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Bordered by the lofty western ghats on the east and the Vembanad lake and the paddy field of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, extensive rubber plantations and a totally literate people have given this district the title the land of letters, latex and lakes.
Kottayam has been a center of Syrian Christian of Kerala and has many of their ancient churches, some of which contain excellent frescoes. This is also the nearest railhead to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on Trivandrum - Cochin line.
General information
Altitude:
Sea level
Rainfall:
176 cm
Best Season: October to March
Temperature: Summer : 35 Deg 22.5 Deg
Winter : 32 Deg 22 Deg
STD Code:
0481
How to get there
Air
Nearest Airport is Cochin 76 km.
Rail
Kottayam is well connected by rail with other cities in India.
Road
Kottayam is connected by road with all important cities in South India. It is 76 km from Cochin, 248 km from Madurai, 267 km from Kanyakumari, 114 km from Thekkady, 180 km from Trivandrum.
In and around
Kumarakam bird sanctuary
Kumarakam bird sanctuary 12 km away from Kottayam, on the banks of Vembanad Lake, an ideal place for backwater cruise. The sanctuary sprawls over 14 acres. A cruise along the Vembanad lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary.
Valiya Pally
Valiya Pally, St. Mary's church said to have been built in 1515, is famous for the Persian cross and Phalvi inscriptions.
Cherivypally
Cherivypally St. Mary's Church houses exquisite murals and paintings of Biblical themes.
Thirunakkara Shiva Temple
Thirunakkara Shiva Temple is built in Kerala style. The dancing hall is one of the best in the state and there is a wealth of paintings on the walls. The main festival, Phalguna Utsav is celebrated in March.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary, now one of the 16 project Tiger Reserve in India, is an interesting example of how development need not be incompatible with the requirements of wildlife. Periyar has become one of the most picturesque wildlife sanctuaries in the world and is enjoyed by over 150,000 tourists every year. The black stumps still to be seen jutting out of the water, which are an eerie and wonderful sight in the early winter mornings as the mist rises, are the only remains of the richly vegetated valley.
A typical sight in Periyar are the darters and cormorants which bask on the remnant poles of the submerged forest. The depth of the lake excludes wading birds but offers splendid opportunities for anglers such as ospreys, kingfishers and kites. Both the great hornbill and the grey hornbill can be easily seen in Periyar.
Other wildlife include: Sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, nilgiri tahr, monitor lizard, pythons, king cobra, flying lizard, flying snake, flying frog, wild dog, dhole, porcupines, lion tailed macaque, nilgiri langur, common langur, Malabar squirrel, flying squrrel, tiger etc. can be sited in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
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