Kottayam
Land of Lakes

It’s only you visit the unique Bay Island Driftwood Museum that it dawns on you that creativity can transform a discarded item into a piece of art. The museum houses unique artworks made with driftwoods (pieces of wood washed ashore by waves), and is one among its kind within the country. The sculptures are recognised as a sort of modern art. Root sculptures of varied shapes and styles are the most attraction. it’s said that each one the things showcased are collected from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, within the Bay of Bengal. the ocean brings along ancient trees and roots, especially during cyclones, and these are left behind on shores when the water recedes. Then, they’re gathered and carved into sorts of animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. The museum also showcases the method of an equivalent . most exhibits at the museum have a quick history written on a plaque placed below them.

Located between three hillocks — Mankunnu, Kudayathoormala and Thonippara, Ilaveezhapoonchira may be a beautiful hill station, about 60 km from Kottayam. the gorgeous valleys of Poonchira are spread across thousands of acres, with the luxurious landscape surrounded by gigantic hills reaching up to an altitude of about 3,200 ft. The name ‘Ilaveezhapoonchira’ means valley where leaves don’t fall. it’s called so because the area has no trees.

The views of sunrise and sunset are particularly splendid here. Monsoon is that the best time to go to this area because the town transforms into a surreal landscape, enveloped in rainy mist. Ilaveezhapoonchira also invites trekkers as there are many challenging trails within the hillocks nearby. Legend has it that there was once a pool here, which was employed by Panchali, the wife of the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata, for bathing.

With mesmerising architecture that has walls featuring sculptures with warfare stories from the Puranas, the Poonjar Palace, located in Meenachil taluk, is one among the foremost interesting heritage sites within the area. It houses a unprecedented collection of antiques and furniture that has a palanquin, a droni (wooden table) carved out of one piece of wood and used for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel boxes, a spread of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (dancing Lord Shiva), statues and weapons. The palace also houses a singular and well-preserved couch that’s taken out per annum during festivals and rituals. Another special feature of the palace is that the chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby. Such rock-cut lamps are rare in India.

One of the most important freshwater lakes in Kerala, the Vembanad Lake may be a stunning tourist stopover. Surrounded by mangrove forests and coconut trees, the lake features a mirror-like sheen, and taking a cruise on a houseboat here fills one with contentment and peace. These cruises let tourists explore the interiors of the region, taking them to tiny hamlets and lagoon islands. The tranquil backwater cruises within the lake are a singular experience, be it short ones in small canoes or boats, which meander through narrow canals, or longer stays on luxurious houseboats, which allow you to float along the emerald waters fringed with palm and coconut trees, because the serene countryside glides by.

The houseboats that ply here are modified kettuvallams or large traditional trading vessels used for transportation of rice and spices to nearby towns. As road transport gained importance, these graceful sailing behemoths faded away, only to re-emerge as floating hotels offering tourists all the luxuries of recent life. While the scenic beauty round the waterways is mesmerising, these spacious and well-decorated houseboats increase the charm of the experience.

Traditionally, a kettuvallam measures around 60 ft long and about 15 ft wide at the beam. a number of the newer houseboats have a length of quite 80 ft! Constructed from locally-sourced natural materials like jackfruit wood, palm wood, coconut fibre, bamboo poles, ropes, bamboo mats etc, these boats offer guilt-free tripping. they’re constructed by tying together (rather than nailing) wooden planks with coconut coir. The planks are coated with resin extracted from cashew shells. Bamboo poles and palm leaves are used for constructing the roof. a number of these boats even have solar panels for generating electricity. If carefully maintained, these boats can last for many years .

Spanning a length of 83.72 km and a width of 14.48 km, the Vembanad Lake hosts alittle and delightful island. A birdwatcher’s paradise, the Pathiramanal (meaning midnight sands) island floats on the backwaters. It boasts around 50 species of exotic and 91 sorts of endemic birds. a number of the common birds one can sight here include common teal, pintail ducks, cormorant, night raven , darter, Indian shag, whistling duck, little cormorant and whiskered tern. The island is additionally home to several medicinal plants.

The best time to go to the lake is in August and September, when it becomes the focus of several festivals. During the harvest festival of Onam, snake boat races are organised and it’s amazing to ascertain a few hundred people in one boat, slicing their way through the waters. a crucial feature of the lake is that the Thanneermukkom Bund, a saltwater barrier and therefore the refore the largest mud regulator within the country that divides the lake into two – one half with perennial salty water and the other with water enriched by the rivers.

Being the very best point within the Ilaveezhapoonchira range, Kannadipara, meaning rock mirror, may be a valley of Rockies that reflects sun rays sort of a mirror. one among the best attractions in Kottayam, it’s covered with bamboo forests, wild blossoms and glades, and is punctuated by the Kazhukankulimali Waterfall, falling furiously down the mountains. To the east of Kannadipara, lies a fort that’s set amidst rocks and is worth a visit.

Another attraction is that the Pazhakakanam Plateau, about 3 km away, that appears beautiful being fed by the Kadapuzha river.