The Indian state of Kerala has enchanted the tourists for its city tour of Kottayam famous in the world for its exotic backwaters, scenic landscape, bird sanctuaries, temples and churches that leave the last long impression in the mind of tourists. It is because of its natural beauty, the city of Kottayam is also known as the land of letters because of the highest literacy in India, land of lakes and latex which is laying below the sea level. The famous Booker prize winning Book “God of Small Thing” is based on the theme of a village in Kottayam. The district of Kottayam is surrounded by Ernakulam district from its northern side, Idukki district from its eastern side, the districts of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta on its southern part.

Location:

Geographically, the city of Kottayam is located between latitude 9o 15' and 10o 21' and longitude 76o 22' and 77o 25'. Kottayam is famous for unique features of its land and location. It is surrounded by the lofty Western Ghats from the eastern side along with Idukki district, Vembanad Lake and the green paddy fields from its western side, the district of Ernakulam from its northern side and the districts of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta from its southern side. Because of its location, the city of Kottayam has become the commercial centre of Kerala.

Access:

The district of Kottayam is well connected by the roadways, railways and airways that make the flow of the tourists easy to this tourist destination of Kottayam. The brief descriptions of its access are as follows:
Air:Cochin Airport is the nearest airport from Kottayam which is located at a distance of 76 Km from Kottayam. Another airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) which is 160 Km away from the district of Kottayam.
Rail:The railway station of Kottayam is located just 2 Km away from the central bus station with a distance of 165 Kms from Kollam and 65 Kms from Ernakulam.
Road: The district of Kottayam is well connected by roadways with its two bus stations of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus station on T.B. Road and a Private Bus Stand near the railway station.

History:

The word “Kottayam” is derived from the two words of Malayalam “Kotta” which means “fort” and “Akkam” which means “inside”. So, the combined meaning of the word Kottayam is “inside the fort”. Historically, the city of Kottayam is very significant in many respects like birthplace of the state’s publishing industry and is considered as a home to a number of globally renowned newspapers and magazines including Malayala Manorama, The Week, Mathrubhumi, and Deepika. The city of Kottayam is famous in the history for its Land of Letters, Latex and Lakes. It is the land of letters because of the district has achieved the highest literacy rate in India, it is the Land of Lakes because of the different lakes forming in great expanse of water called the Vembanad into which a network of rivers like Manimala, Pamba, Achankovil empty. It is the Land of Latex because the district abounds in extensive rubber plantation along with coffee and tea plantations.

Climate:

The climate of Kottayam is a mixture of hot and humid which may be classified as equatorial type of climate with high temperature during hot season in the plains from March to May. However, with the arrival of December the climate cools down. The average rainfall of Kottayam district is 3130.33mm/year.

Wildlife Sancturies :
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of Vembanad Lake at a distance of 16 Km from the district of Kottayam. The tourists from all over the world visited here for bird watch like water fowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, herons and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian duck.

Pilgrimage Centres :

A display of unique large collection of superior quality driftwood articles of very high artistic value, prepared through a rare and innovative modern art-form Visiting Hours.

The famous monument of Kottayam is Poonjar Palace famous in the world for its rare collections of antiques, rock cut lamps, sculptures etc. of the bygone era. This monument of Kottayam is also famous for an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.

Since the time immemorial, Kottayam is regarded as the centre of preserving the culture and heritage. So, the festivals of Kottayam are reflections of an age old vibrant cultural inheritance. That is why the district of Kottayam is regarded as the cradle of religious harmony as exemplified by the numerous festivals.

Elamkavu Attuvela This is the two days festival dedicated to the goddess of Elamkavu that signifies the arrival of her sister Kodungalloor to meet Elamkavu.

Ettumanoor Festival This is the ten-day annual festival celebrated in February – March to honor the age-old temple that has brought glory and fame to the place.

Manarkad Perunal This festival is one of the most famous festivals of Kottayam, Kerala dedicated to St. Marry Church, Manarkad. This festival is also known ‘Ettu Nompu Perunnal’ in which most of the women is observing fast and on the last three days colorful processions are being taken out with golden crosses.

Thirunakara Festival The annual festival of this temple falls in the months of March-April, when folk arts like "Mayilattam' and 'Velakali' are presented in the temple grounds during the evenings.

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The Kerala district of Kottayam has fascinated the imagination of the tourists for its various sight seeing attractions to explore the beauty of Kottayam. Some of the famous attractions of the district of Kottayam are Champakara famous for its Ayurvedic Centre; Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Excursions :

Hill Stations
Peerumedu
Grampi
Ilaveezhapoonchira
Wagamon

Beaches :

The Vembanad Lake, Pathiramanal, Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls and Karimbukayam - Meloram River.