Of principal interest as a jump-off point to nearby Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kottayam is a prosperous commercial town, famous for its cash crops of rubber, tea, pepper and cardamom. In the old days it was developed as an educational centre by English missionaries, while even earlier it was patronised by St Thomas (1st century AD). The descendants of some of the wealthy Brahmins he converted later helped build some lovely old churches here, including Vallia Palli Church some 5 km (3 miles) north-west of the railway station. It is notable for its Pahlavi inscriptions and for its Nestorian cross, which is said to have come from St Thomas’s original church at Cranganore. Kottayam is an important centre for Syrian Christians in Kerala, as well as being the place where many of Kerala’s leading newspapers are published.WHERE TO STAY
Stay at either the Anjali Hotel, K.K. Rd (tel 3665-6, tlx 888-252 ANJL IN) with clean, comfy air-conditioned rooms for Rs245 single, Rs300 double; or the off-beat Tourist Bungalow, a tricky but rewarding 55-minute walk/climb from the boat jetty. It offers spacious double rooms (originally British officers’ quarters) with period furnishings for just Rs50. The Hotel Greenpark, Nagampadam (tel 3335) has rooms from Rs195 single, Rs225 double. Twelve km (7 1/2 miles) from Kottayam, on the shores of the Vembanad Lake is the KTDC Kumarakom Tourist Complex (tel 258), an old building in extensive grounds. The woodland and lake attract extensive bird life and rooms in the complex are Rs 70 single, Rs85 double.
Stay at either the Anjali Hotel, K.K. Rd (tel 3665-6, tlx 888-252 ANJL IN) with clean, comfy air-conditioned rooms for Rs245 single, Rs300 double; or the off-beat Tourist Bungalow, a tricky but rewarding 55-minute walk/climb from the boat jetty. It offers spacious double rooms (originally British officers’ quarters) with period furnishings for just Rs50. The Hotel Greenpark, Nagampadam (tel 3335) has rooms from Rs195 single, Rs225 double. Twelve km (7 1/2 miles) from Kottayam, on the shores of the Vembanad Lake is the KTDC Kumarakom Tourist Complex (tel 258), an old building in extensive grounds. The woodland and lake attract extensive bird life and rooms in the complex are Rs 70 single, Rs85 double.
