Kottayam: the real world setting of The God of Small Things

We often draw travel inspirations from books we read. Sometimes they are fictional, and then, there are times that they are not. Whatever they may be, they sure help paint a picture in our minds and we imagine ourselves in the shoes of these characters we read about.

One such book is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, and one such place is Kottayam in Kerala. The book is based on a fictional village but draws inspiration from the real world setting of Kottayam.


Kottayam is blessed with abundant natural beauty, thanks to its geographical location in Kerala. Kottayam, situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, offers a mesmerising sight. Quiet waters, swaying palm trees, lush green surroundings and houseboats, that’s what we get to see when we visit Kottayam.


Kottayam falls on the Western Ghats ranges, and because of this, there is no dearth of greenery here. The story in the book will bring you to the parts in Kerala, a part that is so scenic and idyllic that you will be reminiscing about it for a long time.



The scenic backwaters with traditional houseboats (Kettuvallam), scenery punctuated by gentle flowing rivers and paddy fields, all of these point only towards a quiet and relaxing stay that we all crave for. Not to forget the canals which somehow manages to be one of the busiest places in Kottayam.


Just like in the book, when you visit Kottayam, you will be able to see close-knit communities, their customs and traditions. All these make for a memorable holiday. You may want to pay close attention to the local temples here because it’s in these temples that a lot of cultural activities take place. These activities include festivals, rituals, and ceremonies associated with temples and family events.



Kottayam also has a thriving performing arts scene. Have you heard about the traditional art forms like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam and Ottan Thullal to name a few?


These are just a few things about Kottayam's culture and natural beauty that draw visitors in. The district's cultural richness, literary heritage and traditional art forms is why we keep looking at Kottayam for a quiet escape.