About Kottyam
The place Kottayam derived its name from two words, "Kotta" and "Akam", which means inside a fort. One of the most beautiful backwater destinations of Kerala, Kottayam is very popular among tourists and many people travel to Kottayam just to experience the serene backwaters. The nearby Vembanad Lake which is the most exciting backwater destination in Kerala, draws its name from the early name of Kottayam, Vempolinad.

Kottayam is also an important commercial centre, for it is a producer an array of cash crops. Most of India’s natural rubber is prodiced in acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam. It also houses the headquarters of Rubber Board, one of the country’s primary commodities board.

Major Tourist Attractions in Kottayam
Ettumanoor Temple
A famous Hindu pilgrimage, Ettumanoor Temple is known for its unique and original architecture, wooden carvings and murals. The one that truly deserves a special mention is a statue of Shiva as Nataraja in a stunning pose. The temple is also famous for its 10 day long annual festival held during February-March.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
This fabulous bird sanctuary is on the banks of the Vembanad lake house. An ornithologist's delight, this place is the favourite haunt of the migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Among the other species are the woodpecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots. To get the right feel of the place, once should cruise along the lake. Take a look at Pathiramanal too, which is a delightful island on the lake and can be accessed by boat from here.

Cheriyapally
The church of Cheriyapally is dedicated to St. Mary. Built in 1579 AD, the church houses some exquisite vegetable dye paintings on the ceilings and walls depicting biblical and non-biblical themes.

Thazhathangadi Mosque
Known for its exquisite architecture, the mosque forms an important pilgrim center of Kottayam. The 1,000-year-old mosque at Thazhathangadi is believed to have been built by Malik Dinar.

Good Shepherd Church
The Good Shepherd Church is the first church of the Diocese of Vijayapuram, built in the Italian style. The construction of the Church was completed in 1882 and was renovated in 1964. The annual feast of Good Shepherd is held here in the month of April every year.

Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is at Cochin (Kochi) located 76 km from Kottayam.
Rail : Kottayam is well connected with the major towns in and outside Kerala by an extensive rail network. The railway station is situated just 2 km away from the Road: There are regular trains from Kottayam to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam (165 km), and Ernakulam (65 km).
Road : Kottayam is connected to major cities of South India by good motorable roads.

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