The
other major place here that you must visit is Kottayam, focus for the Syrian
Christians of India, and also the heart of rubber production. Kottayam's backwater
cruise is shorter than Allapuzha's. There are elegant Syrian Christian churches
that date back to antiquity - some are more than 500 years old. The Kumarakom
bird sanctuary on Vembanad Lake is 16km west of Kottayam in a rubber plantation
of yore. Waterfowl and other species can be spotted as they flutter about here.
Several luxury resorts have opened here. The Coconut Lagoon resort is really
beautiful and scenic. The 50-cottage Kumarakom Lake Resort, exquisitely landscaped
with 20-foot wide lotus filled canals, has recently been classified under the
Heritage category. The luxury Taj resort and the Kumarakom Tourist Village are
extremely popular with the western jet set including Hollywood actors. Buses
run regularly from Kottayam to Kumarakom.
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