Kottayam district


 * For the town with the same name, see .

Kottayam (: കോട്ടയം) is one of the 14,. The district has its headquarters at town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E.

Bordered by the lofty and mighty on the east and the  and paddy fields of  on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, extensive rubber plantations, places associated with many legends and a totally literate people have given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes. Kottayam town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as in 1989). 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 in the present Kottayam town. 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 (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 (1924-25), an epic struggle for eradication of, took place. 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 Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha. It is of immense historic significance that national leaders like, , and , 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, the then Dewan of Travancore.

The present Kottayam district was previously a part of the erstwhile princely state 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  and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division 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 s, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.

Climate
Kottayam has a tropical climate as the rest of Kerala. Hence there is no distinct seasons in the area. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The average rainfall is around 1600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts from June and ends in August. The north-east monsoon is in October-November. December, January and February are cooler, while March, April and May are hotter. The highest temperature recorded here was 38.5 °C and the lowest was 16 °C.

Tourism
Kottayam has a vast network of rivers and canals which empty into the great expanse of water called the, part of the interconnected that run virtually the length of the state. Vembanad Lake is 83.72 km in length and 14.48 km in width. Traditional cargo boats called are modified into 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. In the Vembanad Lake there is a small beautiful island called (the midnight sands). This island is accessible only by boat.

, 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, , , and. Local birds like the, , and  and  other common varieties like the , ,  and s can also be spotted here. 91 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.

In the festive months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene lakes come alive during with a spectacular water regatta - the. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full throated singing. In the Kumarakom boat race conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers, about 50 types of boats including veppu, ody and churulan boats participate.

An age old traditional, kerala's own martial art and ayurvedic and kalari treatment(marma treatment) centre named Sreepathy CVN Kalari is located in cheruvandoor village, 2 km far from the second largest SIVA temple of kerala which is located in Ettumanoor.

The  is 104 km away, in the  District. It is also a gateway to the pilgrim centres like, Mannanam, , , , , Erumeli and. Kottayam town is linked by rail to other prominent cities in Kerala and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel.

Kottayam is the first town in India selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to be transformed as an Eco City.

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 and manufacturing of rubber based products. Rubber based industries in the district include a unit of MRF Ltd. (Madras Rubber Factory) in Vadavathoor, 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 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 and other varieties of  providing raw material for a number of small enterprises in the production of, packing cases, splints, 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 first and 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 publications,  Publications, Mangalam Publications, Deepika, DC Books, V Publishers and Vidhyamitram are also located in Kottayam. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year.

Education
Old Seminary of the at Chungam, Kottayam is the first institution to start English education in South India. C.M.S High School (which later became ) was founded by the British missionary Rev. Benjamin Bailey. The first college in the state 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. , one of the six universities in Kerala is located here. Other prominent educational institutions located in Kottayam include, Baselios College, B.C.M College, Government College Nattakom and K.G College. one of the government medical colleges, is located at Gandhinagar close to Kottayam. , the government engineering college named after former prime minister of India Mr. 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 started in the private sector.

Kottayam has a Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science managed by located at

The school (which means "holy place of learning" or "school") is situated in Kottayam. The School was founded and is managed by Mrs. Mary Roy, an educationalist, a women's rights activist, and a social reform activist.

Kottayam town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as 1989.

Politics
, the former hails from Kottayam district. Currently Kottayam is represented in the by Suresh Kurup of.

Members representing constituencies in Kottayam in the Kerala state Legislative Assembly


 * Kanjirappally: Alphonse Kannanthanam [L.D.F]
 * Vazhoor: Prof.N. Jayaraj[U.D.F]
 * Changanacherry: C.F. Thomas [U.D.F]
 * Kottayam: V N Vasavan [L.D.F]
 * Ettumanoor: Thomas Chazhikadan [U.D.F]
 * Puthuppally: Oommen Chandy (Ex Chief Minister) [U.D.F]
 * Poonjar: P.C.George [L.D.F]
 * Pala: K.M. Mani [U.D.F]
 * Kaduthuruthy: Mons Joseph [L.D.F]
 * Vaikom: Ajith [L.D.F]

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 is the last rail stop for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of. 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. , one of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala is located nearly 12 km away from Kottayam. The Siva temple at 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, 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. Srikrishna temple, Pallipurathukavu Devi Temple are other important temples located in the town. Temple and Vaikom Mahadevar temple are other famous temples near Kottayam.

Kottayam has a rich culture. One of the oldest mosques in kerala is situated at 3 kilometers from kottayam town. This mosque is considered to be around 1500 years old and is built by ealry arab travellers who landed in kerala during the time of empire.

A number of old and sacred Christian churches are also located in Kottayam. Old Seminary, a prominent religious institution belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church and a seminary for aspiring priests for 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. , 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. Lacs of People visit the church every First Friday.

, is another very important and famous Christian church in Kottayam. This church is located at Manarcadu, near Kottayam.

Towns in Kottayam District
,, Ayarkunnam, ,MUTHOLY , ,, , Erumely, , , , ,, , , ,, Kozhuvanal,Mevada, , , ,, , Mundakkayam, , , Pallickathode, , , ,, , , Vazhoor, , , Vakathanam, Parampuzha and Thiruvanchoor.

Chingavanam is located in Nattakom panchayat, Kottayam District. It is a small town just 8 KM from Kottayam town & 8.5 KM Distance from Changanachery Town on the Adoor - Kottayam MC Road.It is near to Kurichy. Kurichy is 2.5 KM from Chingavanam.

vazhoor is a village in kottayam district. it lies on the eastern side of the district, about twenty kilometres from kottayam town.

Mevada is a small beautiful village in kottayam district.It lies 7KM from .Major Purackattu Kavu Temple and ST.Mary's church are located in this samall village.

Mutholy is more beautiful than mevada.

Kurichy is a village in Kottayam district. It lies about 6 kilometers from.

Kanakkary is located in Ettumanoor -Vaikom road and it's 3 km from Ettumanoor.Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is in this road side.

List of Educational Institutions in the district

 * Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Kottayam
 * College Of Engineering poonjar
 * M.D Seminary School, Kottayam
 * Mahatma Gandhi University and its Departments
 * Medical College Kottayam
 * Govt. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Pampady,Kottayam
 * College of applied science (under IHRD), Puthupally
 * , Kottayam
 * College of Engineering, Kidangoor
 * 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 College, Kanjirapally
 * K.E College, Mannanam
 * K.G College, Pampady
 * Government College, Nattakom
 * Theophilus College of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
 * P G M College, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
 * Devamatha College, Kuravilnagadu
 * Depaul english medium &public h.s.s school kuravilangadu
 * P Geevarghese School of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
 * School of Laboratory Technology MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
 * St. Thomas College, Pala
 * Alphonsa college Pala
 * Labour India Gurukulam Public School and Junior College, Marangattupilly
 * 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
 * St. Gerge's LPS Mutholy

List of hospitals in the district

 * MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.

Mangalam Hospital Parathodu Post Kanjirapally Kottayam Kerala India

Ph: 04828270965

S.H Medical Center, Kottayam Bharat Hospital, Kottayam Karipal Hospital, KalathilPady, Vadavathoor, Kottayam


 * Marian Medical Centre Pala
 * Cherupushpam trust Hospita Pala