Kottayam - Gateway of Highranges :

Area- 2203 sq.km
District Population- 18,28,271
Temperature- Mean Max. 34.5 deg.C
Mean Min. 23.0 deg.C
Climate - Tropical
Altitude - Sea Level
Rainfall - 346 cm
Tourist Season- September to March

Conveyance to
Air : Nearest Airport Cochin. (76 km). Thiruvananthapuram Airport (152 km.)
Rail : Kottayam Railway Station 2 km., away from the KSRTC Bus Station and is connected with major cities and tourist centers.
Road : Private buses for intra-district service. KSRTC operates buses to all major cities in the state. Kottayam-Kumali road leads Tamilnadu state. M C road cuts through the town.
Water :Ferry Station 3 km away from Railway station. Services to Alappuzha, Mannar, Chempakulam, Mankombu and Ambalapuzha.

About Kottayam

Kottayam is the largest rubber producer in Kerala. A stop-over for Sabarimala pilgrims, Kottayam is also know as a gateway of Highranges. The city, spread over hills, is basking in the reflected glory of Kumarakam, a tourist hub and bird sanctuary in the district. The lakeshore city is on the 'backwater' circuit. Several publishing houses are headquartered here.

Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India, thanks to its strength as a producer of cash crops. Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam, also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary commodities board. Kottayam, among the state's more mountainous districts, provides some of Kerala's finest natural scenes sandwiched as it is between serene palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western ghats on the east.

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Kumarakom :

Kumarakom in Kottayam District in the State of Kerala, South India. The beauty of any tourist location in Kerala is that it is always just a few miles from the nearest city linking you to all major cities in India and to the world. And Kumarakom too is delightfully tucked away. At the same time it is, equally and easily accessible.

From the Cochin International Airport it is a 70 Km delightful ride by road to the Muhamma boat Jetty. The resort is a few minutes away across the river. The enchanting boat ride to the resort from here will take less than 20 minutes. A bridge is coming up here which will facilitate even faster access.

From the Trivandrum International Airport it is a 171 Km (approximately 3 hours ride by road) to the Muhamma boat jetty.

From the Calicut International Airport it is 180 Km ride to Muhamma. You can take many rewarding stops en route.

The nearest bus terminal, is at Kottayam, 14 Km away from the resort by road.

Places to be visited

There are many wonderful things you can do at Kumarakom. Wake up early in the morning for the grandest show on earth. The sunrise. In the mornings, the lake is calm, misty and sensuous.
And the sun breaks with a smile and stretches its arm across the river to wish you good morning. Take out a ride in one of our boats and watch waterfowls come to life.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary :

A trip to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary what you shouldn't miss. The best time for this is between November and March, when a range of migratory birds from Siberia make it their winter home. Some of the species include the Snake bird, Little Cormorant, Crow Pheasant, White-branded water Hen and Tree pie. Occasionally you can catch the native kingfishers setting the waters ablaze in a psychedelic flash of colours. The night herons, the Golden-backed woodpeckers are added delights.

At the fourteen-acre bird sanctuary one can glimpse many a rare bird some of which, sadly, may not be around forever.

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Water Carnivals :

Vallamkali, the famous Snake Boat Race are spectacles enacted on the onset of the Onam season. The backwaters of Alleppey come alive with the rivers becoming flush after the rainy season. It becomes the venue to Kerala's major attraction the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race which take place in August - September every year. Magnificently decorated long boats - with raised sterns which resemble the raised hood of cobras (hence the term, snake boat) rush through the waters in a flash of oars and a roar.

Oars swinging to a fast-paced rhythm. And the snake boats shoot across the emerald stretches. Enthusiastically powered by over 150 singing and drum beating oarsmen. The spring season is at its charming best. A spellbinding display of strength and beauty. The backwaters will be teeming with exhilarated spectators cheering (some of whom come from the farthest corners of the world). Other major events are the Payipad, Pulinkunnu and Aranmula races.

Kettuvallams :

Kettuvallams are huge, tapering barges which were traditionally used to cargo rice and other goods across Kerala. It has a portion covered with bamboo and coir serving as kitchen and rest rooms for the crew. These boats are entirely built without the use of nails. Planks of jack wood are woven together with coir ropes and coated with a black resin made from boiled cashew kernels.
Modern-day Kettuvallams called houseboats, carry finished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony where tourists can laze on cushions. Sections of the carved roof of wood and plaited palms open out to provide shade and allow an uninterrupted view. Most of the boats are poled by local oarsmen. Some are powered by engines. Gliding on serene backwaters, visitors can witness an un-spoilt Kerala.

Sunset & Sunrise Cruise on a Kettuvallam :

No trip to Kumarakom is complete without a Kettuvallam sunset or sunrise cruise. The ride offers a close look into a delightful rustic life. Skiff-fishermen launching their tiny boats. Large flotillas of ducks waddling down to the water from coconut leaf thatched houses on the banks of canals. Palm-filled lagoons, an enchanting view of wooded islands and the main lands are poetically beautiful scenes.

The Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom (16 km from Kottayam town) :

Also called a land of lakes, Kottayam is a vast network of rivers and canals which empty into great expanse of water called the Vembanad lake. The lake, an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination, provides boating, fishing and sight seeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The Kumarakom Tourist Village offers houseboat cruises and holiday packages.

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Pala and Kanjirapally :

Pala and Kanjirapally nourished by the Meenachil and Manimala rivers respectively, these two towns are centres of rubber plantations.

Thalikotta Temple :

The ancient temple was the place of worship of the Thekkumkoor royal family. The Kudamaloor Temple is equally famous. The Thazhathangadi Mosque built on the Meenachil river is one of the oldest in India. The C.S.I. Cathedral Church built over 175 years ago is a monument from the British Era. The Old Seminary, Marthoma Seminary and Vadavathoor Seminary proclaim Syrian and Roman traditions. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has its headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam. The mortal remains of the Blessed Father Chavara are entombed at the St.Joseph's Monastery Church at Mannanam. Thousands gather at this holy shrine during festivals.

Mahadevar Temple, Ettumanoor (12 km north of Kottayam town) :

Mahadevar Temple is famous for murals and ezharaponnana (the 71/2 elephants finished in gold) Festival: Ezharaponnana utsavam (February/March).

The Vavarambalam, Erumeli (60 km north-east of Kottayam town) :

This mosque is dedicated to Vavar, a contemporary and companion of Lord Ayyappa, the deity of the Sabarimala Temple. The mosque is famous for the centuries old custom of multitudes of Hindu pilgrims worshipping here before their trek to Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa. Festival: Pettathullal (January).

St. Mary's Church, Bharananganam, Pala :

The mortal remains of the Blessed Alphonsa are entombed at this church which is now a famous pilgrim centre. Thousands gather at this holy shrine during the annual festival: Feast of the Blessed Alphonsa (July) * Ettunoyampu, Manarcad (September).

Valiapalli & Cheriyapalli (2 km from Kottayam town) :

These two churches dedicated to St. Mary were built in 1515 AD and 1579 AD respectively. The Valiapalli is known for its Persian cross and Pahalavi inscriptions. The Cheriyapalli houses some of the most exquisite murals and paintings based on Biblical and non Biblical themes.

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