Best things to do in Kottayam
From Kottaym’s thirteenth-century churches to the magnificent Mahadeva temple at Ettumanur, here are the best things to do in Kottayam.
#1 Check out Kottayam’s churches
The presence of two thirteenth-century churches on a hill 5 km northwest of the centre (accessible by auto-rickshaw) attests to the area’s deeply rooted Christian heritage.
Two eighth-century Nestorian stone crosses with Palavi and Syriac inscriptions, on either side of the elaborately decorated altar of the Valliapalli (“big”) church, are among the earliest solid traces of Christianity in India.
The visitors’ book contains entries from as far back as the 1890s, including one each from the Ethiopian king, Haile Selassie, and a British viceroy. The apse of the nearby Cheriapalli (“small”) church is covered with lively paintings, thought to have been executed by a Portuguese artist in the sixteenth century.
#2 Take a backwaters cruise at Kumarakom
A twenty-minute bus ride west of Kottayam brings you to the shores of Vembanad Lake, where the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary forms the focus of a line of ultra-luxurious resorts on the water’s edge.
A backwaters cruise hereabouts is a much better bet for peace and quiet than in Alappuzha or Kollam.
The small Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in the wetlands is a good place to spot domestic and migratory birds such as egrets, osprey, flycatchers and racket-tail drongos, as well as glimpses of otters and turtles in the water.
There’s a paved walkway for a lot of the route, but it does get tricky in parts. The best time to visit is between November and May before the sun rises.
Rough Guides tip: make sure to check the best beaches in Kerala
#3 Visit the bizarre Bay Island Driftwood Museum
Birds, or representations of them, feature prominently in the area’s most bizarre visitor attraction, the Bay Island Driftwood Museum, just off the main road, in which lumps of driftwood sculpted by the sea are displayed in an idiosyncratic gallery.
#4 See some of Kerala’s best-kept mediaeval wall paintings at Ettumanur
Another possible day-trip from Kottayam is the magnificent Mahadeva (Shiva) temple at Ettumanur, on the road to Ernakulam, whose entrance porch holds some of Kerala’s most celebrated mediaeval wall paintings.
The most spectacular depicts Nataraja (Shiva) executing a cosmic tandava dance, trampling evil in the form of a demon underfoot.
Best areas to stay in Kottayam
From the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom to the bustling city centre of Kottayam Town, there are diverse options to suit different preferences and provide a comfortable base for exploring the city and its surroundings.
Kottayam Town has a decent range of hotels, guesthouses and budget accommodation.
Located on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a serene alternative to Kottayam. It also has better hotels and homestays than Kottayam itself.
Browse the best hotels in Kottayam.