Keeping Kottayam in Kerala is also called “AksharaNagari”, which means city of letters. The place is also complete with geographical wonders and historical sites. Plan a trip to Kottayam and enter.

Temple of Thirunnakkara Mahadeva:

Built in the 16th century by Thekkumkoor Raja, this shiva temple in Kottayam is very famous. The temple’s Koothambalam, which features traditional dance performances, and epic murals on the walls of the temple are examples of Kerala’s traditional and beautiful architecture. A famous event of the temple is the Aaraattu festival, which is celebrated with a mix of performances by professional artists.

St. Mary’s Orthodox Church:

In Cheriyapalli, about four kilometers from Kottayam, the Syriac Orthodox Church of St. Mary was built by the Portuguese. But there is an influence of the classical Indian architectural style, as seen in the skillful stone carvings and murals on the walls of the church.

Temple of Subramanya Swami:

Subramanya Swamy temple is located in a village called Kidangoor, about 17 kilometers from Kottayam. It is dedicated to Lord Subramanya. It is one of the oldest and largest temples in Kerala and is built on the banks of the Meenachali River. The annual temple festival is a big deal when professional artists perform Chakyarkoothu, a traditional form of Kerala dance.

Kottathavalam Basement:

The Kottathavalam Caves are an ideal picnic spot near the Murugan Hills in Kottayam. A climb up a staircase that leads to the cave in the rocks leads you to these magnificent formations. It is fascinating to see the rocks in the cellars in the form of flesh and layers. Another wonderful work of art are the sculptures of Madurai Meenakshi, Murugan, Ayyappa, Kannakki and images of weapons in these cellars.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary:

For bird lovers, a trip to Kottayam can be completed with a visit to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, 16 km away. The sanctuary on the shores of Lake Vembanad is a paradise for birds. There are approximately 90 species of local birds and 50 species of migratory birds in the 14 acres of natural habitat. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest in India.

Though India is surrounded by water on three sides, it is also home to the 17th largest desert in the world. Also called Great Indian Desert, it forms a natural border of India and Pakistan. 90% of the Thar Desert is in Rajasthan.

You can get to enjoy the desert at these places of the state:

Jaisalmer: Set in the midst of the Thar Desert, Jaislamer is an important town in Rajasthan closest to the India-Pakistan border. It is also called the Golden City from the colour it gets from the yellow sandstone used in the construction of most of its buildings. Jaisalmer has many epic monuments depicting the Rajathani and Mughal reign. The monuments that awe are the Jaisalmer Fort, Fort Palace, PatwakiHaweli, Nathmalki Haveli, BadaBagh, Vyas Chhatri and Gadisar Lake.

Khimsar: Khimsar is located between Bikaner and Jodhpur in Rajasthan. This village has miles of sand dunes that seem to stretch to eternity. Access to this part of the TharDesert is only by jeep, horseback or camels. The village offers a camping experience to tourists. Watching the golden sands with the glow of the rising or setting sun and looking out at the bright star filled skies remain an unforgettable memory.

Khuri: Located on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Khuri is a less crowded place to enjoy sand dunes of the Thar Desert. The tranquil surroundings make you relish the wonders of nature as it opens out to you in the vast stretches of sand. It is fascinating to see the desert sands changing hues at different times of the day and the crimson colour of it throws a punch at sunset that will last a lifetime.

Sam Sand Dunes: At the northwest of Khuri are the more populated sand dunes of the Thar Desert. Quite popular for the desert safaris, Sam sand dunes are a major tourist attraction in recent times.

A visit to this mighty desert of India must feature on every Indian’s travel list.