Kottayam is known as land of 3 L's, Letters, Lakes and Latex. Kottayam is one of the backwater sites that can be visited
throughout the year. Scenic landscapes, backwaters, bird sancturies, temples and churches makes this place a real tourist attraction.
Aqua tourism is a highlight in Kottayam. Journey through Vembanadu lake will leave a everlasting memory of the serene backwaters
where you can see the Kerala rural life along its banks.
Kottayam is considered as the nerve center of Malayalam literature and publishing media. Almost all the leading news papers and magazines in Kerala have its headquaters at Kottayam.
Spread across 14 acreses of land in the banks of Vembanad lake is a bird santuary. Filled with various migratory birds
this place is a paradise for ornithologists.
Ayyampara
Location : 43 km from Kottayam, 5km uphill drive from Teekoy Church Junction, which is 7kms from Erattupetta on the Erattupetta – Vagamon route
Ayyampara, or Five Rocks, a 20-acre rock formation is a favourite haunt for those who wish to see some spectacular
sunsets. It is really fascinating to witness the Moon rising as the orange red Sun sets on the horizon.
The Five rocks are said to represent the five Pandava brothers of the Indian epic Mahabharata.
A cave nearby is big enough for 15 people to live in.
The place is a base for trekking expeditions also. It is a little-known scenic spot of rocky plains where a 100-acre area of flat rock makes a natural granite stadium to enjoy the sunset.
A remote location Ayyampara has till date maintained its rustic look. This is one of the main reasons why more and more tourists plan to go to Ayyampara to unravel its unexplored natural splendors.
Location : 43 km from Kottayam, 5km uphill drive from Teekoy Church Junction, which is 7kms from Erattupetta on the Erattupetta – Vagamon route
Ayyampara, or Five Rocks, a 20-acre rock formation is a favourite haunt for those who wish to see some spectacular
sunsets. It is really fascinating to witness the Moon rising as the orange red Sun sets on the horizon.
The Five rocks are said to represent the five Pandava brothers of the Indian epic Mahabharata.
A cave nearby is big enough for 15 people to live in.
The place is a base for trekking expeditions also. It is a little-known scenic spot of rocky plains where a 100-acre area of flat rock makes a natural granite stadium to enjoy the sunset.
A remote location Ayyampara has till date maintained its rustic look. This is one of the main reasons why more and more tourists plan to go to Ayyampara to unravel its unexplored natural splendors.
Wagamon
Location : 64 km from Kottayam, on Idukki - Kottayam Border, 25 Km from Peermedu
Wagamon is a very ideal tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, deep puzzling
valleys and dales. The enchanting hill station dotted with tea gardens will soon be one of India's foremost eco-tourism
projects. It is engulfed by green tea gardens and hillstations. All the trekking enthusiasts will enjoy climbing this
1100 metres tall hill.
Grass covered hills, velvet lawns and the cool mountain air make Vagamon a perfect holiday retreat. A curious blend
of religious mysticism and European legacies, this hillside village is a haven of tranquility. The chain of three
hills - Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill and Kurisumala - is a mark of religious harmony. The dairy farm managed by the
Kurisumala monks is worth a visit.
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Vagamon
Poonjar Palace
Location : On Pala - Erattupettah Road (Pala 30 Km from Kottayam)
Poonjar palace the heritage site contains extraordinary royal collection of antiques and exquisite furniture including a
palanquin, a thoni - carved out of a single piece of wood - for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf
engravings, jewel boxes, varieties of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Siva), grain measures, statues and
weapons. A unique conch preserved here is taken out once a year for ritualistic purposes.
Near the palace is an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. The walls of this temple bear sculptures that narrate stories from the Puranas (the legends of ancient India). However, the most fascinating thing here is the Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby. Such rocks cut lamps are rare in India.
Location : On Pala - Erattupettah Road (Pala 30 Km from Kottayam)
Poonjar palace the heritage site contains extraordinary royal collection of antiques and exquisite furniture including a
palanquin, a thoni - carved out of a single piece of wood - for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf
engravings, jewel boxes, varieties of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Siva), grain measures, statues and
weapons. A unique conch preserved here is taken out once a year for ritualistic purposes.
Near the palace is an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. The walls of this temple bear sculptures that narrate stories from the Puranas (the legends of ancient India). However, the most fascinating thing here is the Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby. Such rocks cut lamps are rare in India.
Kottathavalam
Location : On the way to wagamon
Near Murugan hills at Kurisumala, a flight of steps cut in the rocks takes one to this magnificent cave. Legends say that the royal family from Madurai rested here on their way to Poonjar. The rocks within the cave, carved like chairs and couches and the figures of Madurai Meenakshi, Ayyappa, Murugan, Kannaki and weapons sculpted on them, are all worth exploring.
Location : On the way to wagamon
Near Murugan hills at Kurisumala, a flight of steps cut in the rocks takes one to this magnificent cave. Legends say that the royal family from Madurai rested here on their way to Poonjar. The rocks within the cave, carved like chairs and couches and the figures of Madurai Meenakshi, Ayyappa, Murugan, Kannaki and weapons sculpted on them, are all worth exploring.
Alapra
Location : 45 km from Kottayam, 5 km from Manimala Junction, 10 km from Erumeli
A little known hamlet, tucked away in the south east corner of Kottayam district. Alapra is surrounded by lush forests. The serene forest, pretty cascades, small streams, rocks offering stunning views add symphony to this village. The unique feature of Alapra is the small temple in the forest. The Thacharickal Bhagavathi temple is the only place in Kottayam district where the folk art of Padayani is performed.
There is 2500 acre forest called Ponthanpuzha Kutti vanam in the vicinity. This forest spreads over the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The forest harbors deer, wild boar, fox, pythons, other small creatures and a variety of avifauna. There are nearly twenty small streams in the forest.
The forest has innumerable small and pretty cascades which are in full flow, during monsoon. The Sankhupatalam waterfalls nearly 4km from Alapra is the biggest of them. There is also another major watertfalls called Kalluvapuzha inside the forest.
Location : 45 km from Kottayam, 5 km from Manimala Junction, 10 km from Erumeli
A little known hamlet, tucked away in the south east corner of Kottayam district. Alapra is surrounded by lush forests. The serene forest, pretty cascades, small streams, rocks offering stunning views add symphony to this village. The unique feature of Alapra is the small temple in the forest. The Thacharickal Bhagavathi temple is the only place in Kottayam district where the folk art of Padayani is performed.
There is 2500 acre forest called Ponthanpuzha Kutti vanam in the vicinity. This forest spreads over the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The forest harbors deer, wild boar, fox, pythons, other small creatures and a variety of avifauna. There are nearly twenty small streams in the forest.
The forest has innumerable small and pretty cascades which are in full flow, during monsoon. The Sankhupatalam waterfalls nearly 4km from Alapra is the biggest of them. There is also another major watertfalls called Kalluvapuzha inside the forest.
Saint Alphonsa's Tomb, Bharananganam
Location : Bharananganam town is located 5 kms east of Pala on the Kottayam - Erattupettah Road. Pala lies 30 k.m southwest of Kottayam town.
Bharananganam famous for the tomb of Saint Alphonsa ( St Alphonsa ), is known as Lisieux of India. Located at the banks of Meenachil river,
Bharananganam has a 1000 year old St Mary's church. This church also known as Anakkallu Palli holds the mortal remains of St Alphonsa.
Alphonsamma was declared as a saint by Vatican on 12th October 2008.
This place is also have storied which relates to Pandavas. It is believed that Bharananganam Sreekrishna temple was blessed by pandavas themselves. This place is considered to be settlement of Buddhists, the sastha temple at Edamattom underlines this theory.
Location : Bharananganam town is located 5 kms east of Pala on the Kottayam - Erattupettah Road. Pala lies 30 k.m southwest of Kottayam town.
Bharananganam famous for the tomb of Saint Alphonsa ( St Alphonsa ), is known as Lisieux of India. Located at the banks of Meenachil river,
Bharananganam has a 1000 year old St Mary's church. This church also known as Anakkallu Palli holds the mortal remains of St Alphonsa.
Alphonsamma was declared as a saint by Vatican on 12th October 2008.
This place is also have storied which relates to Pandavas. It is believed that Bharananganam Sreekrishna temple was blessed by pandavas themselves. This place is considered to be settlement of Buddhists, the sastha temple at Edamattom underlines this theory.
