Kottayam

Destination Theme
Ayurvedic Centers, Yoga Retreats, Culinary Centers,

Best Suited For
Families, Couples and Tourists.

Recommended Duration
Two to Three days.

Quick Info

Kottayam is the name of a city in Kerala which is the administrative capital of Kottayam district. It is one of the foremost trading centres for rubber and spices in Kerala. The city is situated close to the famous Vembanad Lake. The culture of Kottayam has a major influence from Syrian Christians. The nearest airport to the city of Kottayam is Cochin International Airport which is at a distance of about 90 kilometres.

Rankings & Ratings

The Land of the unperturbed Vembanad Lake magnifying the concept of Unity in Diversity.

Editor's Rankings

#15 in 33 Destinations in & around Kerala
#1 in 7 Ayurvedic Centers in & around Kerala
#3 in 7 Culinary Centers in & around Kerala

Editor's Review

Kottayam is one of the hotter places in Kerala offering limited options for food. The biggest advantage of this place is the pristine Vembanad Lake. Another plus point is that Kottayam is very close to the major destinations of Kerala and travelling from here wouldn't be a problem.

PROS

The city is close to Kerala's popular tourist destinations.
Vembanad Lake is a beautiful attraction.
Plenty of religious centres for Hindus, Christians and Muslims.
Most people in the place are well-educated.

CONS

The food in Kottayam has very less variety.
Beef is the most preferred meat in non-veg food.
The weather is very hot most of the times.
The tourist attractions are not very close to each other.

Itinerary Tips

Train is the best and cheapest way to travel to Kottayam.
Vembanad Lake is must-visit if you are going to Kottayam.
Since Kumarokam is just 14 kilometres away, you can visit the backwaters there and enjoy houseboat cruises.
The meat used in non-vegetarian items is usually beef. If you don’t eat beef, you need to tell them your preferences. Fish and chicken is also easily available.
Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls is 18 kilometres away from city. Most tourists prefer to visit the place.
Erumely is an important pilgrim centre.
Pathiramanal is a small white sand island in the middle of Vembanad Lake.
Boat races and food festivals are held in Kottayam at particular seasons.
You could also visit Vagamon hill station, 64 kilometres from Kottayam.
It is best to eat only local Kerala food at restaurants. If you want another variety of food, you must go to luxury hotels.

Detailed Info

The city of Kottayam is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district in Kerala. The name 'Kottayam' is a combination of two local language words which mean 'The interior of a fort'. The city is just 14 kilometres away from Kumarokam, a popular backwater tourist destination in Kerala. The Vembanad Lake is a major tourist attraction for the tourists visiting Kottayam. Around the city are extensive rubber plantations and lush paddy fields.

The city of Kottayam was the first city in Kerala to have a literacy rate of 100 percent. It is the centre for rubber trading in Kerala. The city is also home to some important pilgrim centres and churches, which are visited by many people around the state. The city is popularly known as 'Land of Letters, Lakes and Latex'. Vagamon is a popular hill station that is at the border of Kottayam district about 64 kilometres away from Kottayam city.

Altitude

The city of Kottayam is just 3 metres(10 ft) above sea level.

Weather

The climate in Kottayam is generally quite hot throughout the year, with winters being slightly pleasant.

Best Time to Visit?

Between the pleasant months of October and February.

How to Get There?

By Air

The nearest airport to the city of Kottayam is Cochin International Airport which is at a distance of about 90 kilometres from the city. The airport is well-connected to the major cities in the country and abroad. From the airport, you can book a cab to reach the city.

By Train

Kottayam has a railway station of its own called Kottayam Railway Station which is right in the centre of the city. The station is well-connected to various places in Kerala and major cities in India. From the station, you can pick an auto or taxi to reach your hotel.

By Road

National Highway 183 connects to the city of Kottayam. Luxury bus services are available to Kottayam from cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore and Coimbatore.

Local Cuisines

The cuisine has a Syrian Christian Influence. Beef, pork and Seafood made with coconut and local Kerala spices form major part of the local cuisine.