Situated seventy six kilometres away from Kochi, Kottayam is a place strangely ancient in spirit but fairly modern in atmosphere. This land, located in the erstwhile Central Travancore, is remarkably fertile and brilliantly green. A true topical diversity adorned with backwaters, green paddy fields, rubber plantations and palmgroves as far as the eye can see. The land is also rich in varieties of vegetables, cardamom, pepper, coffee and spices. The people are healthy, hard working and educated. This is Kottayam, the Land of Letters, Latex and Lakes.
Land of Letters because as a district Kottayam has the highest literacy in India. The town of Kottayam is also the birth place of the publishing industry and the home of the Fourth Estate in Kerala. Land of Latex because the district abounds in extensive rubber plantations which earned for its headquarters the sobriquet. A trip from Kottayam to Thekkady, along the zig-zag Kumily road, offers breath-taking views of rubber, coffee and tea plantations.
Land of Lakes because of the different lakes forming in the great expanse of water called the Vembanad into which a network of rivers like Manimala, Pamba, Achankovil empty. These and various canals provide for boating, canoeing, fishing and sight seeing experiences that are unforgettable. The vivid blue and green palm fringed backwaters of Kottayam is a perennial source of attraction to the tourists.