Kottayam

Kottayam കോട്ടയം 'Akshara Nagari'
—  small city  —
Seematti Roundabout, Kottayam
Kottayam കോട്ടയം Location of Kottayam കോട്ടയം in Kerala and India
Coordinates	9.58°N 76.52°E / 9.58°N 76.52°E / 9.58; 76.52Coordinates: 9.58°N 76.52°E / 9.58°N 76.52°E / 9.58; 76.52
Country	India
State	Kerala
District(s)	Kottayam
Municipal Chairman	Sunny Kalloor
Population	60,725 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 3 metres (9.8 ft)

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Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located in southern Kerala and is also the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam has an estimated population of 60,725, according to the 2001 census.
The town is an important trading center of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber. Major Kerala print media such as Malayala Manorama group and Deepika are headquartered in the city. Also a pioneering center of modern education in Kerala, the city became India's first municipality to achieve 100% literacy in 1989 and the district became the first tobacco free district in India^{[citation needed]}. The city of Kottayam is also called as "Akshara Nagari (അക്ഷര നഗരി)" which means the "City of Letters" considering its contribution to print media and literature.

Etymology

It is believed that the name kottayam originated from the Malayalam words "kotta" meaning fort and "akam" meaning inside, giving the word the meaning of "the interior of the fort".

 History

Kottayam was ruled by the Rajas of the independent little kingdom of Thekkumkoor ruled from Thazhathangady till the mid-18th century. At that time, Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore annexed Thekkumcore and surrounding areas of Kottayam to the Kingdom of Travancore. During the British rule of India, Kottayam continued to be ruled under the 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. A fifth division, Devikulam existed for a short period but was then added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the State of Travancore and Cochin in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to District Collectors. Thus Kottayam district came into being in July 1949. Later it became a part of Kerala, and the headquarters of the district bearing the same name when the state was formed in 1957.
The citizens of Kottayam played an important in the early social struggles in Kerala. In 1891 a protest movement, known as the 'Malayali Memorial Agitation', took place seeking a better representation for Travancoreans, compared to outsiders, in the Travancore civil service. It is believed to have started in Kottayam. This movement had a big influence in beginning the modern political movements of Kerala^{[citation needed]}. During the 'Nivarthana struggle' which took place in the 1930s in Kerala seeking the representation of Hindus of the lower castes, Christians and Muslims in the Travancore Legislature, Kottayam played a major role. The famous Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924 against untouchability, led by Mahatma Gandhi, took place in Vaikom near Kottayam. It was the first systematically organized agitation in Kerala against orthodoxy to secure the rights of the depressed classes.

 Geography and climate

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) photographed in Vembanad Lake, Kottayam

Kottayam town is located in central Kerala at a location of 9°35′N 76°31′E / 9.58°N 76.52°E / 9.58; 76.52. It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9  feet) from sea level.

Neighbouring cities & towns

Destinations from Kottayam Vaikom Muvattupuzha Palai Alappuzha Kanjirappally    Kottayam     Upper Kuttanad Changanassery Mallappally

Kottayam town is situated in the basin of the Meenachil River and basin of Vembanad backwaters which is formed from several streams in the Western Ghats in Idukki district. It flows through Kottayam district and joins Vembanad lake. As per division of places in Kerala as Highlands, Midlands and Lowlands based on altitude, Kottayam is considered to be part of the Midlands. The general soil type is alluvial soil. The vegetation is mainly tropical evergreen and moist deciduous type.
The climate in this District is moderate and pleasant. Kottayam's proximity to the equator results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 20 to 35 °C (68 to 95 °F). From June through September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kottayam lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kottayam receives light rain from the northwest monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 3600 mm.
Kottayam is bordered by Pathanamthitta district on the south, Alappuzha district on the west, Ernakulam district on the north and Idukki district on the east.
Location in Google Maps

 Transport

Autorickshaw in a road in Kottayam. They are a major form of hired transport as in the rest of India

Public transport in the city is largely dependent on buses, run by both private operators and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). There are three bus stations serving Kottayam- two catering to private buses and one exclusively for the KSRTC buses. Of the private bus stations, the bigger one is at Nagampadam which is very close to the railway station and the other one is in the heart of the city. Bus services are very economical. Besides local bus service for travelling within the town, Kottayam is well-connected to the rest of Kerala through inter-state bus services run by KSRTC. Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto-rickshaws. Two-wheelers form the majority of the private-owned vehicles.
The inter-city rail transport system in the city is administered by the Southern Railway division of the Indian Railways. Trains between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram pass through Kottayam, with all trains having a stop. There are trains passing through Kottayam, from and to most major cities in the country like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. 49 km of railway line runs through Changanassery, Kottayam, Meenachil(Kanakkari Village) and Vaikom taluks. Kanjirappally taluk is not reached by rail.
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, 90 km away from the city. The other major nearby airport is at Thiruvananthapuram, approximately 150 kilometres away.
Kottayam town, due to its proximity to the Vembanad Lake, is also served by the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD). The KSWTD runs regular river and lake commuter services between Kottayam and Alleppy Many smaller destinations are also served by this service. The nearest boat jetty to Kottayam Town is in Kodimatha. Older boat jetties, such as in Chandakavala, have been mostly abandoned due to reduced patronage and due to the blockage of the surface water-ways by Water Hyacynth and other plant life.

Arial View of Kottyam Town

KOTTAYAM AIRPORT
There's a strong demand for an airport in Kottayam district to serve the Cental Travancore region of which Kottayam is the most important city. The demand for an airport in Kottayam is a very old one, but did not have the kind of the media and political support as in the case of Kannur airport. The airport will give a fillip to the economic development of Central Travancore as well as the tourist hotspots of Kumarakom and Vagamon in Kottayam, Alappuzha, peerumedu, Thekkady, Munnar and Aranmula. It will benefit the large number of NRIs in the region, especially in the Kottayam-Pathanamthitta belt and NRKs in other parts of India who are presently commuting through Cochin International Airport.
Lakhs of pilgrims thronging the pilgrim centres of Thirunakkara, Bharananganam, Vaikom, Kadappattur, Ettumanur,Aruvithara, Erumeli, Sabarimala and every year will benefit if the airport becomes a reality.As Kottayam is the most important city in the region and the ideal gateway to all these places, as well as it is ideally located between the Coastal-Lake area and the Western Ghats, therefore Kottayam is the best place to set up the 5th airport in Kerala.
The airport project is yet to get NOC from the Kerala Government which already received approval from the aviation minister during the term of previous central government. The Educational district should have a international airport as the part whole tourism are centralized in kottayam.

 Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census, Kottayam Urban Agglomeration had a population of 1,72,878 , while Kottayam district had a population of 19,52,901. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. It is one of the very few places which witnessed a negative population growth from 1991 to 2001.^{[citation needed]}
Kottayam District has ranked 1st in Literacy with a percentage of 95.9 compared to 90.92% for Kerala State and 65.38% for India (2001 census). It is ranked as 10th in population as well as in area among the districts in Kerala. This District has marked lowest decadal population growth rates of 6.76% compared to 9.42% for Kerala.

Economy

Kottayam is a major trading center of natural rubber in India. Rubber trees are extensively cultivated in central Kerala, especially in vast areas of Kottayam District, in plantations, both large and small. The Rubber Board, a body set up by the Government of India for the development of rubber industry, is located at Kottayam. A number of small and medium sized enterprises in and around the town are engaged in the processing of rubber latex and manufacturing of rubber products. Besides rubber, Kottayam is a trading place of other commercial crops like spices cultivated widely in the surrounding areas. The Plantation Corporation of Kerala also has its headquarters at Kottayam.

Rubber Tree

Kottayam is also known as a business centre. The stretch of Kottayam–Kumily Road (KK road) that passes through the town is a major shopping centre and Sastri Road, one of the broadest road in kottayam is also a hot spot for shopping with the outlets of all the leading brands in the world. Baker Junction and Kanjikuzhy are also considered as the commercial and residential hubs of the town. Kottayam district has industries like Hindustan Newsprint Limited, Kottayam Spinning Mills and KSE factory.
Tourism has a major contribution to the economy of the place, as many tourism related businesses thrive in the town. Kumarakom, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kerala, is only 14 km from the town. Wagamon is another place worth a visit, and borders the districts of Kottayam and Idukki.
Kottayam is a sought after place for religious tourism. The first Indian Roman Catholic women saint, St. Alphonsa was born and brought up here.