Serene stretches of backwaters (brackish water lagoons) and pristine emerald paddy fields welcome tourists to Kottayam, an oasis of calm nestled within the heart of Kerala. Bordered by the lofty Western Ghats on the east and therefore the tranquil Vembanad Lake on the west, the landscape of Kottayam is punctuated by quaint rivulets, giving the town an almost island-like setting. From cruising gently along the waters during a houseboat to sailing in canoes, there are variety of the way to explore the sweetness of Kottayam, which is additionally a birdwatcher’s paradise. Traversing across the Vembanad Lake, one can encounter some rare avian species like egrets, darters, herons, teals and Siberian storks. The word ‘Kottayam’ means the inside of a fort. it’s called so because it was formerly a neighborhood of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.. it’s popularly referred to as Akshara Nagari, which suggests the town of letters, considering its contribution to medium and literature.

It was the primary Indian town to realize 100 per cent literacy in 1989. Kottayam also occupies a crucial position on the cultural map of Kerala. the primary autobiography in Malayalam by Vaikom Pachu Moothathu, a scholar, was published from Kottayam in 1870. it’s also called the town of latex, as most of the country’s rubber comes from the plantations here.