Page 644 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

642  SOUTH INDIA

6 Kottayam
Kottayam district. 160 km (99 miles) N
of Thiruvananthapuram. * 1,974,551.
£ @ n District Tourist Promotion
Council, (0481) 256 0479.
Enclosed by the blue waters of
Vembanad Lake and the paddy
fields of Kuttanad to its west,
and by the lush hills of the
Western Ghats to its east,
Kottayam is one of Kerala’s most
beautiful districts. Its climate
and landscape have combined Mural from the stately Shiva temple at Ettumanur
to make the region prosperous.
Kottayam town is surrounded about 2 km (1 mile) north Environs
by extensive plantations of of the city centre, and have Mannanam, 8 km (5 miles) north
rubber, and other valuable cash colourful frescoes adorning of Kottayam, is associated with
crops such as tea, coffee, their walls. The Nestorian cross the Syrian Catholic saint and
cardamom and pepper. The first at Valia Palli is said to have social reformer Father Kuriakose
town in India to attain 100 per come from Kerala’s first church, Elias Chavara (1805–71), and was
cent literacy, it is also the founded by St Thomas at the seat of the first seminary of
birthplace of Kerala’s publishing Kodungallur (see p653). Cheria the Malabar Church in 1833.
industry and home to many Palli has lovely painted panels Kumarakom, a beautiful
Malayalam newspapers and behind its main altar, depicting backwater village, is 12 km
magazines. A popular writers’ scenes from the life of the (7 miles) west of Kottayam.
co-operative society, the Sahitya Virgin Mary. A great variety of birds can be
Pravarthaka Sahakarana seen at the bird sanctuary here.
Sangham, which was set up A large temple dedicated
here in 1945, has played a to Shiva at Ettumanur, 12 km
cardinal role in fostering the (7 miles) north of Kottayam, has
growth of Malayalam literature. beautiful murals, similar to those
Kottayam also has an old found at Mattancherry Palace
Christian tradition that has in Kochi (see p646). The 11th-
been preserved by its large century Mahadeva Temple
Syrian Christian population. at Vaikom, 40 km (25 miles)
It was one of the first towns to northwest of Kottayam, is
be patronized by St Thomas famous for its elephant
(see p577) in the 1st century AD. pageants and traditional dance
Of the many fine churches performances, which take place
and seminaries that dot the between November and
landscape, the best known December each year. It is also
are the two Syrian Orthodox the site where Mahatma Gandhi
churches, Valia Palli and led an important satyagraha
Cheria Palli, both dating back (civil disobedience movement)
to the mid-16th century. The Nestorian cross at Valia Palli which aimed to make temples
churches stand on a hillock, Church, Kottayam accessible to untouchables.

Wooden Architecture in Kerala Brackets are often carved
The importance of wooden architecture as yalis, or figures of gods
in Kerala is evident in legends that glorify and goddesses.
the master carpenter, Perunthachhan.
Palaces, temples, mosques and homes
all have characteristic sloping tiled roofs
to drain away the heavy rains during
the monsoon. Roofs are generally
hipped, often with decorated gables,
topped by brass pot finials. To achieve Wooden pillars
height, they rise in two or more are ornate. These
superimposed tiers to create steeply are decorative as
pyramidal profiles. Joints and wooden well as functional,
pegs, instead of nails, are used. as they support
Temple with pyramidal roof the roof.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p703 and pp718–19

642-643_EW_India.indd 642 26/04/17 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm