Kottayam district
Encyclopedia
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala
, India
. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam
town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census
, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India
. On 27 September 2008, Kottayam district also became the first tobacco
free districts in India.
Bordered by the Western Ghats
on the east and the Vembanad Lake
and paddy field
s of Kuttanad
on the west, Kottayam has many unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, rubber
plantations and places associated with many legends given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes. The district is 15.35% urbanised.
of Travancore
attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil Fort. The remnants of the palaces and forts are still seen here.
Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The 'Malayali Memorial' agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam. The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service against persons from outside. The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891) was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library. The event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the state.
It was in Kottayam that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha
(1924–25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability
, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva
Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha. It is of immense historic significance that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi
, C. Rajagopalachari
, Acharya Vinoba Bhave
and E.V. Ramswami Naykar, associated with this struggle. The ' Nivarthana ' agitation of the early thirties, to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the state Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district. The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the state Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
, the then Dewan of Travancore.
The present Kottayam district was previously a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore
. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions viz. the southern and northern divisions, under the administrative control of a 'Diwan Peshkar' for each. Later in 1868 two more divisions Quilon
(Kollam
) and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division Devikulam came next but only for a short period, which in course of time, was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to District Collector
s, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.
seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The average rainfall is around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September. The north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains during March to May is accompanied by thunder and lightening ; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala is received in Kottayam. December, January and February are cooler, while March, April and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded here was 38.5 °C (6 April 1998) and the lowest was 15 °C (13 December 2000). Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall
, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 during which the rain was colored red, Yellow, green, and black.
Vembanad Lake
has a great expanse of water which is a part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters
that run virtually the length one third of the state. Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into luxurious cruise boats and house boats. These boats gracefully move around the back waters, providing facilities to tourist to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace.
Pathiramanal
(the midnight sands) is located in the Vembanad Lake is a small beautiful island. This island is accessible only by boat.
Kumarakom
, located on the coast of Vembanad Lake, is a beautiful village stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense forests. Kumarakom bird sanctuary, is home to migratory birds like the Siberian stork
, egret
, darter
, heron
and teal
. Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo
, owl
and water hen and other common varieties like the woodpecker
, sky lark, crane
and parrot
can also be spotted here. Ninety-one species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here. The best time to watch local birds is June–August and the best time for migratory birds is November–February. House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the Lake. Vagamon is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki district
.
During the months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene backwaters come alive during Onam
with a spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full-throated singing. Thazhathangadi boat race in Kummanam
is over a century old. Boat races are conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers in Kumarakom
. These vallam kali
have about 50 boats participating, including Chundan, Churulan, Iruttukuthi(ody) Veppu, and canoes.
Other nearby tourist destinations:
) and manufacturing of rubber based products. Rubber based industries in the district include a unit of MRF Ltd. (Madras Rubber Factory) in Vadavathoor,St.Mary's Rubbers (P)Ltd Koovapplly, Kanjirappally the No.1 centrifuged Latex, Skim rubber Block and Skim crepe rubber exporter in India, Midas Rubber Ltd. at Ettumanoor, Intermix factory (Neezhoor) and Rubco at Pampady.
Confined more or less to the Vaikom area of the district, is a thriving coir
processing industry, processing coir and making coir products. Consisting of more than twenty co-operatives, it employs around 20,000 people. In the hand loom sector, eight co-operative societies provide employment to 2100 persons. The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood
and other varieties of timber
providing raw material for a number of small enterprises in the production of plywood
, packing cases, splints, veneer
s and furniture.
, Mathrubhumi
publications, Labour India Publications Ltd, Mangalam Publications, Deepika, D. C. Books
, V Publishers, Vidhyamitram, Kerala Kaumudi
daily and kerala kaumudi flash are also publishes from here. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year.
Kottayam district has a population
of 1,979,384, roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia
or the US state of New Mexico
. This gives it a ranking of 234th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 896 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 1.32 %. Kottayam has a sex ratio
of 1040 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 96.4 %.
Kottayam is a major centre of education. Mahatma Gandhi University
, one of the six universities in Kerala is located here. Other prominent educational institutions located in Kottayam include C.M.S College, Baselius College, B.C.M College, Government College Nattakom and K.G College. Medical College, Kottayam
one of the government medical colleges, is located at Gandhinagar close to Kottayam. Government Dental College, Kottayam, the third and the latest Dental College is also located in Gandhinagar. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, the government engineering college named after former prime minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi
is situated in Pampady. There are also a number of other engineering colleges situated in the district. Theophilus college of Nursing, Kangazha is the first Self-financing Nursing College to be started in the private sector.
Kottayam has a Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science managed by IHRD located at Puthuppally
.
The school Pallikoodam
, (which means "holy place of learning" or "school") is situated in Kalathilpady
suburb of Kottayam.
The famous school Girideepam("light on the hill")is located here in kottayam
Kottayam town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as 1989).
kottayam is first district in 100% education awarded in India
hails from Kottayam district. Currently Kottayam is represented in the Lok Sabha
by Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (Mani).
Members representing constituencies in Kottayam in the Kerala state Legislative Assembly
Kottayam, Thiruvalla and Chengannur are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala
. During December and January of each year pilgrims from all over India head to Kottayam and its vicinities to start their final journey to the Sabarimala Temple. The temple is located around 110 km from Kottayam, in the district of Pathanamthitta
. Panachikad Temple, one of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala is located nearly 12 km away from Kottayam. The Siva temple at Thirunakkara
is in the heart of Kottayam town. Three festivals are celebrated here in Thulam (October–November), Mithunam (June–July) and Meenam (March–April) of which the last one is the most important. The Aaraattu
, conducted on the last day of the festival, is the festival of Kottayam, irrespective of caste and creeds. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is another important temple located near Kottayam town. Thirunakkara
Srikrishna temple, Pallipurathukavu Devi Temple are other important temples located in the town. Kodungoor
Devi temple, Kavinpuram Devi Temple
(Ezhacherry), Chirakadavu Mahadevar temple, Ponkunnam
Devi temple, Cherubally Devi temple, Kidangoor
Subramanyaswamy Temple and Vaikom Mahadevar temple are other famous Hindu
temples near Kottayam.
Thekkumthala Devi Temple is in another famous temple .it is located in pallikkathode in kottayam.
Kottayam has a rich culture. One of the oldest mosques in Kerala, Thazhathangady Mosque
is situated in thazhathangady at 3 kilometers from Kottayam town. This mosque is considered to be around 1500 years old and was built by early Arab travelers who landed in Kerala during the time of the Cheraman empire.
A number of old and sacred Christian churches are also located in Kottayam. Old Syrian Seminary, a prominent religious institution belonging to the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and a seminary for aspiring priests for Syrian Christians in Kerala, is also located in Chungam, Kottayam. The Cheria Pally, an ancient Church belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church is a well preserved church with wall murals dating back to ancient times. These unique wall murals have been painted using vegetable dyes. The Valia Palli has Persian inscriptions and a stone cross and belongs to the Knanaya Jacobite Church. St.George Church http://www.puthuppallypally.in, Puthupally, and the Vakathanam Palli are two renowned and ancient churches frequented by pilgrims. Cherpunkal Church is a famous Church in the name of Infant Jesus. Lots of people visit the church every First Friday. The Syrian Christians of Kottayam are popularly known as Achayans, who are wealthy and forward thinking.
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church
http://www.manarcadstmaryschurch.org/index.php, Manarkadu is another very important and famous Christian church in Kottayam. This church is located at Manarcadu, near Kottayam.
The mortal remains of Saint Alphonsa, the first women saint from India is kept in a chapel in Bharananganam
is currently considered to be one of the major Christian pilgrimages in India.
, Anchery, Arpookara
,
Athirampuzha
, Ayamkudy
, Aymanam
, Ayarkunnam
, Ammayanoor, Cheruvally, Chungam
, Mutholy, Changanassery, Cherpunkal
, Chingavanam, Ettumanoor
, Edakkunnam
, Erumely
, Erattupetta
, Kaipuzha
, Kallara
, Kanjirappally
, Kangazha
, Karukachal
, Kodungoor
, Koottickal
, Kanakkary
, Kothanalloor
, Kudamaloor, Kumarakom
, Kumaranalloor
, Kurupanthara, Malloossery
, Manarkadu, Mundakkayam, Neendoor
, Neericadu, Palai, Pallickathode
, chengalam
, Thekkumthala, kanjiramattom
, Pampady
, Parathodu
Ponkunnam
, Poovarany
, Poonjar
, Puthuppally
, Puthuvely
, Vaikom
, Kidangoor
, Vakathanam, Parampuzha, Thiruvanchoor, Peruva, Uzhavoor
, Kurichithanam
, Marangattupilly
, Palackattumala
, Kadappoor
, Kalikave
, Kuravilangad
, Kaduthuruthy
, Muttuchira
, Kothala, Koodalloor
, Kadaplamattom
, Thalayolaparambu
, Vaikom
, Palayam
, Padinjattinkara, Mutholy
Districts of Kerala
The Indian state of Kerala borders with the states of Tamil Nadu on the south and east, Karnataka on the north and the Arabian Sea coastline on the west. The Western Ghats, bordering the eastern boundary of the State, form an almost continuous mountain wall, except near Palakkad where there is a...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. On 27 September 2008, Kottayam district also became the first tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
free districts in India.
Bordered by the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
on the east and the Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
and paddy field
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
s of Kuttanad
Kuttanad
Kuttanadu is a region in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its picturesque vast paddy fields and its geographical peculiarities. It's the region with the lowest altitude in India, and one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea...
on the west, Kottayam has many unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
plantations and places associated with many legends given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes. The district is 15.35% urbanised.
History
Kottayam literally means the interior of a fort - Kotta + Akam. Rulers of Munjanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Thazhathangadi near Kottayam town. Marthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil Fort. The remnants of the palaces and forts are still seen here.
Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The 'Malayali Memorial' agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam. The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service against persons from outside. The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891) was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library. The event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the state.
It was in Kottayam that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha
Vaikom Satyagraha
Vaikom Satyagraha was a satyagraha in Travancore, India against untouchability in Hindu society. The movement was centered at the Shiva temple at Vaikom, near Kottayam.The Satyagraha aimed at securing freedom of movement for all sections of society through the public roads leading to the Sri...
(1924–25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha. It is of immense historic significance that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
, Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Vinoba Bhave
Vinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...
and E.V. Ramswami Naykar, associated with this struggle. The ' Nivarthana ' agitation of the early thirties, to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the state Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district. The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the state Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
Sachivottama Sir Chetpat Pattabhirama Ramaswami Iyer, KCSI, KCIE , also called "C. P.", was an Indian lawyer, administrator and politician who served as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency from 1920 to 1923, Law member of the Executive council of the Governor of Madras from 1923 to 1928,...
, the then Dewan of Travancore.
The present Kottayam district was previously a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions viz. the southern and northern divisions, under the administrative control of a 'Diwan Peshkar' for each. Later in 1868 two more divisions Quilon
Quilon
Quilon may refer to,* Venad, a former state on Malabar Coast, India* Kollam , Kerala state, India* Kollam district, Kerala state...
(Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
) and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division Devikulam came next but only for a short period, which in course of time, was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to District Collector
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
s, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.
Climate
Kottayam has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala, hence there are no distinct seasons in the area. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The average rainfall is around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September. The north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains during March to May is accompanied by thunder and lightening ; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala is received in Kottayam. December, January and February are cooler, while March, April and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded here was 38.5 °C (6 April 1998) and the lowest was 15 °C (13 December 2000). Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall
Red rain in Kerala
The Kerala red rain phenomenon was a blood rain event that occurred from July 25 to September 23, 2001, when red-coloured rain sporadically fell on the southern Indian state of Kerala. Heavy downpours occurred in which the rain was colored red, staining clothes pink. Yellow, green, and black rain...
, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 during which the rain was colored red, Yellow, green, and black.
Tourism
Kottayam has a vast network of rivers, backwaters, ancient religious places, and hillstations. Some of the noted tourist places here are:Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
has a great expanse of water which is a part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters
Kerala Backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state...
that run virtually the length one third of the state. Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into luxurious cruise boats and house boats. These boats gracefully move around the back waters, providing facilities to tourist to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace.
Pathiramanal
Pathiramanal
Pathiramanal is a small island inMuhamma panchayat of Alappuzha district. The name 'Pathiramanal' means 'Sands of night'. The scenic beauty of both sides of the lake as well as that of the island is mind blowing. It is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the...
(the midnight sands) is located in the Vembanad Lake is a small beautiful island. This island is accessible only by boat.
Kumarakom
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam , in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala.-Environment:...
, located on the coast of Vembanad Lake, is a beautiful village stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense forests. Kumarakom bird sanctuary, is home to migratory birds like the Siberian stork
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
, egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
, darter
Darter
The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
, heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
and teal
Teal
Teal may mean:* Teal , a medium greenish-blue color* Various ducks:** Baikal Teal, Anas formosa** Black Teal, Aythya novaeseelandiae** Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors** Brown Teal, Anas aucklandica** Campbell Teal Anas nesiotis...
. Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
, owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
and water hen and other common varieties like the woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
, sky lark, crane
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
and parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
can also be spotted here. Ninety-one species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here. The best time to watch local birds is June–August and the best time for migratory birds is November–February. House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the Lake. Vagamon is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki district
Idukki district
Idukki district is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district headquarters is located at in Painavu.It is the second least populous district in Kerala, after Wayanad .-Etymology:...
.
During the months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene backwaters come alive during Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...
with a spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full-throated singing. Thazhathangadi boat race in Kummanam
Kummanam
Kummanam is a village that lies on either side of River Meenachil. Administratively it is in Thiruvarpu and Aymanam Gramapanchayat of Kottayam district in Kerala State, India. Capital town of Kottayam District is 4 km east from here. A bridge named Thazhathangadi palam connects either areas...
is over a century old. Boat races are conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers in Kumarakom
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam , in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala.-Environment:...
. These vallam kali
Vallam Kali
Vallam Kali literally means boat race in Malayalam. It is the traditional boat race in Kerala It is mainly conducted during the season of the harvest festival Onam in autumn....
have about 50 boats participating, including Chundan, Churulan, Iruttukuthi(ody) Veppu, and canoes.
Other nearby tourist destinations:
- ThekkadyThekkadyThekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.- Overview :...
Periyar Tiger Reserve - 104 kilometers away, in the Idukki District. - Peerumed, about 75 km located in Idukki district
- MunnarMunnarMunnar is one of the most popular hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki district....
hill station, about 80 km away - VaikomVaikomVaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, about 50 km away - KottayamKottayamKottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
is also a gateway to the pilgrim centres like SabarimalaSabarimalaSabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
, Mannanam, VaikomVaikomVaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, Ettumanoor Siva templeEttumanoorEttumanoor is a major town in Kottayam District of Kerala, India, located 11 kilometers north-east of Kottayam town, 65 km from Cochin and 73 km from Cochin International Airport...
, ThirunakkaraThirunakkaraThirunakkara is the name of an area of Kottayam town in Kerala, India.The place is a hill known as "Nakkara Kunnu" in the regional language Malayalam.There is a Hindu temple located on the hill and the hill is considered to be a Sacred hill by Hindus hence the name "Thiru" + "Nakkara" meaning...
, BharananganamBharananganamBharananganam, an important pilgrim centre in South India, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. Bharananganam and surrounding places are bestowed with natural beauty due to hilly areas and lot of vegetation.- Saint Alphonsa's...
, Erumeli and famous puthuppallychurch[puthuppallypally] and famous Manarcaud churchManarcaudManarcaud is a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state, South India. It is known for the Manarcaud Perunnal, the annual feast at the St. Mary's Church,which is usually held in the first few days of September...
. Kottayam town is linked by rail to other prominent cities in KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel. The nearest airport is Cochin International AirportCochin International AirportCochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...
which is about 88 kilometers away. Kottayam is the first town in India selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
to be transformed as an Eco City.http://www.ilfsindia.com/projects1.asp?Category=2&Project=13&subLink=53
Agriculture
Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low lying areas very close to sea level. Depending on the location different varieties of food crops as well as cash crops are cultivated. The most important food crop cultivated in low lying areas is rice. Though its the staple food of the people, unfortunately the area under cultivation is dwindling due to more lucrative cash crops like rubber plantations for which Kottayam significantly contributes to the overall rubber production in India. Rubber trees provide a stable income for the farmers and climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though highlands are more suitable, the cultivation has spread to almost every where. Apart from these, other crops cultivated are tapioca, coconut, pepper, vegetables etc. In order to enhance the rubber productivity, government of India has set up Rubber board and Rubber research institute in Kottayam.Industry
Aside from two public sector companies, Hindustan Newsprint at Velloor and Travancore Cements at Nattakom, industries in the district consist mostly of small and medium scale units. The main activity are in publishing (newspapers and books) and processing of rubber (latexLatex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
) and manufacturing of rubber based products. Rubber based industries in the district include a unit of MRF Ltd. (Madras Rubber Factory) in Vadavathoor,St.Mary's Rubbers (P)Ltd Koovapplly, Kanjirappally the No.1 centrifuged Latex, Skim rubber Block and Skim crepe rubber exporter in India, Midas Rubber Ltd. at Ettumanoor, Intermix factory (Neezhoor) and Rubco at Pampady.
Confined more or less to the Vaikom area of the district, is a thriving coir
Coir
Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, mattresses etc. Technically coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. Other uses of brown coir are in upholstery...
processing industry, processing coir and making coir products. Consisting of more than twenty co-operatives, it employs around 20,000 people. In the hand loom sector, eight co-operative societies provide employment to 2100 persons. The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood
Softwood
The term softwood is used to describe wood from trees that are known as gymnosperms.Conifers are an example. It may also be used to describe trees, which tend to be evergreen, notable exceptions being bald cypress and the larches....
and other varieties of timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
providing raw material for a number of small enterprises in the production of plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
, packing cases, splints, veneer
Wood veneer
In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm , that are typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. They are also used in marquetry...
s and furniture.
Publishing
The first printing press in Kerala (C.M.S Press) was established here in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily, a British missionary. Maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively. The only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS), for publishing books and periodicals was set up here in 1945. Kottayam is the hometown of a vast number of books and periodicals and is the centre of publishing business in the state. Popular publishing houses like Malayala ManoramaMalayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
, Mathrubhumi
Mathrubhumi
Mathrubhumi is a Malayalam language newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. Mathrubhumi was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British.-History:...
publications, Labour India Publications Ltd, Mangalam Publications, Deepika, D. C. Books
D. C. Books
DC Books is the largest publisher in Kerala, the leading publisher of books in Malayalam, and one of the top ten publishers in India. It also operates one of the largest book store chains in India, with a network of over 30 bookshops, and over 50 agencies in Kerala....
, V Publishers, Vidhyamitram, Kerala Kaumudi
Kerala Kaumudi
Kerala Kaumudi is a popular Malayalam newspaper, founded in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman with K. Sukumaran B.A. as the founder editor. Printed from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur in Kerala and Bangalore, Kerala Kaumudi is the third most circulated Malayalam daily. The...
daily and kerala kaumudi flash are also publishes from here. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Kottayam district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 1,979,384, roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
or the US state of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. This gives it a ranking of 234th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 896 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 1.32 %. Kottayam has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 1040 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 96.4 %.
Education
The Old Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church at Chungam, Kottayam is the first institution to start English education in South India. C.M.S High School (which later became Church Missionary Society College High School) was founded by the British missionary Rev. Benjamin Bailey. The first college in the state (C.M.S College) was started at Kottayam in 1840. It is also the second college in India established by the British empire. CMS college was previously known as "grammar school".Kottayam is a major centre of education. Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
, one of the six universities in Kerala is located here. Other prominent educational institutions located in Kottayam include C.M.S College, Baselius College, B.C.M College, Government College Nattakom and K.G College. Medical College, Kottayam
Medical College, Kottayam
Government Medical College, Kottayam is one of prominent government medical colleges in Kerala, India. The campus is located about 8 kilometres north of Kottayam in central Kerala.-History:...
one of the government medical colleges, is located at Gandhinagar close to Kottayam. Government Dental College, Kottayam, the third and the latest Dental College is also located in Gandhinagar. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, the government engineering college named after former prime minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
is situated in Pampady. There are also a number of other engineering colleges situated in the district. Theophilus college of Nursing, Kangazha is the first Self-financing Nursing College to be started in the private sector.
Kottayam has a Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science managed by IHRD located at Puthuppally
Puthuppally
Puthuppally Puthupally is situated 8 km south of Kottayam town encircled by rivers, paddy fields and hills having a 30000 + population of various cast and creeds...
.
The school Pallikoodam
Pallikoodam
Pallikoodam is a high school in the Kalathilpady area of Kottayam in Kerala Pallikkoodam. It was established as Corpus Christi High School in 1967 by educator and women's rights activist, Mary Roy...
, (which means "holy place of learning" or "school") is situated in Kalathilpady
Kalathilpady
Kalathilpady is an area on the suburbs of Kottayam town in the state of Kerala in south India. It is about 3 km from the town center located on the Kottayam Kumili road....
suburb of Kottayam.
The famous school Girideepam("light on the hill")is located here in kottayam
Kottayam town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as 1989).
kottayam is first district in 100% education awarded in India
Hospitals, Health care
- Mary Queens Mission Hospital, Kanjirappally
- High Range Medical Centre, Kanjirappally
- Medical College, KottayamMedical College, KottayamGovernment Medical College, Kottayam is one of prominent government medical colleges in Kerala, India. The campus is located about 8 kilometres north of Kottayam in central Kerala.-History:...
- Caritas HospitalCaritas HospitalThe Caritas Hospital is a hospital in Thellakom , Kottayam district, Kerala, India. The hospital is run by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam and is registered as a charitable organization.-History:...
- Matha Hospital, Thellakom
- Medical Center
- Little Lourdes Mission hospital, Kidangoor
- Indo - American Hospital
- Bharath Hospital
- MGDM Hospital
- Mangalam Hospital
- S.H Medical Center
- Bharat Hospital
- Karipal Hospital
- PMC Hospital, Erattupetta
- Marian Medical Centre, Pala
- Carmel Hospital, Pala
- Cherian Memorial Mission (CMM) Hospital, Karukachal
- Cherupushpam trust Hospital Pala
- Apart from above, Kottayam has a Government medical collegeMedical College, KottayamGovernment Medical College, Kottayam is one of prominent government medical colleges in Kerala, India. The campus is located about 8 kilometres north of Kottayam in central Kerala.-History:...
and DentalDentistryDentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
college - St.Thomas Hospital,Changanassery
- St.Marys Hospital Manarcad
- Mary Matha Hospital,Kanjirapally
- Mandiram Hospital, Vijayapuram, Puthuppally, Kottayam
- Udayagiri Hospital,Changanacherry
Politics
K R Narayanan, the former President of IndiaPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
hails from Kottayam district. Currently Kottayam is represented in the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
by Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (Mani).
Members representing constituencies in Kottayam in the Kerala state Legislative Assembly
- Kanjirappally: Prof.N. Jayaraj, Kerala Congress (Mani)
- Changanacherry: C.F. Thomas, Kerala Congress (Mani)
- Kottayam: Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, [Congress]
- Ettumanoor: Suresh Kurup, Communist Party of India (Marxist)Communist Party of India (Marxist)The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
- Puthuppally: Ommen Chandy (Chief Minister), Indian National CongressIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
- Poonjar: P.C.George, Kerala Congress (Mani)
- Pala: K.M. Mani, Kerala Congress (Mani)
- Kaduthuruthy: Mons Joseph, Kerala Congress (Mani)
- Vaikom: Ajith, Communist Party of IndiaCommunist Party of IndiaThe Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
Religion
Like the rest of Kerala, Hindus, Christians and Muslims form a significant part of the population. The Percentage being 48.76%, 45.83%, 5.35% respectively. (Census 2001)Kottayam, Thiruvalla and Chengannur are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
. During December and January of each year pilgrims from all over India head to Kottayam and its vicinities to start their final journey to the Sabarimala Temple. The temple is located around 110 km from Kottayam, in the district of Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
. Panachikad Temple, one of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala is located nearly 12 km away from Kottayam. The Siva temple at Thirunakkara
Thirunakkara
Thirunakkara is the name of an area of Kottayam town in Kerala, India.The place is a hill known as "Nakkara Kunnu" in the regional language Malayalam.There is a Hindu temple located on the hill and the hill is considered to be a Sacred hill by Hindus hence the name "Thiru" + "Nakkara" meaning...
is in the heart of Kottayam town. Three festivals are celebrated here in Thulam (October–November), Mithunam (June–July) and Meenam (March–April) of which the last one is the most important. The Aaraattu
Aaraattu
Arattu is a part of the rituals of the festivals of most of the major temples of Kerala, India. In this ritual, the priest takes the Deity form of the god with him and takes a bath in Holy Water. This is mainly carried out at the end of the Festival of the temple....
, conducted on the last day of the festival, is the festival of Kottayam, irrespective of caste and creeds. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is another important temple located near Kottayam town. Thirunakkara
Thirunakkara
Thirunakkara is the name of an area of Kottayam town in Kerala, India.The place is a hill known as "Nakkara Kunnu" in the regional language Malayalam.There is a Hindu temple located on the hill and the hill is considered to be a Sacred hill by Hindus hence the name "Thiru" + "Nakkara" meaning...
Srikrishna temple, Pallipurathukavu Devi Temple are other important temples located in the town. Kodungoor
Kodungoor
Kodungoor is a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Kodungoor is 25 km from the district headquarters, Kottayam & 29 Km from Changanassery , 7 Km from Ponkunnam. The Kottayam-Kumaly road passes through the town. NH 220 splits into two, just after Kodungoor...
Devi temple, Kavinpuram Devi Temple
Kavinpuram Devi Temple
Kavinpuram Devi Temple is located in the South Indian state of Kerala, near the towns of Pala and Ramapuram in Kottayam district. It is unique among the temples of India as its main idol features both Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. Typically, a Hindu temple has individual idols for Shiva and...
(Ezhacherry), Chirakadavu Mahadevar temple, Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam is a town in the eastern high-ranges of Kerala, India, part of Kottayam district. Nearby towns are Kanjirappally, Manimala and Pala. This part of Kerala is famous for its fertile lands and rubber plantations. It is at an altitude of 495 Metres above MSL sea level.- Overview :Ponkunnam is...
Devi temple, Cherubally Devi temple, Kidangoor
Kidangoor
Kidangoor is a village in Kottayam district, near Pala, India. It is strategically located between the two major towns in Kottayam District, Kottayam and Pala. The Meenachil River flows through the heart of Kidangoor village. The village is mentioned in many old manuscripts and is believed to have...
Subramanyaswamy Temple and Vaikom Mahadevar temple are other famous Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temples near Kottayam.
Thekkumthala Devi Temple is in another famous temple .it is located in pallikkathode in kottayam.
Kottayam has a rich culture. One of the oldest mosques in Kerala, Thazhathangady Mosque
Thazhathangady Juma Masjid
Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is a mosque situated in Thazhathangady, one of the Heritage Zones of Kerala, India, near the town of Kottayam. It is one of the oldest mosques in India and is more than 1000 years old. It is famous for its richness of architecture, wood carvings and the beauty...
is situated in thazhathangady at 3 kilometers from Kottayam town. This mosque is considered to be around 1500 years old and was built by early Arab travelers who landed in Kerala during the time of the Cheraman empire.
A number of old and sacred Christian churches are also located in Kottayam. Old Syrian Seminary, a prominent religious institution belonging to the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and a seminary for aspiring priests for Syrian Christians in Kerala, is also located in Chungam, Kottayam. The Cheria Pally, an ancient Church belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church is a well preserved church with wall murals dating back to ancient times. These unique wall murals have been painted using vegetable dyes. The Valia Palli has Persian inscriptions and a stone cross and belongs to the Knanaya Jacobite Church. St.George Church http://www.puthuppallypally.in, Puthupally, and the Vakathanam Palli are two renowned and ancient churches frequented by pilgrims. Cherpunkal Church is a famous Church in the name of Infant Jesus. Lots of people visit the church every First Friday. The Syrian Christians of Kottayam are popularly known as Achayans, who are wealthy and forward thinking.
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church
Manarcad church
Manarcad Marthamariam Cathedral , is a Jacobite Syrian Christian Church located about 10 km from the town of Kottayam in Kerala, India and a destination for people on annual pilgrimages seeking the blessings of the Virgin Mary...
http://www.manarcadstmaryschurch.org/index.php, Manarkadu is another very important and famous Christian church in Kottayam. This church is located at Manarcadu, near Kottayam.
The mortal remains of Saint Alphonsa, the first women saint from India is kept in a chapel in Bharananganam
Bharananganam
Bharananganam, an important pilgrim centre in South India, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. Bharananganam and surrounding places are bestowed with natural beauty due to hilly areas and lot of vegetation.- Saint Alphonsa's...
is currently considered to be one of the major Christian pilgrimages in India.
Towns & Villages in Kottayam District
AmparanirappelAmparanirappel
Amparanirappel is a place near Palai in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India.Neaby towns include Palai and Erattupetta. Rubber is planted in this area. Bharananganam, a pilgrimage centre, is in the vicinity...
, Anchery, Arpookara
Arpookara
Arpookara is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.The Kottayam Medical College is situated in Arpookara.The main attraction is the backwaters in Arpookara.- Demographics :...
,
Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha
Athirampuzha is the name of a Panchayat and a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state, South India. Athirampuzha is situated 10 km north of Kottayam town....
, Ayamkudy
Ayamkudy
Ayamkudy is a village in the Kottayam district of the Indian state of Kerala.- Location & Access :Ayamkudy is located at 9°45'N & 76°28'E. It nestled in rubber plantations and surrendered by paddy fields and coconut lagoons. It is on the beautiful Backwaters of Kerala.Ayamkudy is only slightly...
, Aymanam
Aymanam
Aymanam is a village in Kottayam District, Kerala, India, the setting of Arundhati Roy's 1997 novel The God of Small Things.-Overview:Ay in the Tamil language means 'five' and Vanam in Sanskrit means 'forests': Ayvanam, or Aymanam, is the land of five forests...
, Ayarkunnam
Ayarkunnam
Ayarkunnam is a town located in between the cities Pala and Kottayam. Ayarkunnam comes under ayarkunnam grama panchayat.There are 20 grama panchayat wards in ayarkunnam. Most of the people in ayarkunnam are farmers and business people. St. Sebastians catholic church is the major worship center at...
, Ammayanoor, Cheruvally, Chungam
Chungam
'Chungam' is a small junction in Kottayam town in Kerala state, Southern India. Chungam is the Malayalam equivalent of tax. So all the locations where tax was collected came to be known as Chungam; indeed Kerala has a number of places with the same name. This is the border of Kottayam town. It...
, Mutholy, Changanassery, Cherpunkal
Cherpunkal
Cherpunkal is a small town in the Kottayam district of Kerala State in India.On the Kottayam Pala road,7 km from pala city.Cherpunkal boasts a Holy Cross Church, believed to have been established by Thomas the Apostle himself, it is also believed that St.Thomas put his sandals there while taking a...
, Chingavanam, Ettumanoor
Ettumanoor
Ettumanoor is a major town in Kottayam District of Kerala, India, located 11 kilometers north-east of Kottayam town, 65 km from Cochin and 73 km from Cochin International Airport...
, Edakkunnam
Edakkunnam
Edakkunnam is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Edakkunnam had a population of 20220 with 10038 males and 10182 females....
, Erumely
Erumely
-Location:Erumely is on the Kanjirappalli - Pathanamthitta Route. A small river, Koratty, marks the entrance of Erumely town. Erumely is a small village in Kottayam District and Kanjirappally Taluk...
, Erattupetta
Erattupetta
Erattupetta is a town in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.It is 38 km east of Kottayam, the District Centre. Erattupetta was known as Erappili and Erappuzha before the Advent of Tamil Muslims into this town. Erattupetta is situated in the foothills of High Ranges. It was the...
, Kaipuzha
Kaipuzha
Kaipuzha is a village in Kottayam District, Kerala, South India. The name Kaipuzha is derived from the two words Kai and Puzha . This is a testament to the many small canal-like rivers found in the vicinity. It is bounded by Ettumanoor to the east and Mannanam by the south...
, Kallara
Kallara
Kallara is a small town in the Kottayam district in Kerala, India. Nearby villages also include Kaipuzha, Athirampuzha, Ayamkudy, Neendoor, Kurumulloor, Manjoor, and Vechoor. Kottayam is located 10 km south. The prominent land-mark at Kallara is the famous Sree Saradavilasini Temple. The reigning...
, Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....
, Kangazha
Kangazha
Kangazha is a panchayath and village in the Changanacherry Taluk of the Kottayam District of Kerala State in India. It is a beautiful place with a serene atmosphere and is situated 26 kilometers east of Kottayam. It lies midway between the backwaters of Western Kerala and the misty mountains...
, Karukachal
Karukachal
Karukachal is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Karukachal is 20 km from Kottayam town. The nearest railway station is Changanassery which is 15 km away....
, Kodungoor
Kodungoor
Kodungoor is a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Kodungoor is 25 km from the district headquarters, Kottayam & 29 Km from Changanassery , 7 Km from Ponkunnam. The Kottayam-Kumaly road passes through the town. NH 220 splits into two, just after Kodungoor...
, Koottickal
Koottickal
Koottickal is a village at the base of Western Ghats mountain ranges in Kottayam District, Kerala. It is above sea level and is situated 0n the eastern border of Kottayam District, 60 km from Kottayam, and around 6 km away from Mundakayam on the NH 220 . There are streams and waterfalls...
, Kanakkary
Kanakkary
Kanakkary is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. The name Kanakkary is attributed to a lady who frequently visited the village to collect Kanam in the pre-historic times. It is 72 km south of Kochi and 14 km north of Kottayam. Kanakkary is located four km from Ettumanur...
, Kothanalloor
Kothanalloor
Kothanalloor is a village located in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. It is situated on the Kottayam-Ernakulam highway, 21 kilometers from Kottayam and 53 kilometers from Ernakulam....
, Kudamaloor, Kumarakom
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam , in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala.-Environment:...
, Kumaranalloor
Kumaranalloor
Kumaranalloor is a panchayat in Kottayam taluka, Kerala, India and near Kottayam Town. Kottayam town is 5 km from Kumaranalloor.Kumaranalloor is a village situated in Kottayam District. The village is famous for Kumaranalloor Devi Temple and the annual Trikarthika festival of the...
, Kurupanthara, Malloossery
Malloossery
Malloossery is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state, south India. It is close to Kottayam. There are lots of private buses that travel to this small village from Kottayam city. It is mainly an agriculture based village, but the new generation is leaving this field and looking for...
, Manarkadu, Mundakkayam, Neendoor
Neendoor
Neendoor is a very small town in the Kottayam district in Kerala, India. The town is located 8 km south of Kottayam town, and is bordered by the towns of Kaipuzha, Athirampuzha, Kallara, Manjoor, Vechoor, and Onamthuruthu.-Economy:...
, Neericadu, Palai, Pallickathode
Pallickathode
Pallickathode, which includes Anickad village, is a panchayath in eastern Kottayam district, Kerala, India.-Economy:Pallickathode has a predominantly agricultural economy...
, chengalam
Chengalam
Chengalam is a village situated in the eastern part of Kottayam District .The village is on the border of Kottayam kanjirappally and pala Taluka. Chengalam is well connected by road to Pala and Ponkunnam 10 km. Most of the people here are Roman Catholic. This place is under the province of...
, Thekkumthala, kanjiramattom
Kanjiramattom
Kanjiramattom is sub urban area , lying approx 27 km southeast to the city of Kochi. The place is known for the Sheikh Fariddudin Mosque and its proximity to the famous Arayankavu Temple....
, Pampady
Pampady
Pampady is a small town 16 kilometres east of Kottayam in Kerala, Southern India. It lies midway between the serene backwaters of Western Kerala and the misty mountains of Western Ghats.-History:...
, Parathodu
Parathodu
Parathodu is a village in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala....
Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam
Ponkunnam is a town in the eastern high-ranges of Kerala, India, part of Kottayam district. Nearby towns are Kanjirappally, Manimala and Pala. This part of Kerala is famous for its fertile lands and rubber plantations. It is at an altitude of 495 Metres above MSL sea level.- Overview :Ponkunnam is...
, Poovarany
Poovarany
Poovarany is a village in Meenachil Pachayath, Palai, Kottayam district, Kerala, India.The name poovarany means jungle of flowers. The Sacred Heart Church and Sree Mahadeva temple are the main religious centers. Two small rivers, the Cheruthode and Valiyathodu, flow through the area...
, Poonjar
Poonjar
Poonjar is a small town in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the capital of the Poonjar Koyikkal Swaroopam or Edavaka.-History:...
, Puthuppally
Puthuppally
Puthuppally Puthupally is situated 8 km south of Kottayam town encircled by rivers, paddy fields and hills having a 30000 + population of various cast and creeds...
, Puthuvely
Puthuvely
Puthuvely is a small village in Kottayam district of Kerala state, south India. It is a border village of Kottayam district.The village's economy depends mainly on crop plantations like rubber, cocoa, pepper, ginger and foreign income from workers abroad. People from different communities live very...
, Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, Kidangoor
Kidangoor
Kidangoor is a village in Kottayam district, near Pala, India. It is strategically located between the two major towns in Kottayam District, Kottayam and Pala. The Meenachil River flows through the heart of Kidangoor village. The village is mentioned in many old manuscripts and is believed to have...
, Vakathanam, Parampuzha, Thiruvanchoor, Peruva, Uzhavoor
Uzhavoor
Uzhavoor is a small village in Kottayam district, Kerala in India. Most of its residents are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. The tenth President of India, K. R...
, Kurichithanam
Kurichithanam
Kurichithanam is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.. Late. K. R. Narayanan former President of India born in this village.-Demographics:...
, Marangattupilly
Marangattupilly
Marangattupally is a small village and headquarters of Marangattupally Grama Panchayat in Kottayam district, Kerala . Most of its people are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. K. R. Narayanan, the tenth President of India, was born and grew up in the neighboring village of...
, Palackattumala
Palackattumala
Palackattumala is a village in Kottayam District of Kerala, India with a population 1500. An oblong tableland located on a small rolling hill, north of illickal junction in ] - Vaikom] road...
, Kadappoor
Kadappoor
Kadappoor is a village in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is strategically located 3 Kilometers off from Ettumanoor - Pala Road , 5 km off from Cochin - Kottayam Road and 18 km from Kottayam town. It has paddy fields, natural rubber plantations and other agricultural products...
, Kalikave
Kalikave
Kalikave is a small village in Kuravilangad Panchayath, Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district....
, Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
, Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy is a small town in Kottayam District, Kerala, South India.- Geography :Kaduturuthy is located at . It has an average elevation of...
, Muttuchira
Muttuchira
Muttuchira is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Muttuchira had a population of 14303 with 7022 males and 7281 females....
, Kothala, Koodalloor
Koodalloor
Koodalloor is a village in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is strategically located 7 Kilometers off from Ettumanoor - Pala Road , 2 km from Kadaplamttom 24 km from Kottayam town. It has paddy fields, natural rubber plantations and other agricultural products. Kodalloor is blessed...
, Kadaplamattom
Kadaplamattom
Kadaplamattom is a small village near Palai, Kottayam District, Kerala, India. It is a largely agrarian community, with most of the population having agricultural roles within it. The main crops produced are rubber, coconut, plantain, pepper, and ginger....
, Thalayolaparambu
Thalayolaparambu
Thalayolaparambu is a village town situated in Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. It belongs to the Vaikom legislative assembly and Kottayam parliament constituency, is one of the towns between Kottayam and Ernakulam....
, Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, Palayam
Palayam
Palayam is a panchayat town in Dindigul district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics:As of 2001 India census, Palayam had a population of 14,096. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Palayam has an average literacy rate of 45%, lower than the national average of...
, Padinjattinkara, Mutholy
List of Educational Institutions in the district
- Amal Jyothi College Of Engineering, Kanjirappally
- CMS College Higher Secondary School Kottayam (ESTD 1817)
- Lourdes public school, collectorate P.O
- Baker Memorial Girls High SchoolBaker Memorial Girls High SchoolBaker Memorial Girls High School, Kottayam is one of the oldest girls schools in India....
in Kottayam (ESTD 1820) - M.T Seminary Higher Secondary School, Kottayam
- St. Joseph's High School, Kudakkachira
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, KottayamKendriya Vidyalaya, KottayamKendriya Vidyalaya, Rubber Board Kottayam is a school located in Kottayam, Kerala,India. It is one among the Kendriya Vidyalayas spread all over India run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, an autonomous body under the department of education, Ministry of HRD, Government of India. The school...
Kendriya Vidyalaya,Rubber Board, Kottayam - Alphonsa Residential School, Bharananganam
- AKJM School, Kanjirappally, Kottayam (http://akjmschool.net/)
- CMS LP School Arpookara
- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Kottayam
- College Of Engineering poonjar
- M.D Seminary School, Kottayam
- Mahatma Gandhi UniversityMahatma Gandhi UniversityMahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
and its Departments - N.S.S. College Perunna, Changanacherry
- N.S.S. H.S.S Anickadu
- S.V.R.N.S.S. College, (KodungoorKodungoorKodungoor is a small town in Kottayam district of Kerala state in India. Kodungoor is 25 km from the district headquarters, Kottayam & 29 Km from Changanassery , 7 Km from Ponkunnam. The Kottayam-Kumaly road passes through the town. NH 220 splits into two, just after Kodungoor...
) Vazhoor, Kottayam - Medical College, KottayamMedical College, KottayamGovernment Medical College, Kottayam is one of prominent government medical colleges in Kerala, India. The campus is located about 8 kilometres north of Kottayam in central Kerala.-History:...
- Govt. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Pampady, Kottayam
- College of applied science (under IHRD), Puthupally
- C.M.S College, Kottayam
- College of Engineering, Kidangoor
- Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirapally
- Holy Family High School, Parampuzha
- Baselius College, Kottayam
- B.C.M College for Women, Kottayam.
- B.V.M. College, Pala
- S.B College, Changanassery
- St. Dominic's CollegeSt. Dominic's CollegeSt. Dominic's College is an arts and science college in Kerala, India. It is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University and is accredited B++ grade by NAAC.-Infrastructure and Campus Information:...
, Kanjirapally - K.E College, Mannanam
- Bappuji Central School Peruva
- Mar Augusthinose College Ramapuram.
- D B College Keezhoor.
- K.G College, Pampady
- Government College, Nattakom
- Mangalam College of Engineering, Ettumanoor
- Mangalam EMRHSS, Ettumanoor
- Theophilus College of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
- P G M College, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
- Devamatha College, KuravilangadKuravilangadKuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
- Depaul English medium & public H.S.S. school Kuravilangadu
- Emmanuel's HSS Kothanalloor
- P Geevarghese School of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
- School of Laboratory Technology MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
- St. Thomas College, Pala
- Alphonsa college Pala
- Saintgits College of Engineering, Pathamuttom
- http://schoolwiki.in/index.php/%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D.%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%99%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%BF.St. Thomas High School, MarangattupillyMarangattupillyMarangattupally is a small village and headquarters of Marangattupally Grama Panchayat in Kottayam district, Kerala . Most of its people are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. K. R. Narayanan, the tenth President of India, was born and grew up in the neighboring village of...
] - Labour India Gurukulam Public SchoolLabour India Gurukulam Public SchoolLabour India Gurukulam Public School and Junior College is a residential school in Marangattupilly, Kerala, India. It offers classes from pre-Kindergarten to Junior College. The school system integrates a sports schedule and community service...
- Labour India College for Teacher Education
- St. George's College Aruvithura
- Model Polytechnic College, Mattakkara
- D.B college, Thalayolaparambu
- St.mary's H.S school, Vaikom
- Govt. Boys H.S Vaikom
- Govt. Girls H.S Vaikom
- Govt. Polytechnic Collage Pala
- Govt. L.P.S Mevada
- ST. Johns Nephumsians HSS Kozhuvanal
- St. Antony's High School Mutholy
- St Joseph's Girls Hight School Mutholy
- Holy Cross H S S Cherpunkal
- St. Xavers U P S Palayam
- St. Gerge's LPS Mutholy
- St. Dominic's Higher Secondary School Kanjirappally
- St. Antony's Public School and Junior College,Anackal, Kanjirappally
- Govt. Polytechnic College, Nattakom
- St Johns higher secondary school, Nedumkunnam
- Govt higher secondary school, Nedumkunnam
- St. Tersas high school, Nedumkunnam
- St Johns bed college, Nedumkunnam
- St Johns itc, Nedumkunnam
- St.Vincent E.M.H.S, Pala
- S.F.S Public School & Junior College,Ettumanoor, www.sfspublicschool.com
- M G E M H S,Vakathanam
- St. Antony's HS Kadpaplamattom
- St. Joseph's LP School Koodalloor
- College Of Applied Science, Payyappady, Puthuppally, Kottayam
- Technical Higher Secondary School, Puthuppally, Kottayam