Kottayam

Kottayam is the first totally literate town in India. It is one of the most industrially developed districts of Kerala and one of the largest producers of rubber, tea, pepper and cardamom. The city is also reffered as 'Mecca of Publishing industry' in Kerala state, as a number of Malayalam Newspapers, periodicals are published from here.

Kumarakom:
This beautiful village is located at the banks of Vembanad lake, filled with greenish paddy fields, mangrove forests and coconut groves. The famous snake boat races are held in Vembanad lake during the Onam celebration.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: The beautiful Bird Sanctuary on the bank of Vembanad lake spreads over 14 acres of blue waters. Some of the migratory birds seen here are Siberian Stork, darter, egret, heron and teal. Some of the common varieties are skylark, woodpecker, crane, and parrots.

Kumarakon is 15 km away from Kottayam town

Ettumanur Mahadeva Temple:
Ettumanoor Temple is situated 12 km north of Kottayam. The mural paintings of the temple and the ezharaponnana are famous. The Ezharaponnana Ezhunnallathu lasts for 10 days in Feb/March.

Dakshina mookambika Saraswathy Temple:
This temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswathy- the Goddess of Arts and Learning is situated here. It is located at 10 kms. from Kottayam at Panachikkadu. The temple is famous for Navarathri festival.

Bharananganam: It is known for an ancient church, which houses mortal remains of St.Alphonsa (1916-1946)

St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Cheriyapalli:
It was built in 1579, by the Portugese under the patronage of the local raja. The church is a blend of temple and Portugese architecture.

St. Mary's Church, Valiyapalli:
Situated at Mannarkkad, 8kms from Kottayam, this church is dedicated to St. Mary. This is one of the most important churches of the Malankara Syrian Christians.

Pathiramanal:
Pathiramanal, which means sands of midnight, is a wonderful island on the backwaters. According to mythology a young Brahmin one, dived into the Vembanad lake to perform his evening ablutions and the water made way for the land to rise from below to form this beautiful island, which is now filled with a variety of migratory birds from different parts of the world.