Varthamana Pusthakam

Varthamana Pusthakam book written by Paramekkal Thomman Kathanar, in 1785, is the first travelogue in an Indian language.  This has a rich language and a unique style.

The travelogue of Pulikottil Mar Divanasios II, Ursalem Yatra Vivaranam, written in the second half of 19th century, is perhaps the most noted in this category. Ursalem Yatra Vivaranam of Yohannan Sanyasi in 1880, the book Colombilekulla Yatra Vivaranam (1892) by Baselios Geevarghese Catholica Bava I, Kattakayathil by Fr. Kochu Chandy’s Chathu Balayena Charitham (1893), Parumala Mar Gregorios Metropolitan’s Ursalem Yatra Vivaranam (1895), Mar Thomas Kuriyalassery’s Roma Yatra (1901) and Kattakayathil Fr. Kochu Chandy’s Randam Roma Yatra (1906) are some of the noted travelogues.

The first one in Malayalam is Parumala Thirumeni’s Ursalem Yatra Vivaranam.