St. Alphonsa Church is an important pilgrim centre in South India, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. It is also called Bharananganam . Thousands gather at this holy shrine during the annual festival: Feast of the St. Alphonsa (July).

For more information,please visit http://alphonsa.net/ 

How to reach

Nearest railway station:  Kottayam Railway Station is 25 km away

Nearest airport:  Cochin International Airport is 62 km away

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is an ancient Shiva temple is situated in Ettumanoor, Kottayam, Kerala, India. The temple is famous for its murals, especially the painting of Nataraja in the gopuram and ezharaponnana (the seven-and-a-half elephants finished in gold). The major festival celebrated in Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is the Ezharaponnana ezhunallathu ( A 10 days festival in February/March).

The temple is very artistically constructed and has a copper roof. Several wooden sculptures can be found around the temple. There are also statues of two bulls in this temple. There are also temples for Dakshinamurthy (very rare in Kerala), Ganapathi and Sastha in this temple. There is an engraving in the temple which indicates that it was constructed about 400 years ago.

How to reach

Nearest railway station:  Ettumanoor Railway station, about 2 km and Kottayam (Main Station), about 11 km 

Nearest airport:  Cochin International Airport, about 77 km

Maramala waterfall

Maramala waterfall is situated in Kottayam district. Maramala Waterfall lies a few kms away from Eerattupetta. It is exactly 7 kms from Teekoy rubber estate. In order to reach there one has to trek from TeekoyThe waterfall is about 60 metres in height, falling into a 12-meter deep pool and joins the River Teekoy way down.From there, it's easy to trek trough the estate and get there.The waterfall cascades from a height of 60 meters and slides down about 200 meters to meet the Teekoy river.

How To Reach

Near Bus Station: Erattupetta bus station

Near Railway Station: Ettumanur Railway station / Kottayam railway station      

Near Airport :Cochin International Airport

St. Mary's church Kudamaloor

St. Mary's church Kudamaloor is one of the ancient churches of the Syro-Malabar Rite. It is a Marian pilgrim center. Kudamaloor is the home parish of St. Alphonsa, the first saint from India. The saint was baptised in the baptismal pond in the old church. Rev Fr Placid Podippara CMI (considered as the Father of modern Syro- Malabar Church) and Very Rev Nidhiri Manikathanar are also from this parish. It is situated 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Kottayam town. "Alphonsa Bhavan" - the birthplace of Blessed Alphonsa is under this parish. Mannanam, a pilgrim centre, where the tomb of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara situates, is also under this parish. The old church was built by King Chempakasserry on AD 1125.

For more information:
Please visit: http://www.kudamaloorchurch.org/history.html

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Kaduthuruthy St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Church

Kaduthuruthy Valiapally - Ave Maria of Knanaya Community is a historic church, originally established in AD 400. Located in Kaduthuruthy, the present Kaduthuruthy St. Mary’s Valiapally is a third building serving the congregation, and is linked to the history of the Knanaya community known as Southists, who migrated to Kerala under the leadership of Kanai Thommen in AD 345 from East Syria to escape from the severe persecution of Persian emperor Shapor-II.
For more information:
Please visit: http://www.kaduthuruthyvaliapally.com/

                      http://kottayamad.org/

How to Reach:
Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam Railway Station
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

St. George's Church, Puthupalli

The St. George's Church at Puthupalli in Kottayam district of Kerala, is believed to have been built by the Thekkumkoor Rajas. The golden cross in this church is well known. The feast of St. George (Gee Varghese) is the annual event.The CSI Cathedral Church, built over 175 years ago, is a monument from the British Era. The Old Seminary, Marthoma Seminary and Vadavathoor Seminary proclaim Syrian and Roman Christian traditions.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam, 7 kms away

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Vagamon

Vagamon  is a hill station located in Kottayam-Idukki border of Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It has a cool climate with the temperature between 10 and 23 °C during a summer midday. It is situated 1,100 metres above sea level. Vagamon also known as the 'Scotland of Asia', was discovered by the British who found the place ideal for tea plantations and they were followed by Christian missionaries who built their abode of service at Kurisumala in Vagamon.

Reaching Vagamon itself is an extraordinary experience. The meandering road to Vagamon is cut in solid rock lined with pine forests. And as you wind your way through green capped hills, the rolling plains come into view thousands of feet below you.  Vagamon hill station is comprised of a beautiful series of hillocks, valleys and cascading waterfalls that make it the ideal getaway for tourists. Take a walk along the narrow, mist covered zigzag roads that wind up the hills and experience true bliss. For adventure seekers, there is an option of trekking, para gliding or rock climbing.  Vagamon is also home to a large variety of flowers and orchids. Cuddled up within three striking hills Thangal, Murugan and Kurisumala hills which are the representation of the chief religions in Kerala, i.e. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian which represent the cultural harmony.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Cochint International Airport

 

 

St. Mary's Church, Manarcad

The Marthamariam Cathedral (St. Mary's Cathedral) at Manarcad has been internationally Famous for centuries and draws believers from far and wide.Manarcad is situated just 9 kms away from kottayam town, the headquaters of Kottayam district in Kerala.This is one of the most important churches of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christians. Manarcad cathedral is the most important church among the ancient churches of Malankara. The stone inscriptions found at the church reveal that the church was built more than a 1000 years ago. Archeologists have found out that these stone inscriptions were memorial stones set up at the tombs in 910 A.D. and 920 A.D. and the writing on them are in Malayalam and Tamil scripts prevalent 600 years ago.

Afterwards, on several occasions, the church was rebuilt and renewed. In the 16th century there was not a single church in the land which was not re-built in the Portugese style. It is believed that the Manarcad cathedral also was re-built at that time in the model of the Kottayam Small Church .The Manarcad Church has been in existence right from its inception till date under the leadership of the Holy Bava, the Patriarch of Antioch and of all East from the throne of St.Peter and the Blessed Catholic Bava and the Arch Bishop appointed by the Throne of Antioch.

The ettunompu (8 day fasting) is the main annual event when devotees from far and wide congregate to participate in the prayers and rituals. The ancient practice of 8 day fast and the Feast of Virgin Mary's Birth are celebrated between September 1st and 8th of every year at the cathedral.

Address: 

St.Mary's Jacobic Syrian Cathedral
Manarcad P.O.
Kottayam ,Kerala , India
Email: manarcadstmaryschurch@gmail.com
Telephone: +91481 2372700

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Bay Island Driftwood Museum

Bay Island Driftwood Museum located at the picturesque village of Kumarakom in Kottayam district, the museum demonstrates a wide range of driftwood artifacts collected by Mrs. Raji Punnoose.

While  she is working as a teacher in the Andaman Islands of Bay of Benagal was fascinated by the amazing shapes and sizes of quality driftwoods. Twisted roots, tree trunks and twigs piled on seashore ignited her imagination. She discovered potential artistic possibility in what appeared to be waste materials. Each year turbulent sea waves drown parts of mangrove forests ashore. The trees washed away by salty waves are seasoned naturally by the sea and sun. What remains after the corroding process is the sturdiest part of the tree.

After picking up the pieces of driftwood, follows the rigorous process of cleaning, scraping, trimming and polishing. In this process the original design crafted by nature becomes more obvious. The ultimate shape is decided after surveying the forms and contours.

The admirers and connoisseurs of this rare and innovative form of art frequent the Bay Island Driftwood Museum. The student community finds the art form adopted in the preparation of the exhibits in the museum interesting and educative as the museum inculcates in them the qualities of imagination, creativity, originality, and initiation to produce useful articles out of materials normally considered waste

The Limca Book of Records has certified that Bay Island Museum ( est 2001) located in kumarakom, kerala, the only drift wood museum, showcases objects that have been painstakingly recovered and collected from the andaman seas and beaches by   Raji Punnoose (proprietor and curator) during her career as a post graduate teacher in the islands.

Working hours in between  10am to 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam.

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport.

 

Phone Numbers:

Museum: 0481 2526223

mob: 9447464296

Kurisumala Ashram

Kurisumala Ashram is at the heart of the Sahya Mountains, which run parallel to India's south west coast.It is a famous Christian Pilgrim center located at a distance of 60kms from Kottayam.

Kurisumala Ashram is a community of spiritual seekers who have become one in the spirit. The spiritual light of Kurisumala is the Acharya, the leader of seekers. The history of Kurisumala Ashram is the history of Acharya. It was in 1955 that John, at baptism, a Belgian by birth, but brother Francis as a Cistercian monk, and an Indian citizen since 1968, reached Kerala. He was prompted by an inner call, a call to a new life.

During the holy week, thousands of devotees from far and near converge here to climb this holy hill, carrying small wooden crosses. At the peak of the hill, there is a Jewish monastery also known as Kurisumala Ashramam, which has a small community of ascetics who follow Christian faith but combines with it the Indian spiritual traditions and Gandhian thoughts.

On the eastern side of the hill is Muruganmala housing a rock cut temple dedicated to Murugan (son of Lord Shiva). The road to Kurisumala offers some real sightseeing opportunities in a European model house and the beautiful artificial lake, both designed by the renowned architect, Laurie Baker.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Vimalagiri Church

Vimalagiri Church, Kottayam is one of the prominent churches of Kerala. It is located in Kottayam, is one of the significant cathedrals under the Diocese of Vijayapuram. The deity worshiped in the church is Vimalambika. The church is also popularly known as Angathattu Palli. It has been gathered from the history, that the foundation stone of Vimalagiri Church was laid in the year 1956. The construction of the grand edifice was finished in the year 1964. The church has been constructed in the lines of traditional Gothic style of architecture. The church's central tower rises to a lofty height of 172 feet, thereby making it one of the highest church towers in Kerala. The main feast of the church is celebrated in the month of December.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

St. Mary's Church, Kuravilangad

Martha Mariam church is the ancestral home of Christian communities in Kerala and out side the State. It is in Meenachil Taluk, 22 kms north of Kottayam, on the eastern side of M.C. Road. Martha Mariam Church belongs to the diocese of Palai. Traditional beliefs, some legendary factors and historical associations contribute to the actual history of the church. It is believed that four Christian families - viz. Palli (Kalli), Kaliyakal (kalikavu), Sankarapuri and Pakalomattam from Palayur arrived at Ettumanoor and they moved to Kalikavu near Kuravilangad in the beginning of the second century.Kuruvilangad Church's Altar Fountain It is also believed that Our Lady appeared to a few children at Kuravilangad, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Our Lady asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported this matter to the elders and a church was built there. The present church was completed in 1960 when Rev. Fr. Thomas Manakattu was the parish priest.

The land of Kuravilangad is blessed by the esteemed presence of St. Mary’s Forane Church, which was built in 105 A.D(just one hundred years before Constantine declared Christianity as the official religion in the Roman Empire). It is believed, Mother Mary's first appearance in the world, was in Kuravilangad. Our Lady appeared to a few children at Kuravilangad, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Our Lady asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported the events to the elders and a church was built there. The church is noted for its old bell, which contains inscriptions belonging to some unknown script. Another significant artifact is a model of a ship made from wood.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

For more information pls visit :www.kuravilangadpally.com

Vagamon

Vagamon is located 39 km from Thodupuzha, 33 km away from Palai, 45 km from Kumily, 22 km from Kuttikanam and about 65 km from Kottayam  of the state Kerala. It has a cool climate with the temperature between 10-23°C during a summer midday. It is situated 1,200 metres above sea level.

Vagamon is a perfect tourist place situated 1200 meters above the sea level surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, fresh cool air, murmuring Pine forest, small waterfalls inviting you to Vagamon. It has been an incredible experience whenever I went there and I still want to go there once again. The hill station has a chain of 3 beautiful hills called Thangal hill, Murugan hill and Kurismala that give an enchanting feel to this beautiful hill station. So visit Vagamon hill station to experience eternal bliss and peace of mind. 

Reaching Vagamon itself is an extraordinary experience. The meandering road to Vagamon is cut in solid rock lined with pine forests. And as you wind your way through green capped hills, the rolling plains come into view thousands of feet below you.This tourist place also has to offer Thangal Para, the Indo-Swiss Project and Kurisumala Ashram. Welcome to a land which would make you come back again and again. So that you could rejuvenate yourself and cherish memories of this enchantingly beautiful land.

Vagamon hill station is comprised of a beautiful series of hillocks, valleys and cascading waterfalls that make it the ideal getaway for tourists. Take a walk along the narrow, mist covered zigzag roads that wind up the hills and experience true bliss. For adventure seekers, there is an option of trekking, para gliding or rock climbing.

How to reach:

Nearest railway station: Kottayam

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport

kumarakom: backewater,lake and birds

Kumarakom in Kottayam is the most sought after backwater destination in Kerala. It has seen a boom in recent years with a large number of hotels and holiday retreats being set up there. Kumarakom is 15 km west of Kottayam District. Kumarakom is a bevy of islets on Vembanad Lake. The lush green area has wide expanses of mangrove forest that is home to many species of birds.The flourishing pastures and the countryside life are interspersed with the beautiful Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Stretched across 14 acres, the bird sanctuary is a desired haven of migratory birds and a bird lover’s paradise. Teals, egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live there in teems are an enthrallment for guests. The finest way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the backwater of of Kottayam on the Vembanad lake. The Sanctuary teems with local waterfowls and over wintering migratory birds such as the Siberian storks.When you float out on the waters, you will find flocks of egrets and snakebirds in close quarters; the way they maneuver their way deep down into the water and surface with an unusual kill perched in between their bills. Boats are available for backwater cruises in the lakeBest season to visit The ideal time to visit the park is between September to Januvary . For those, who like to watching the migratory birds, November to February is the best timeClimate .The temperature in summers ranges between 34.2°C to 22.6°C. Winter temperature ranges between 20 °C to 28 °

How to reach:

Nearest Airport: Cochin International airport, 70 km from Kottayam.
Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam, about 15 km away
Nearest Bus Station: KSRTC Bus station kottayam

Vembanad Lake

kochi lake

Punnamada lake

Vembanad Lake  is the longest lake in india, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in Kochi. The Port of kochi is located around two islands (the Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam) in a portion of this lake known as the Kochi Lake. The celebrated Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of this lake, in the Kuttanad region, known as the Punnamada Lake. High levels of pollution have been noticed at certain hotspots of Vembanad backwaters. Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under National Wetlands Conservation Programme

How to reach:

Nearest Airport: Cochin International airport
Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam,Kottayam, Alappuzha
Nearest Bus Station: KSRTC Bus station:Ernakulam,Kottayam, Alappuzha