Kottayam
A river town of old churches, printing presses and rubber hills
A Kottayam tour in Kerala: two churches from 1550 and 1579, the Meenachil river town, Thirunakkara temple, Aruvikkuzhi falls and Vaikom's Mahadeva temple.
Overview
Kottayam is a town on the Meenachil river and the headquarters of Kottayam district in central Kerala. It is for travellers who prefer church murals, old temples and a working town to a lakeside resort, and the cooler months from September to February are the easiest for walking around.
The town grew from a trading post at Thazhathangady on the river, and two churches there mark its early Christian community. Valiyapally, St Mary's Knanaya Church, was built in 1550 on land from the Thekkumkoor royal family and keeps a Persian cross with Pahlavi inscriptions. Cheriyapally followed in 1579 after a split in the congregation; its walls carry Portuguese-Baroque and Keralite murals showing scenes from the lives of Christ and Mary, and it mixes temple-style granite pillars with Portuguese design. The Thazhathangady Juma Masjid stands beside the river nearby and counts among the oldest mosques in India.
Kottayam is also known as the City of Letters. The Church Missionary Society opened CMS College here in 1817, Benjamin Bailey set up Kerala's first printing press in 1821, and the daily Malayala Manorama is published from the town. Rubber is the main crop in the surrounding hills, and the Rubber Board has its headquarters here.
Temples add another layer. Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple sits on a hill about 1.9 km from the railway station. At Ettumanoor, roughly 10 km north, the Mahadeva Temple is known for a mural of Shiva's dance and for seven and a half golden elephants used in its annual festival. Farther up the lake shore, Vaikom lies about 33 km north of Kottayam and has the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, called Thekkan Kashi, and was the scene of the Vaikom Satyagraha, a landmark civil rights movement.
For something greener, Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls near Pallickathode drop about 31 m among rubber plantations, with walking trails and a small church at the top. The flow is mostly a monsoon feature, so go between June and September if the falls are your aim, and expect a drier cascade in summer.
Kottayam has its own railway station, and the Nedumbassery airport lies roughly 76 to 93 km away. Rain peaks in June and July, with monthly averages of about 586 mm and 534 mm, while February and March are the hottest months, with daily highs of about 34 C.
Known for
Built in 1550, with a Persian cross carrying Pahlavi inscriptions
Happening soon
Updated Oct 7, 2026Vithukalude Perunnal at Kottayam Cheriyapally
festivalThe feast of St Mary at Cheriyapally in Kottayam, called the festival of seeds, when worshippers seek blessings on agricultural seeds.
Assumption Feast at Kottayam Cheriyapally
festivalThe Dormition of St Mary is marked at Cheriyapally on 15 August, after a two-week fast that begins on 1 August.
Coming up, dates to be confirmed
Ezhara Ponnana at Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
festivalA ten-day temple festival with caparisoned elephants, closing with the arattu; the golden elephants are displayed on the eighth night.
Usually in the Malayalam month Kumbham, which falls in February to March; the golden elephants appear on the eighth night. No 2027 dates found.
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesThirunakkara Arattu festival
festivalA ten-day festival at Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple in Kottayam, with an elephant procession, Kathakali and percussion, ending with the deity's ceremonial bath.
Starts on the first day of the Malayalam month Meenam, which is mid-March, and runs ten days. No 2027 dates found.
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesQuick facts
Tropical monsoon climate, with the heaviest rain in June and July (about 586 mm and 534 mm a month) and the hottest weather in February and March.
Cochin International Airport, about 76 to 93 km
Kottayam railway station, in the town; Thirunakkara temple is about 1.9 km from it
Kottayam lies about 151 km north of Thiruvananthapuram; Vaikom is about 33 km north and Ettumanoor about 10 km north. Drive times (to be supplied).
Visit Valiyapally and Cheriyapally on the same walk, as both stand at Thazhathangady near the Meenachil river
Go to Aruvikkuzhi during the monsoon, when the falls run strongest, since the flow shrinks a lot by summer
Keep Vaikom for a separate half day, as it lies about 33 km north of Kottayam on the Vembanad shore
Location
Plan a trip to Kottayam
Tell us your dates and we will shape the route.