Renting out your home in Kottayam

Our advice for Kottayam

Kottayam is a mid-sized town in central Kerala known for publishing, rubber and education. It is not a holiday destination in itself, yet it sits between two strong currents of travel: the Vembanad backwaters at Kumarakom to the west, and the route towards Sabarimala to the east.

A base, not a resort

Guests who stay in Kottayam usually have a reason other than leisure:

• Sabarimala pilgrims during the main pilgrimage season from mid-November to mid-January, travelling in groups and setting off very early.
• Families of students and patients linked to Mahatma Gandhi University, CMS College and the Government Medical College.
• Returning emigrants: central Travancore has many families abroad, and their visits home for weddings, funerals or holidays need housing for a few weeks.
• Budget-conscious backwater travellers who prefer to sleep in town and drive to the lake.

What to provide

Group-friendly layouts with several beds, parking for vans, a simple kitchen and a caretaker reachable at four in the morning. For mid-length family stays, add a washing machine, reliable internet, a refrigerator and a dining table big enough for relatives. Many empty family homes here are well built but under-used; renting them can be a way to keep them lived in and maintained.

Monsoon care

Rain is heavy from June and parts of the surrounding land are low-lying. Inspect gutters, roof tiles and drainage before the season, and keep valuables off the ground floor where flooding is possible.

Watch-outs

Pilgrim groups follow strict dietary and conduct practices during their vratham; many prefer vegetarian kitchens and no alcohol. Make the house rules clear and neutral in the listing.

Kerala's homestay classification by the Department of Tourism requires the owner to reside in the house with the family, so it does not cover a property kept empty for relatives abroad. Before listing such a home, clarify with the department and the municipality which registration applies, and remember the Form C obligation for foreign guests.

Our conclusion: in Kottayam, design the house for groups and families with a purpose, and keep operations simple and early-rising.