between places in town, and is recommended if you're weary of travelling by a crowded bus. As is the case with most of the rest of India, drivers may try cheat the unsuspecting traveller. Official rates are ₹12 for the first kilometre and ₹6 for every additional kilometre, though the rate increases at night.
• Taxi - Local taxis are also available, though they are considerably more expensive than autorickshaws. There are taxi stands at the District Collectorate, and at the District Hospital.
• Car - There are many car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive. Don't attempt to drive in Kerala unless you are comfortable with traffic conditions and have very good reflexes.
• Walk - Kottayam is a small town, and it is possible to cover the town on foot. A wise strategy would be to walk around downtown Kottayam during rush hour. Traffic jams during rush hour are very common, and your feet will get you where you want to go much faster.

See

• 🌍 Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls (18 km from Kottayam town, near Pallikathodu).  
• 🌍 Elaveezha Poonchira (Valley where leaves do not fall) (Near Melukavu Mattom, 60 km from Kottayam). A hill station with large hills around 3,200 ft (980 m) high. Beautiful hillocks named Mankunnu, Kudayathoormala, Thonippara and Poonchira are here. A pool here is remembered in local folklore as a bathing place used by Panchali, the legendary heroine of the Mahabharata. 

Erumeli Temple

• 🌍 Erumely. Important pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Muslims. 
• 🌍 Ettumanoor (15 km from Kottayam). Famous for having an ancient Shiva temple. Wall paintings in the temple are thousands of years old. The temple is also famous for its seven and a half golden elephants, a sequence of seven large and one small statues of elephants. 
• 🌍 Kumarakom (14 km west of Kottayam, in Kuttanad). The place is famous for its bird sanctuary, house boats, backwaters, canals and the bungalow of Henry Baker (now run as part of a resort managed by the Taj group of hotels). 
• 🌍 Manarcaud. St. Mary's Shrine here attracts people of all faiths. Various kinds of offerings are made here devotees. 
• 🌍 Pathiramanal Island (Midnight sands) (In the middle of the Vembanad Lake). This is a small white sand island. It gets its name from the brilliant reflection of moonlight from the sand. 
• 🌍 Poonjar Palace (In Meenachil taluk). The Palace of Poonjar Royal family, one of major principalities of Travancore Kingdom, was home of one of Kerala's famous prince, Prince G.V. Raja. This building is famous for its collection of antiques, exquisite furniture, chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel boxes, a variety of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (Shiva as Lord of the Dance), grain measures, statues and weapons. 
• 🌍 St. Mary's Church (Known as Cheria Palli (the Little Church)). Belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church was built in 1579 by the Raja of Thekkumkur for his Christian subjects. The interior murals, painted using vegetable dyes, depict Biblical themes. 
• 🌍 St.Mary's Forane Church (Kuravilingadu, 22km from Kottayam). One of the oldest churches of Kerala is the St Mary’s Church Kuravilingadu, which was supposed to have been established in 105 AD. It is believed that Mother Mary's first appearance in the world, was in Kuravilingadu. Our Lady appeared to a few children at Kuravilingadu, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Mary asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported this matter to the elders and a church was built there. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary kept at the side altar is unique. It is carved from granite and it is believed that it was brought from North India. This is a miraculous statue and the devotees call this statue "Kuravilingadu Muthiyamma". The granite cross in a single block of 48 feet in front of the church was erected around 1597. The devotes offer coconut oil in the lamps at the foot of the cross. On first Fridays devotees stand in queue from early morning to late in the evening to offer oil. There is an ancient bell with the engraving in Syriac "Mother of God". Three bells were brought from Germany in 1911. There is a "perpetual" spring, believed to be miraculous. Moonnu Nompu" is the main feast of the church. 
• 🌍 Thazhathangady Juma Masjid (on the banks of Meenachil River). One of the oldest mosques in India and is more than 1000 years old. The mosque is famous for its richness of architecture, wood carvings and the beauty. This mosque is situated on the banks of the Meenachil river. Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is also called as the “Taj Juma Masjid”. The ancestors of this Masjid came and settled in Kottayam, from different parts of Kerala. The Muslims who lived here played an active role in Freedom Struggle and other National Movements. 
• 🌍 Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple (At the heart of the town). A Shiva temple built in the Kerala style of temple architecture, and with interior murals depicting themes from the Hindu epics. It was built at the beginning of 16th century by the then Raja of Thekkumkur. The annual temple festival that culminates in a ceremony called the Aaraattu, attracts large number of devotees. 
• Vaikom Temple (40 km from Kottayam). Famous for its Shiva Temple. 
• 🌍 Vembanad Lake. 83.72 km length and 14.48 km width. Cruise boats, house boats and traditional cargo boats. 
• 🌍 Wagamon (64 km from Kottayam). Enchanting hill station at an elevation of 1100 m, with tea gardens and meadows. 

Do

• Annual Food Festival. Kottayam also has an annual food and flower show. These events are quite popular and are worth a visit, if you are in town when it happens. 
• Boat Races. Lots of boat races with traditional boats of different sizes - around 50 types - in the months of July, August and September during Onam. 
• Puthupally (St. George Orthodox Church). Puthuppally St. George Church is one of the oldest and renowned churches of Malankara Orthodox Church. The patron saint of this parish is St.George. It's by the side of coconut palms and a wide stretch of paddy fields, at a beautiful and serene village called Puthuppally which is about 8 km from Kottayam Town. This church is the refuge of thousands of people all over the world who seek the intercession of St.George. It is believed that this church was established as a shrine of Changanacherry Pally which in turn was a shrine of Niranam pally, one of the "Ezhara Pallis" consecrated by St.Thomas Theapostle of India. 

Buy

Eat

Meen Mulakittathu or spicy fish is a speciality of Kottayam restaurants.

There are many restaurants and cafes in Kottayam. What the town lacks, however, is variety. Local food is extensively available and is generally quite good, as is South Indian vegetarian food. Beyond this, food has been uniformly categorized by restaurants as being either North Indian, Chinese or Continental. Most dishes that go under the last two categories are imaginative concoctions that draw on the worst elements from various styles of cooking. In summary, stick to Kerala food in Kottayam. If you still insist on trying other things out, then head to the luxury resorts in Kumarakon near Kottayam, and pay absurd sums of money for a meal.

A large number of bakeries can be found in Kottayam. You can get freshly made bread and other snacks at these outlets. They are quiet popular and worth a visit.

A word of caution for the religiously inclined. Beef is easily available in Kottayam and is a staple in the people's diet. If you do not want to end up eating beef you will need to be wary of anything that says meat or beef on it. A meat roll would very likely have beef in it, for example. To be on the safe side, make your preference known explicitly.

• 🌍 Indian Coffee House, M.L.Road, ☎ [phone]. 7AM – 9PM. (updated May 2015)

Drink

Drinking in Kottayam is a fairly entertaining experience. Local pubs tend to be lively, but serve primarily a male clientele. The local beverage called Toddy, made from palm sap, is quite potent and not for the faint-hearted.

The retail sale of alcohol in Kottayam (as with the rest of Kerala) is a government monopoly, and liquor stores are often stocked with only the most popular varieties and labels. Wine is almost impossible to find, and getting popular international brands of anything from whiskey to beer is a bit hit-and-miss. The more upscale hotels do have bars where one can be certain of a reasonable ambiance and a well-stocked bar, while the smaller ones can appear quite dodgy.

Side-dishes/Touchings, the local terms for snacks consumed along with drinks, is also something to try out. These vary from chicken, fish, duck to various wild birds and are considered de rigueur for any true drinking experience.

Sleep

There are a number of hotels of varying quality in Kottayam. Since the town is not spread out, proximity to the down town area is not really a selling point. Most hotels are rated (or approximately equate to) Indian two and three stars. Nightly room rates average of ₹1,000-2,000, with seasonal increases around September (Onam) and December (Christmas, New Year's). An alternative to established hotels is to use the services of an ever-growing list of homestays and vacation apartment.

There is a large concentration of resorts run by large Indian and international hotel chains, as well as smaller boutique operators, at Kumarakom (14 km from Kottayam) on the Vembanad Lake, where rooms, cottages and houseboats aimed at deeper pockets are available. Expect to pay top dollar for resorts run by the likes of the Taj and Radisson. Vacation Apartments are becoming a much more affordable alternative in several parts of Kerala for tourism.

• 🌍 Anand Hotel, Eerayil Kadavu. (updated May 2015)
• Anjali Park Hotel, K. K. Road, ☎ [phone]. (updated May 2015)
• Aryaas Hotel, Post Office Road. (updated May 2015)
• 🌍 Orchid Residency, Pulimood Jn, Kottayam 686001, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Budget. 
• Railway Retirement Room (inside the railway station). ₹200. (updated May 2015)
• Sakthi Hotel, Baker Hill, ☎ [phone]. (updated May 2015)

Go next