Kanjirapally is a quiet, sleepy town at the foothills of the South Western Ghats in the district of Kottayam. Kottayam is a major district in Kerala that is known for its culture, educational institutions, backwaters and hill stations. Kanjirapally is a small town that attracts a lot of tourists because of its reputation of being far away from the crowd, amidst the scenic Western Ghats that are a delight for any trekker, or adventure seeker.
Because of the mountains surrounding this town, it has rightly earned its title as "the Queen of Malanad (The Land of Mountains)" or "the Gateway of Malanad".
History:
This small town derives its name from an ancient tree called Kanjiram. This tree is extremely abundant in this district of Kottayam. The geographical position of Kanjirapally ensured that from ancient times, it has served as an excellent trade junction among the commercial centers in the entire district. Because of the flourishing trade, people of different ethnicities started staying here and you can notice the influence of a lot of religions in this place.
The maximum temperature here is 25 Degrees C and the minimum drops down to 18 Degrees C. The weather is pleasant, as it is all over Kerala. The best time to enjoy Kanjirapally is anytime between October and March.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.
A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) is sufficient.
Embassies And Tourist Offices:
The nearest place for help in terms of embassy related issues and other tourist requirements can be found in other major commercial centers like the main district of Kottayam, Cochin, and Kozikhode.
It is recommended to take a flight till Cochin and from there, one can hire a vehicle or take a bus and drive towards Kottayam. The distance is 88 kms.. From Kottayam one can drive eastwards along the National Highway Number 220 and explore a lot of other mini hill stations while driving to Kanjirapally
Domestic Flights
For domestic travelers, the airports at Cochin and Kozikhode are recommended.
International Flight:
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 88 Kilometers away from Kottayam.
Road Travel
If driving from Cochin, one would need to take National Highway Number 49 southwards to reach Kottayam. The distance is about 88 kms. A lot of State Highways are also connected and pass through Kottayam. To reach Kanjirapally, one would need to pass Peermade through National Highway Number 220.
Train Travel
Since Kottayam is a major tourist place in Kerala and one of its most important cultural and educational districts, it is well connected by railways. From Kottayam, one can drive through National Highway Number 220 to reach Kanjirapally.
Getting Around - Trekking
There are lot of beautiful mountains and hills surrounding Kanjirapally. It is a trekker’s delight to explore these picturesque mountains.
· Vembanad Lake: This is one of the most beautiful lakes in Kottayam. This lake is huge in size and one can find a lot of traditional cargo boats and some modified luxurious cruise boats and house boats.
· Pathiramanal: This is a beautiful island located in the Vembanad Lake in Kottayam district. It has a rich expanse of greenery that soothes the senses of the tourists from all over the world.
· Ganapathy Koil: A beautiful temple, built with granite stands as a testimony to the early Tamil influence in religion and culture.
· Wagamon: This is a peaceful hill station, located in Kottayam-Idukky district boarder. It is about 65 Kilometers away from the main district town of Kottayam.
Kanjirapally is a smaller town and therefore one can only find some guesthouses for accommodation. However the main district town of Kottayam has a lot of luxurious restaurants and hotels.
Kanjirapally is an ideal location if you are looking for a serene and solitary place to spend your vacation. This place promises mystic peace as it is settled in the foothills of the mesmerizing Western Ghats.
