| Tourist
Season-
September to March |
Tourist
information offices
Dept.of Tourism - Tel: 091 - 481 - 2584303 |
Other
Information
Hotels & Resorts, Hospitals, Ayurveda Centres, Yoga Centres,
Festivals |
Champakara (Ayurvedic
Centre)
18 kms from Kottayam is Champakara, which is an important Ayurvedic Centre
for 'Thirummuchikilsa'. Sreerangam CVN Kalari Chikilsa Kendram attracts
people from all over India and abroad.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
12 kms west of Kottayam town is this small village Kumarakom, which has a
beautiful bird sanctuar y
on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and is an ideal place for backwater
cruises. The 14-acre sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise and a
favourite haunt of migratory birds like Siberian stork, Egret darter,
Heron and Teal. There are also different varieties of local birds like
waterfowl, wild duck, cuckoo, owl, water ducketc. The sanctuary is open
from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and the best months to bird watch are between
June and August. Close to the sanctuary, in the beautifully wooded ground
near the backwaters, is coconut lagoon heritage resort, which is one of
India's most discrete holiday destinations. Guests stay in genuine 'Tharawad'
(traditional wooden) cottages and love this unique culture.
Grampi hill station
The picturesque hill station of Grampi, situated 5 kms from Peerumade is
also known as the Parunthupara, meaning the eagle rock.
Ilaveezhapoonchira
Located at distance of 55 kms from Kottayam and 20 kms from Thodapuzha,
this is another picnic spot located in the midst of the beautiful hillocks
near Kanjar.
Pala and Kanjirapally (Rubber
Plantations)
Nourished by the Meenachil and Aanimala rivers respectively, these two
places are centers of Rubber Plantations.
Kesari Waterfalls
The Kesari waterfalls, also known as Valanjamkanam falls, lies between
Kuttikanam and Murinjapuzha on the Kottayam-Kumaly route. Valanjamkanam is
a 3 hr. journey from Kottayam by any bus to Kumaly; trek to Kuttikanan
offers additional adventurous spirit and closeness to nature.
Maramala Waterfalls
This lies a few kms away from Eerattupetta. It is exactly 7 kms from
Teekoy rubber estate. From here a private vehicle can take you further 2
kms after which the road is not motor able. To reach the falls one has to
trek through the estate over the rocky path. The waterfall is about 60
metres in height, falling into a 12-meter deep pool and joins the River
Teekoy way down.
Chandragiri Cruises
This offers boat trips to the nearby islands and palm grove. The boarding
point is Chandragiri Bridge and nearby, is a mosque and also the ancient
Kizhur Sartha Temple.
Ayyampara
43 kms from Kottayam, this is a well known scenic spot of rocky plains,
where a 100 acres of flat rock makes a natural granite stadium to enjoy
the sunset and the view of the town below. It is a good place for
trekking.
Elaveezhapoonchira
(mountains)
Elaveezhapoonchira, formed of imposing mountain ranges with rocky cliffs
is on the eastern periphery of Kottayam district. It is a beautiful picnic
spot, accessible from Pala, located in the middle of hillocks. About 3000
feet above sea lever, the pristine beauty of nature is preserved almost
intact here. There is also a famous ancient mosque at Thazhathanangady
near Thalikotta Palace, which attracts many devotees.
Koottickal
Situated in the western ghats, 5 kms north of Mundakayam in Kottayam
district, is Koottickal .The majesty of the mountain ranges combined with
the beauty of the forest and the artificial lake created by the check dam
of the River Manimala makes the spot linger in ones mind. Amruthameda,
which is famous for medicinal plants, is nearby. Koottickal is well
connected by roads to the main cities. The waterfall at Vadakkemala, near
Kootickal is another attraction.
Panchalimedu
Situated 7 kms from Muundakkayam - Kuttikanam stretch on the Kottayam -
Kumali road, lies Panchalimedu at an altitude of about 2500 feet above sea
level. A 3-hour trek from Valliankavu, also connected by bus service from
Kottayam. According to legends, the Pandavas had stayed here and the pond
beside a small temple is where Panchali, their wife is said to have had
bath.
Wagamon (Trekker's Paradise)
Situated at an elevation of 1100 metres above sea level, Wagamon is called
the trekker's paradise because it is an ideal place for trekking and a
beautiful tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea plantations,
meadows, valleys and dales. It is about 60 km from Kottayam. The other
attraction of this place is Kurisumala, a sky-scraping mountain with a
small church on its peak. There is also a monastery on this hill, called
Kurisumala Ashramam, which has a small community of ascetics who follow
Christian faith but combines with it the Indian spiritual traditions and
Gandhian thoughts. People of all faith are welcome to visit this place.
Vembanad Lake
16 kms from Kottayam town, is a vast network of rivers and canals, which
empty into the great expanse of water called the Vemanad Lake, which is
situated in Kumarakom village. The lake is an enchanting picnic spot and a
fast developing backwater tourist destination. It provides boating,
fishing and sight seeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The
Kumarakom tourist village also offers houseboat cruises and holiday
packages.
More
information's about Kottayam
|
