Short Circuits in Kottayam

Here is something to get you started with planning short road trips in & around Kottayam. The map below show suggested boundaries (in boxes) and pivots (bulleted names).
You can use the sample routes given after the map to plan a circuit based on your distance, time and location preferences. Use Google Maps.

You can plan a route quickly and it is immensely flexible. You can plan a circular route thereby not having to return via the same places, make a very short route based on your location, mix places up for a longer day-trip, include visits to friends’ & relatives’ places etc.

This would be an answer to the frustrating and not very uncommon situation of “Where to go? What to do?”.shortcircuitgmaps

Sample Routes

1. KOTTAYAM-Ettumanoor/Manarcadu-PALA-Marangattupilli-KURAVILANGADU-Kanakkari-Ettumanoor-KOTTAYAM
(View map)

2. KOTTAYAM-Kumarakom-Edayzham-Thanneermukkom-POOCHAKKAL-Thanneermukkom-Edayazham-KALLARA-Ettumanoor/Mannanam-KOTTAYAM
(View map)

3. KOTTAYAM –KUMARAKOM-Thanneermukkom-CHERTHALA-ALAPPUZHA-Edathua/Nedumudi-CHANGANACHERRY-KOTTAYAM
(View map)

4. KOTTAYAM-ERATTUPETTA-VAGAMON-Teekoy-Ayyampara-Teekoy-ERATTUPETTA-KOTTAYAM
(View map)

5. KOTTAYAM/CHRY-Pulikkal Kavala-Kanjirapplly-KUTTIKKANAM-Elappara-VAGAMON-Erattupetta-KOTTAYAM/CHRY
(View map)

6. Here is one Specialty Route that takes you from low-lands to high-range via mid-lands in about 70kms (one way):
Thanneermukkom-Edayazham-Kallara-Pala-Erattupetta-Teekoy-Ayyampara
(View map)

To demonstrate the flexibility of the routes consider this:
In Route 1, from Kuravilangadu, jump to Kallara on Route 2 (Kuravilangadu-Kuruppumthara-Kallara) and proceed to Thanneermukkom/Cherthala.
On return, go via Kumarakom. There you have it – a remix!  Keep making mixes and you won’t easily run out of  routes to go.

The Specialty Route mentioned above will be a suitable addition to the itinerary of visiting friends and family. Give it a little thought and you could sketch up more specialty routes, like a taste-route which link places with good food, a friends’-route or a holiday family-route!

Note

The roads vary greatly in their characteristics – width, quality of tarring, amount of traffic, foot traffic, population density etc.
Never stop being alert, even on familiar roads.

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An Assortment of Nadan Palaharam

These Diwali Sweet assortments sparked an idea: how about an assortment of Nadan Kerala Sweets/Palaharams? Sounded good and we gave it a try. This got made.
Looks pretty good, doesn’t it.

We think this would make a great gift especially during the festival seasons. This would also be a good addition to the welcome-drink counters at receptions and any celebratory event. Not to mention the tasty souvenir-value something like this holds!

This certainly is not a complete collection; it’s more of a sketch. You could hack it into various combinations with different quantities, introduce more items like the Halwa, which wasn’t included in order to stay biased towards Kottayam.

Vantage Points

A change of perspective is always refreshing & exciting. Here are some not-often-seen views of Kottayam from characteristic points – vantage points – that show you a lot in one glance.

This post is a collaborative attempt. If you have taken photos like these and would like them to be considered for inclusion in this post, please do send them to
mail ^at^ kottayampattanam.com

Beautiful Sunsets at Mannanam

The Mannanam church is a great spot to watch beautiful sunsets and to experience calming twilight.
(11 kms from Kottayam, view on map).

There stands nothing between you and as-far-as-you-can-see. Just before sunset and during twilight, clouds often stage gorgeous performances. And they never repeat the same moves or hues — the view is unique every evening.

It shows how fun-loving our Earth is!

Inspired by Naalumanikkaattu

It was in January 2011 that Naalumanikkaattu was opened. A first-of-its-kind. The great amount of care and attention given to its maintenance and good-going have paid off greatly. The place is now frequented by at least a couple hundreds people, especially on weekends. The idea was fresh, very practical and the execution was flawless.

Goodness inspires. There are now two more spots in Kottayam that are inspired by the change-of-air Naalumanikkattu offered. Kalathilkadavu Puzhayorasahyanam along the Kodoor River on the Devalokam – Kolladu road (view on map) and Aattutheeram along the Meenachil River, between Cherppunkal and Mutholy, on the Ettumanoor – Pala highway (view on map). These are not as elaborate as Naalumanikkattu but are good little open places for some leisure.

Kalathilkadavu


There are about 6-8 benches here, along the roadside towards the bridge. There is an open park for kids with swings & see-saws, a locally-run hotel that serves snacks & drinks and an ice cream counter. The view get more scenic towards sunset.


Aattutheeram


The Aattutheeram project on the Cherppunkal – Mutholy stretch is a kilometre long beautification of the highway. A passionately maintained garden runs along the road on both sides and it instantly improves the feel of the trip. Even the routine, boring commute will feel better as you pass by. Extending the project, there are now few benches along the garden that overlook the Meenachil River with faint & foggy view of mountains far away.