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Kottayam
Brief
Situated in the Backwater circuit, the populace of Kottayam is marked by the presence of the Syrian Christian community. A beautiful town situated in the hills, Kottayam is surrounded by some of the most fertile and beautiful scenery in the state with serene palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. Well known for its churches, most of the natural rubber of India originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam. An important commercial centre of India, Kottayam is home to the Rubber Board, one of the Primary Commodities Board of the country and the headquarters of the daily newspaper Malayala Manorama.
History
Kottayam is the main Christian centre in Kerala. The Christians in Kerala
largely owed their allegiance to the Orthodox Syrian tradition until the
arrival of the Portuguese. After the Inquisition was introduced in 1560
the Portuguese tried to encourage the conversion of Syrian Christians
to Roman Catholicism. One of the cruder means was by intercepting ships
carrying Syrian bishops and preventing them from joining their churches
in Kerala. At the same time efforts were made to train Indian priests,
and in 1599 the Thomas Christians were allowed to use the Syriac liturgy.
A formal split occurred in the Syrian church in 1665 between the Roman
Syrians from the Syrian Christians being applied to his branch of the
Syrian Church. Subsequent divisions occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries,
but several of the Protestant Syrian churches came back together when
the Church of South India was formed in 1947.Culture
Kottayam is famous for its cultural achievements. It was the first town in Kerala to achieve total literacy in India, an event that triggered a mass movement across India. It is also the mecca of the publishing scene. It houses dozens of magazines and newspapers including first newspaper of Kerala - Deepika (Founded - 1887) as well as the the largest selling daily of the country and weekly from the Malayala Manorama Group, Kottayam. It is also the birthplace of a unique institution - the Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, perhaps the first ever co-operative of writers.
Climate & Geogaphical Location
The climate is tropically humid throughout the year. It is cool and pleasant in the high ranges and the
cardamom hills. Kottayam is located in the
southern part of Kerala.How to Reach
Kottayam is well connected by rail, road and air. By air, the nearest
Airport is at Cochin at 76 km and is connected by excellent air network
to all major cities in India. By rail, Kottayam Railway Station is the
nearest railhead at 2 km away from the Central Bus Station is well connected
with major cities throughout the country. By road, Kottayam is well connected
by good motorable roads throughout the state and its neighbouring areas.
There are two bus stands, one run by state transport and the other private.
Thebuses to major centres operate from the KSRTC bus station. By ferry,
the Ferry Station at 3 km from the railway station has services to Alleppey,
Mannar, Chempakulam, Mankombu and Ambalapuzha.Tourist Places
Vembanad Lake
Stretching across the verdant lands of Kerala, Kottayam is a vast network of rivers and canals, which empty into the great expanse of water called Vembanad Lake. One of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia, it is an enchanting tourist spot and a fast developing Backwater Tourism destination, provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating.
Vembanad Kayal, as it is called in the regional language, is a tank that acts against the floods and has been the reason for the flourishment of the flora and fauna in this region. There are houseboats that take one across the lake for cruises, making ones trip memorable.
Kumarakom Bird SanctuaryThe Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake is known for its varied avian population. The main attractions are local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian cranes. Parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, and other birds are seen here during their respective migratory seasons. Houseboats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises on the lake. The best time for bird watching is between June and August. To watch Migratory birds, November to February is the best time.
Others
ERUMELI - 60 km is a pilgrim centre of Hindus and Muslims. The Dharma Sastha Temple here is of Lord Ayyappa and pilgrims going to Sabarimala
MANNANAM - Housing the famous St. Josephs Monastery, Mannanam is an important Syrian Christian centre.
The town is associated with the name of Father
Kuriakose Elias of Chavara (1805 - 1871), one of the saintly figures of
PEERUMEDU - Peerumedu is a small hill station, snuggled at an altitude of 914 m above sea level, on way to Thekkady.
ETTUMANOOR TEMPLE - Famous for its legendary 16th century Shiva Temple,
Ettumanoor is a Hindu pilgrimage. The Shiva temple is a specimen of Keralas
indigenous style of temple architecture, incorporating clear-cut woodcarvings PUNDAREEKAPURAM TEMPLE - Pundareekapuram is a small temple atop a small hill called Midayikunnam near Thalayolapparambu. Famous for its Mural Collection, the temple is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu .
VAIKOM - 40 km from Kottayam, Vaikom has a Shiva Temple, which is believed to have been built by Parasurama, the mythical creator of Kerala. The 12-day Ashtami festival in the months of November and December.
VEMBANAD LAKE - Stretching across the verdant lands of Kerala, Kottayam is a vast network of rivers and canals, which empty into the great expanse .
VIJANANA KALA VEDI CENTRE - If you like Indian arts under expert supervision in a village setting, its worth considering taking one of the courses offered at the Vijnana Kala Vedi Centre at Aranmula, a village 12km from Changannua.
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