Kottayam Tourism

Kottayam Tourism Culturally rich and naturally enchanting, Kottayam is a destination in Kerala offering a complete package for a perfect vacation. It is an ancient town located on a hilltop bordered with tantalizing Western Ghats on east and green paddy fields and thrillingVembanadLake on the west. Apart from the nature's bounty, the town has many laurels to its name. It is a proud town to achieve 100% literacy in India for the first time. Also being the land of several publishing houses and print media, Kottayam is also tagged as the 'Akshara Nagari' meaning 'City of letters'. The city is also a significant commercial hub for spices and crops especially rubber. One will see acres of well kept plantation of rubber all across the town. Other than its commercial importance, Kottayam is also dotted with plethora of ancient and fascinating shrines all narrating a story of their own. With mesmerizing landscape and verdant fields are sure to lure you back to this place. Download Kottayam PDF Guide > What's Great? Incredibly picturesque. Calm. Beautiful. Mesmerising. The Western Ghats on one side and Vembanad lake on the other. Panoramic backwaters. Very kind and welcoming people. What's not so Great? Can be crowded during peak seasons. Hotel price surge during peak seasons. For Whom Kottayam is an ideal destination for everybody, and everyone will be mesmerized by its beauty equally. It is a perfect place to sit back and relax and to avoid the daily chaos of life. Its greenery and beauty will live you spellbound.

History of Kottayam The city of Kottayam was a part of the ancient kingdom of Thekkumkur since the 9th century, who established trade relations with the Europeans in spices and other condiments. King Marthanda Varma of Travancore defeated the Thekkumkur rulers, and the state was then annexed as a part of the princely state of Travancore in 1750 and remained a part of it throughout the British rule period. Kottayam also played an instrumental role in several political agitations such as the Malayali Memorial agitation for better representation of Malayalis in their civil service and the Abstention Movement for representation of the Hindu lower castes in the legislature. In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched a satyagraha against untouchability in Vaikom, near Kottayam. Etymology The name Kottayam has it roots from the Malayalam words Kotta which means fort and akam, meaning the inside - thus the interior of the fort, or Kottaykkakam. The ancient rulers of Kottayam, the Thekkumkurs, had a fort called Thaliyilkotta for their protection in the town, which is believed to have inspired the name. Backwaters of Kottayam The backwaters of Kottayam are a popular tourist attraction. A tour of the backwaters provides a breathtaking view of the 1500 acres of richly fertile land interspersed with coconut and paddy trees, which is used for agriculture by the local population. A unique feature of the Kottayam backwaters is that agriculture is practised below sea level here. The beautiful lakes of Vembanad and Punnamada in this region are famous tourist hotspots.

One Day Itinerary Kottayam can be explored in one day, but you'll have to rush, or you will miss out on some places. It is better if you stay for two full days. Day 1: You can start your 1st day by visiting the Kumarakom bird sanctuary early in the morning. It is 13 km from the city, and you can opt for an early morning safari. From there you can come back to the city and watch the numerous temples that the town is dotted with, like the Thirunakkara Mahadev Temple and Vaikom Mahadev Temple. You can visit Elaveezhalpoonchira in the evening to experience a sunset that will remain with you forever. You can shop in the local markets for some beautiful sarees in the evening and also don't forget to try to local Kerala cuisine. Day 2:  On the next day, you can go for a backwater cruise in the morning and follow it up with a visit to the Marmala Waterfalls and Vembanad Lake. In the evening you can visit the Parel Syro Church and the Thazhathangady Juma Masjid.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kottayam People of Kottayam are extremely fond of their food and thus you will find restaurants and cafes almost everywhere in the town. However, make sure you stick to the traditional Kerala food which is quite delicious. South Indian vegetarian food is also available almost everywhere is obviously lip smacking. However, try and avoid North Indian, Chinese or Continental food as it may not favor your taste buds.Also if you religion oriented make sure you specify the non-vegetarian dish you order as beef is quite commonly prevalent in Kottayam. View 5 Restaurants in Kottayam >>

Sep-Febis the best time to visit Kottayam Kottayam experiences tropical climatic conditions with hot and humid summers. The monsoon season extending from June to September receives heavy rainfall. The period from September to February i.e. winters brings with it a cool breeze to the region thus making it the best time to explore the town. Weather in Kottayam Loading... Kottayam in Summer (March-June) Summers in Kottayam start from March and last until June. The season is sweltering with the temperature ranging between 22 and 39 degrees Celcius, and it is better to avoid the city at this time of the year. Kottayam in Monsoon (July-September) From July to September, the monsoon season prevails in this beautiful town of Kerala. The place gets plenty of rain during this season. The rain can hinder your plans, and you don't want to stay indoors. Kottayam in Winter (October-March) Winters in Kottayam lasts from October to February. The weather is pleasant in the evenings and night and warm in the day. During this time, nature showers its best in the city making it the perfect time to visit Kottayam. Monthly Weather in Kottayam Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 23 32 February 23 33 March 25 34 April 27 36 May 26 35 June 25 33 July 25 32 August 25 33 September 25 32 October 25 33 November 24 31 December 23 31