Kottayam is the most popular tourist district of Kerala tourism today. The main attraction of Kottayam Tourism is the holy tourist spot Bharananganam. Bharananganam has turned out to be the latest tourist spot in Kerala with the canonization of St. Alphonsa. Numerable pilgrims to flow to Bharananganam to get blessings from St. Alphonsa – the Alphonsamma of Bharananganam, Pala. St. Alphonsa is the mother of the people of Palai. The devotees call her ‘Alphonsamma’ with great passion and so many miracles happen to true devotees of her. Thus, Alphonsamma and Bharananganam have secured the major part in Kottayam tourism.
Tourist Destinations of Kottayam District are Kumarakom, Poonjar Palace, Vembanadu Lake, Elaveezhapoonjira, Pathiramanal, Vagamon (A hill station near to the Idukki District), Kurishumala is also a cute place there at Vagamon, … There are a few Tourist Destinations near to the Kottayam District are Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkaday is just 100 Km from kottayam, Munnar Hill Station, Munnar …
Some of the Pilgrim Centers in Kottayam District are Mannanam, Ettumanoor Shiva Temple, Bharananganam St. Alphonsa, Thirunakkara Devi Temple, Manarcaud Church, …
Shabarimala is one of the famous Pilgrim center in the Kerala is very near to the Kottayam District.
Kottayam has a good number of Rivers & Backwaters. There are also many Hill Stations and Ancient Relegious places in Kottayam.
Tourism Kottayam, tourism Pala and tourism Bharananganam are closer to each other and are luxury tourist places of Kerala. There are a few luxury star hotels for you to have a luxury accommodation and food in and around Kottayam. The backwaters of Kumarakam tourism and Kumarakam resorts are extraordinary. The house boat journey in Kumarakam offers us a green trip and delicious food of Kerala rich with spices.
Tourism Places in Kottayam
- Kumarakom Backwaters
- Poonjar Palace
- Ilaveezhapponchira Valley
- Thazhathangadi Mosque
- Ayyampara Hill
1) Kumarakom backwaters
Backwaters are the main attractive feature of Kerala tourism. And among all the backwater tourism spots of Kerala Kumarakom backwaters is the most attractive one. We can see a rare union of lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches along the Kumarakom backwaters, Kottayam, along the lake of Vembanadu. The enchanting picnic spot Kumarakom is a fast developing backwater tourism destination that provides boating and beautiful sight fishing.
The ripples in the blue water of Kumarakom backwaters add beauty to the tourist place of Kottayam. This backwater ways connect different villages and it is the main access of the villagers to the city of Kottayam. The water ways of Kumarakom is cheap and easily affordable. There are so many locations for great photography in Kumarakom backwaters. Almost all the film industries come down to Kumarakom backwaters for shooting film scenes. Thus, Kumarakom backwaters are a luxury tourist place. The luxury tourist place Kumarakom backwaters gains attention from both within India and abroad.
The mangroves, coconut palms, and paddy fields of Kumarakom backwaters attract more and more tourists to Kumarakom backwaters tourism. It now takes a major part in the tourism map of Kerala. The ayurvedic treatment is an unavoidable aspect of Kumarakom tourism. Fishing, bird watching, etc. are only the minor features of tourism Kumarakom. The tourist place Kumarakom is rich with the view of various birds including Kites, lapwings, kingfishers, stilts and herons. The houseboat holiday packages at Kumarakom backwaters are an unforgettable event in my touring experience. The temperature reported here is 16.10 C and 37.80 C. This makes clear that it is a heavenly experience being here.
The nearest airport is 75 kms away in Cochin and the nearest railway station is jut 15 kms away in Kottayam. Therefore, it is easy to access Kumarakom backwaters.
2) Poonjar Palace
The Poonjar palace which is about 600 years old is one of the best famous tourist spot of both Kottayam tourism and Kerala tourism. The Poonjar palace is made almost completely of natural wood and reveals the simplicity and elegance of the traditional Kerala buildings and architecture. The museum within the palace is the attractiveness of Poonjar tourism. The other main attractions of tourism Poonjar are the Royal collection of antiques, rock cut lamps and sculptures.
Tourism Poonjar has a historic value and experience. The furniture and the collection of the museum includes an old palanquin, a boat carved out of a single piece of wood for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel boxes, diversity of lamps, sculptures of god Nataraja, grain measures, statues and weapons. Thus, it becomes a part of the ayurvedic tourism too. We can learn the advantages of the ayurvedic treatment here in Poonjar tourism.
The model of Madurai Meenakshi temple in Poonjar presents attractive sculptures that narrate stories from the legends of ancient India on its walls. The royalty of Indian kings (Rajas) could be better understood from the Poonjar Palace tourism.
The Poonjar Palace tourism can be extended to many other neighboring tourist places of Kottayam district. The Vagamon hills are only 20kms from Poonjar tourism. The distance to the tomb of St. Alphonsa is just 12kms from here. The nearest airport is the Nedumbasseri, Cochin international airport. Poonjar palace tourism is a worth visit.
3) Ilaveezhapoonchira Valley
Ilaveezhapoonchira valley which is just 55kms from the tourist town Kottayam is really an amazing tourism of Kerala. The literal meaning of Ilaveezhapoonchira is ‘a place where leaves don’t fall into’. Ilaveezhapoonchira is well known for off road drives. The main attraction of Ilaveezhapoonchira is the 7km 4wheel SUV drive to its top. But no vehicle can reach the top point of Ilaveezhapoonchira. There is a 3km walk to the hill Ilaveezhapoonchira valley tourism. There is a beautiful view from the top of the hill of Ilaveezhapoonchira. This valley is 3200ft high and we can even see seven districts of Kerala from the top of tourism Ilaveezhapoonchira valley.
Another attraction of the great Ilaveezhapoonchira valley is the cave that can accommodate nearly 50 people in it. The view of four hillocks and between them a verdant valley at the top of it is a wonder. We can also have an excellent sunrise and sunset view and meditation atop of the valley. The Ilaveezhapoonchira meditative point is blessed with the view of the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
There is a tourist bungalow having rooms and dormitory facilities for small and larger groups of Ilaveezhapoonchira tourists. It tells us why Kerala is called as God’s own country. The popular holy place Bharananganam can be visited along with Ilaveezhapoonchira since they are nearby. The distance between Ilaveezhapoonchira and Bharananganam is only 25kms. Anther tourist place nearby is Vagamon hillocks which is just 50 kms from Ilaveezhapoonchira. So, it is worth visiting all these tourist and holy place of St.Alphonsa at once. There are a few 3 star hotels for your luxurious stay and accommodation near Ilaveezhapoonchira.
4) Thazhathangadi Mosque
Thazhathangadi tourism of Kottayam, Kerala, India is known for its exquisite architecture. The Thazhathangadi mosque tourism Kottayam forms an important pilgrim center of Kottayam pilgrim tourism Kerala. The 1,000 year old mosque at Thazhathangadi, Kerala in the district of Kottayam is supposed to have been built by Habib Dinar, son of Malik Dinar. He is believed to have brought Islam in India.
Thazhathangadi mosque is located on the banks of Meenachil River. This is one of the ancient mosques in India itself. It is being built in the conventional Kerala style of architecture and is a beautiful one. It has been a protected monument by the Kerala Government which is also the major part of tourism Kottayam, Kerala, India. Masjid of Thazhathangadi is historically very significant as it is not only one of the oldest mosques in Kerala, rather the whole of India in fact.
The two Khabars (graves) in the premises of the mosque are believed to be of Malik Ibn Dinar and the mason who built this mosque. The sacred well here in Thazhathangadi mosque is different from that of many other mosques in the world as it has stone steps like those found in Hindu temples. It is because it has been built in the traditional Kerala architecture. It is also to be noted that the Thazhathangadi mosque is not part of festival tourism Kerala as it celebrates no Muslim festivals in the mosque. Thazhathangadi Boat Race is held during Onam, the festival of Kerala.
The mosque is situated approximately 3 kilometers away from the city of Kottayam. The nearby railway station is the Kottayam railway station 3 kilometers from this mosque and the nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport located about 76 kilometers away.
5) Ayyampara Hill
Ayyampara Hill is the most adventurous hill station of Kottayam tourism, Kerala, India. The wide 100 acre rocky area is the main attraction of Ayyampara Hill. The tourist spot Ayyampara Hill is 43 kms away from Kottayam city. On the way to Ayyampara Hill we can also visit the holy place of Bharananganam where the tomb of Saint Alphonsa is.
This natural granite stadium of Ayyampara is the other attraction of the place. From 2000 ft above the sea level atop of Ayyampara we can see the town below. The rocky Ayyampara is best suit for sunset meditation. This flat rock has a mythological significance as it is believed that the Pandavas during their exile lived here.
The Ayyampara rocks give us a chance for adventurous trekking. The Ayyampara region is unexplored and still has the natural beauty and splendor. On the natural granite stadium in 20 acres we can a great time of amusement. We can also let our little kids free here on the rocks. The Illikkal hill is the nearby attractive tourist place which offers a good chance of adventurous rock climbing.
The nearest airport to Ayyampara is the Cochin airport and the nearest railway station is at Kottayam. The roadway to Ayyampara is of good quality. There are bus services from all over Kottayam district to Ayyampara. As part of the Ayyampara tourism it is worth visiting the Poonjar Palace which is nearby.
The famous Idukki Arch Dam is situated in Idukki.