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Kottayam district

Kottayam (IPA: [koːʈːɐjɐm]) is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: Kottayam, Changanassery, Pala, Erattupetta, Ettumanoor, and Vaikom. It is the only district in Kerala that neither borders the Arabian Sea nor any other states.

Kottayam District
Location in Kerala
Kottayam district
Coordinates: 9°35′42″N 76°31′52″E / 9.595°N 76.531°E / 9.595; 76.531
CountryIndia
StateKerala
Established1 July 1949
HeadquartersKottayam
Government
 • CollectorP K Jayasree I.A.S[1]
Area
 • Total2,208 km2 (853 sq mi)
Population
 • Total1,974,551
 • Density890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KL
Vehicle registrationKL-05 Kottayam,
KL-33 Changanassery,
KL-34 Kanjirappally,
KL-35 Pala,
KL-36 Vaikom,
KL-67 Uzhavoor
HDI (2005) 0.796[2] ( High)
Websitekottayam.nic.in/en/

The district is bordered by hills in the east, and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. The area's geographic features include paddy fields, highlands, and hills. As of the 2011 census, 28.6% of the district's residents live in urban areas, and it reports a 97.2% literacy rate.[3] In 2008, the district became the first tobacco-free district in India.[4] Kottayam registered the lowest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of zero among all districts of India, indicating no deprivation as per the report published by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP for districts across India.[5]

The district's headquarters are based in the city of Kottayam.

Hindustan Newsprint Limited and Rubber Board are two central government organizations located in the district. The headquarters of two religious communities in Kerala are also in the Kottayam District: Nair Service Society and the Indian Orthodox Church.

Etymology

The name Kottayam is a combination of the words "kotta" and "akam" in the local language of Malayalam, meaning "interior of a fort".

History

Prehistoric period

A substantial portion of Kottayam district may have been under the Arabian Sea during prehistoric times.[6] Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery, thus supporting the hypothesis.[6] However there are archaeological evidences of the early human inhabitation period of this district, including ancient fossils, stone inscriptions and monuments, in the archeological sites like the excavation sites, the caves, the temples, etc.[6] The literary works of the Sangam period also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district.[6]

Classical Antiquity

Chera dynasty and the Keralaputras of ancient Tamilakam (up to 5th century CE)

 
The extent of the Chera dynasty (known as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 184 BCE)[6] during the early centuries of the Common Era.

Early members of the Chera dynasty (first few centuries of the Common Era) had their original headquarters in a region called Kuzhamur at Kuttanad in the ancient Tamilakam and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans.[6] The Chera dynasty is mentioned as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 184 BCE).[6]

The province Kuttanad of the ancient kingdom of Keralaputras included the modern-day districts of Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and parts of Alappuzha, which can be defined as the region between the rivers Periyar and Pamba.[6] It was bounded by the Ay kingdom to the south, which included the regions between Pamba River and Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), and the province of Kudanad, which lies between the rivers Periyar and Chaliyar (modern-day districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram), to the north.[6]

It was during the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan (105–130 CE) that the Chera dynasty began to expand towards the northern and the eastern regions of Kuttanad by conquering the provinces of Kudanadu and Kongu Nadu.[6] Afterwards the dynasty got split into three branches and fixed their capitals at Muziris, Tyndis, and Caroura, respectively, as seen in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues as well as the Old Tamil literary works of the Sangam period.[6] During the reign of Narmudi Cheral, the regions included in the Kingdom of Ezhimala was also added to the Chera empire.[6]

Invasions and social transformation from 6th century CE to 800 CE

The ancient Chera empire collapsed due to the continuous invasions carried out by the Kalabhras, the Pallavas, the Chalukyas, the Pandyas, and the Rashtrakutas during the period between 500 CE and 800 CE for nearly three centuries.[6] This era marked the migration of Nambudiri Brahmins into the district, which later led to a transformation in the social structure of the region after the 10th century CE.[6] The ancient prominent religions in the district like Buddhism began to vanish after the 10th century CE.[6] Sri Mulavasam was a prominent centre of Buddhism in the Indian peninsula until the early medieval period, prior to the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE.[6]

Medieval history

The regions included in the modern-day district of Kottayam is described well in the medieval Kerala literature which includes works written in both Malayalam and Sanskrit.[6] The 14th century Sanskrit work Sukasandesam describes about Kaduthuruthy.[6] Similarly the 17th century Sanskrit work Bhramara Sandesam contains details about Kumaranalloor and Vaikom.[6] The 18th century Sanskrit literary work Chathaka Sandesam also contains references to Vaikom.[6]

Unnuneeli Sandesam, a work which belongs to the Malayalam literature written during early decades of the 14th century CE, contains a short geographical and political description of the regions and the medieval feudal states that lied between Kaduthuruthy and Thiruvananthapuram.[6] It contains details about the medieval kingdoms of Thekkumkur (1102–1749) and Vadakkumkur (1102–1750) those together constitute the modern district of Kottayam.[6]

The writings and the records of the Portuguese as well as the Dutch, who visited and interfered in the political affairs of the district after the Age of discovery (1498 CE), such as the Hortus Malabaricus, contain significant information about the geographical and the political conditions of the region during the late medieval period.[6]

The Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram (800 – 1102 CE)

 
Kerala during 11th century CE (the region which is marked as Chera)

The area included in the modern-day district of Kottayam was part of three Nadus (provinces) during the period of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram (800–1102 CE) for nearly three centuries.[6] The region around the city of Kottayam was known as Munjunadu, while the Vaikom-Meenachil region, which lies to the north of Munjunadu was included in a province called Vempolinadu (known as Bimbali Desam in Sanskrit).[6] The third province was the Nantuzhainadu which constitutes the modern-day Taluks of Changanassery and Thiruvalla.[6] This period saw the decline of Buddhism and Jainism, which were once prominent in the region, along with the growth of Hinduism characterised by a large-scale migration of the Nambudiri Brahmins into the region.[6] The territory of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram got disintegrated into several small feudal states by early 12th century CE as a result of the continuous war that occurred between the Chera Perumals and the Medieval Cholas throughout the 11th century CE.[6]

 
The Vazhappally copper plate (882/883 CE) written in Old Malayalam, found near Changanassery.[6]

The Vazhappally copper plate (c. 882/83 CE[7]) is a copper plate inscription written in Old Malayalam language that dates back to the 9th century CE found at Vazhappally in Kottayam district.[8][9] Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 CE.[10] The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of the Old Malayalam language in Vatteluttu script with some Grantha characters. The contents of the plate are incomplete.[8] The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near Changanassery.[11] The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madom, Thiruvalla.[8] The record is dated to the twelfth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Rama Rajasekhara (882/83 CE).[10]

 
The Perunna inscription (1099 CE) of Rama Kulasekhara written in Old Malayalam, found near Changanassery.[12]

Inscriptions related to Rama Kulasekhara (1089–1123 CE) of Chera Perumal dynasty can be found at Perunna near Changanassery.[13] The Perunna inscription dates back to the year 1099 CE (the 10th regional year of Rama Kulasekhara).[12]

Thekkumkur dynasty (1102 – 1749 CE)

 
A political map of the Kingdom of Thekkumkur (1102–1749)

The province Vempolinadu (Bimbali Desam) of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram attained political autonomy in 1102 CE following the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE.[6] The Vempolinadu royal family got evolved into two independent branches by the 12th century CE – the southern branch among them later came to be known as the kingdom of Thekkumkur.[6] It included the modern-day Taluks of Changanassery, Kanjirappally, Kottayam, and Thiruvalla.[6] The kings of the Thekkumkur dynasty are described by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the Sanskrit literary works.[6] Vennimala and Manikandapuram were the early headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty.[6] Later it was transferred to Thazhathangady near the town of Kottayam.[6] Thazhathangady is one of the places in Kerala where a church, a mosque, and a Hindu temple co-exist together, which points out the religious harmony that existed under the Thekkumkur Rajas.[6] Sometimes the town of Changanassery has also acted as the headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty.[6]

The Thekkumkur Rajas were vassals to the Kingdom of Cochin until the mid-18th century CE.[6] Thekkumkur Rajas also allied with the Kingdom of Cochin and the Kingdom of Odanad (Kayamkulam) against the military invasions of the kingdom of Travancore into its northern kingdoms that occurred during the 1740's.[6] As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed the kingdom of Thekkumkur into Travancore in 1749 during the Battle of Changanassery, after his annexation of Kayamkulam in 1746.[6] The Thekkumkur king took refuge in the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut following his defeat in the battle.[6]

Vadakkumkur dynasty (1102 – 1750 CE)

Vadakkumkur was the northern branch of the erstwhile province of Vempolinadu which attained political autonomy in 1102 CE after the collapse of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram.[6] The rulers of this dynasty were also known by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the contemporary Sanskrit works just like their Thekkumkur counterparts.[6] The kingdom of Vadakkumkur included the modern-day Taluks of Ettumanoor and Vaikom along with a portion of the Meenachil Taluk.[6] Kaduthuruthy was the earlier headquarters of the Vadakkumkur dynasty which was later transferred into Vaikom.[6] Vadakkumkur was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1750.[6]

The Portuguese explorers described Vadakkumkur as "The Pepper country" due to the availability and high scale production of good quality pepper there during the 16th century CE.[6] The Dutch Malabar who became an influential power in the territory of Vadakkumkur during the 17th century CE and the first half of the 18th century CE had a trade centre at Vechoor (in Vaikom taluk) in Vadakkumkur.[6] The Kingdom of Kizhmalanadu (1102–1600), which had included the modern-day Taluks of Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha with its headquarters at Karikode near Thodupuzha, merged with the kingdom of Vadakkumkur around 1600 CE.[6]

Vadakkumkur Raja was also a part of the combined military alliance formed by the kingdoms of Odanad (Kayamkulam), Thekkumkur, and Cochin against the expansion of Travancore into the northern territories.[6] As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed Vadakkumkur in 1750.[6] The Vadakkumkur Raja sought asylum in the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut.[6] Later he returned back into Travancore.[6]

Poonjar dynasty (1160 – 1750 CE)

In 1157 CE, Kulothunga Chola, who belonged to the lineage of the Medieval Cholas, entered into a war with Manavikrama Kulasekhara Perumal, who belonged to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai.[6] Upon the failure in the battle, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreevallabha as the monarch of the Pandya dynasty and left Madurai with his family and some of his trusted servants.[6] Manavikrama crossed the Western Ghats and sought political asylum in Kerala.[6] The ruler of Thekkumkur awarded him a portion of the Meenachil taluk which included the region of Poonjar along with the High Range region of modern-day Idukki district in 1160 CE, which originally belonged to the Thekkumkur Rajas.[6] This incident commenced the beginning of the Poonjar dynasty.[6] The territory of Poonjar was annexed by the Kingdom of Travancore following the annexation of the principalities of Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur in 1749–1750.[6]

The Kannan Devan Hills on the High Range region were given on lease on 11 July 1877 by the ruler of the Poonjar dynasty to John Daniel Munroe from London and for tea plantations. The land and the plantations were later resumed by the Government of Kerala through the Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption Of Lands) Act, 1971.[14]

Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era (1750–1947)

 
The CMS College Kottayam, established in 1815, was the first Western model institute of higher education in India.[6]
 
A map of the British princely state of Travancore published in 1871

Entire portion of the modern-day district of Kottayam became part of the erstwhile British princely state of Travancore by 1750 CE.[6] This era marked considerable progress and social reformation in all spheres.[6]

The Church Mission Society press at Kottayam was established in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily, a British missionary, as the first printing press in Kerala.[15] They had also established the CMS College Kottayam in 1815 as the first Western style institute of higher education in India. The region progressed much in its literacy rate by the end of the 19th century CE.[6] It became one of the most literate regions in the British Indian Empire by 1860.[6] Due to its remarkable progress in the fields of literacy, education, and printing, many early newspapers and magazines in Malayalam such as Deepika (1887) and Malayala Manorama (1888) were established in Kottayam.[6]

The same period also saw the commencement of Kerala reformation movement with an aim to eradicate the Untouchability, inequality, and the irrational practices existed in the Kerala society for many centuries which ultimately led to the movements like the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924).[6] Kottayam has been involved in a number of political movements, including the 'Malayali Memorial' movement.[6] The goal of the movement was to seek more representation for Malayalis in the Travancore civil service irrespective of their caste and religion.[16]

Vaikom Satyagraha, a protest against caste discrimination, took place in Kottayam district in 1924.[6] The district also participated in the protests for responsible government in Travancore, which ended with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, who was the Divan of the British princely state of Travancore in 1947.[6]

During the Travancorean administration, the British princely state of Travancore was divided into four revenue divisions- the Northern division headquartered at Kottayam, the Central division headquartered at Kollam, the Southern division headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram, and the High Range division with its headquarters at Devikulam.[17]

Kottayam was the headquarters of the northernmost revenue division in Travancore which included the Taluks of North Paravur, Kunnathunad, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Meenachil, Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, and Cherthala in 1931.[17]

Post-independence (1947–present)

At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin into the state of Travancore-Cochin in 1949 following the integration of the British Princely states of Travancore and Cochin into the Dominion of India, the erstwhile revenue divisions were reorganised into districts and the Divan Peshkars gave way to district collectors, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district on 1 July 1949.[18]

The erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin was reorganized into Thrissur district and Taluks of North Paravur and Kunnathunad were transferred to that district.[19] Similarly the Cherthala Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Kollam district on 1 July 1949.[19] The High Range division of the erstwhile Travancore was merged with the remaining Taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam division to form the Kottayam district as a part of the inauguration of the new Indian state of Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949.[19] The new district of Kottayam at that time contained eight Taluks – Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Devikulam, and Peerumede.[19]

As a part of the formation of the new Indian state of Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, many jurisdictional changes were done in the district.[20] Two new Taluks, namely Kanjirappally (from Changanassery and Thiruvalla) and Udumbanchola (from Devikulam and Peerumede) were carved out on 1 October 1956.[20] After a month, a new Taluk called Kuttanad was carved out from Changanassery and Ambalappuzha.[20] The Kuttanad Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Alappuzha district on 17 August 1957.[20] The Taluks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were transferred into the newly formed Ernakulam district on 1 April 1958.[20]

On 26 January 1972, the three High Range Taluks, namely Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumede, were separated from Kottayam district to form a new district called Idukki.[21] The district of Kottayam took its current shape on 26 January 1972. Now it contains five Taluks- Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, Meenachil, and Kanjirappally.

The municipality of Kottayam was declared as the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy in 1989.[22] The Multidimensional Poverty Index prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kottayam as the first Indian district to achieve zero multidimensional poverty rate.[22]

Climate

There are no distinct seasons in Kottayam, as it has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon, and accumulates an average rainfall of around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September, and the north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains from March to May are accompanied by thunder and lightning; 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 in Kottayam was 38.5 °C on 6 April 1998, and the lowest was 15 °C on 13 December 2000.[23]

The Kottayam district experienced intense red rainfall in 2001, during which the rain was colored red, yellow, green, and black.[24]

Tourism and wildlife

Kottayam has a network of rivers, backwaters, ancient religious places, and hill stations. Local tourist places include:

 
House Boat in Kumarakom

Malarikkal and Panachikkad in Kottayam is famous for Ambal fest.

Transport

Kottayam is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in Kerala, and also by waterways allowing for waterborne travel. The Kottayam Kumali, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam, Kottayam-Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla-Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass, and MC road are the major roads in the district. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport. SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of the Kottayam district. The ferry service from Vaikom to Thavanakkadavu in the Alappuzha district is the longest. India's first solar ferry service boat, 'Adhithya', operates from Vaikom.[citation needed]

Administration

Kottayam city is the administrative headquarters of the Kottayam district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions- Kottayam and Pala.[29]

Municipal towns

There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are:[30]

Villages

Legislative representation

There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in Kottayam district: Kottayam (7 assembly constituencies) and Pathanamthitta (2 assembly constituencies, i.e., Kanjirappally and Poonjar).

There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Kottayam district.[31]

Kerala Legislative Assembly Constituencies from Kottayam district (9)
Sl no. Constituency Member Party Alliance
1 Pala Mani C. Kappan NCP   UDF
2 Kaduthuruthy Monce Joseph KEC   UDF
3 Vaikom C. K. Asha CPI   LDF
4 Ettumanoor V. N. Vasavan CPI(M)   LDF
5 Kottayam Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan INC   UDF
6 Puthuppally Oommen Chandy INC   UDF
7 Changanassery Job Michael KC(M)   LDF
8 Kanjirappally N. Jayaraj KC(M)   LDF
9 Poonjar Sebastian Kulathunkal KC(M)   LDF

Taluks

The district is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate five Taluks within them.[32]

  • Taluks in the Kottayam Revenue Division are:[32]
  • Taluks in the Pala Revenue Division are:[32]

Revenue villages

Kottayam district is divided into 100 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration.[33] They are further incorporated into 5 taluks as eludicated below.[33]

Changanassery Taluk

Kanjirappally Taluk

Kottayam Taluk

Meenachil Taluk

Vaikom Taluk

Economy

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 and cash crops are cultivated. Rice is the principal crop extensively cultivated in low-lying regions like Vaikom and Upper Kuttanad. The district occupies third place in the production of rice in Kerala behind Palakkad and Alappuzha. Though it is the staple food of the people, 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. Kottayam is India's largest rubber producer. Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though the highlands are more suitable, cultivation has spread to almost all regions. Other crops cultivated include tapiocas, coconuts, peppers, and vegetables. To enhance rubber productivity, the government of India has set up a Rubber Board as well as a rubber research institute in Kottayam.[34][35]

Industry

The district lacks refineries, ports, and an airport, which are needed for major industries.[citation needed]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-size operations. These mainly include the publishing and processing of rubber or latex, and manufacturing of rubber-based products.

Confined mostly to the Vaikom area of the district is an industry of coir processing and making coir products.[citation needed] Consisting of more than twenty cooperatives, it employs around 20,000 people.[citation needed] In the hand-loom sector, eight cooperative societies employ 2,100 persons. The district's forests include varieties of softwood and other varieties of timber providing the raw material for several small enterprises in the production of plywood, packing cases, splints, veneers, and furniture.[citation needed]

The first printing press in Kerala, C.M.S. Press, was established in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Bailey, a British missionary. Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published in Kottayam in 1846 and 1847. The only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS) for publishing books and periodicals was established in 1945. Kottayam is home to a number of books and periodicals, and is the center of publishing business in the state.[citation needed] Publishing houses like Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi publications, Labour India Publications Ltd, Mangalam Publications, Deepika, D. C. Books, V Publishers, Vidhyamitram, Kerala Kaumudi daily and Kerala Kaumudi Flash are also publishers in the district. The city of Kottayam hosts several book exhibitions every year.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901450,615—    
1911488,040+0.80%
1921585,478+1.84%
1931775,069+2.84%
1941942,899+1.98%
19511,132,478+1.85%
19611,313,983+1.50%
19711,539,030+1.59%
19811,697,442+0.98%
19911,828,271+0.75%
20011,953,646+0.67%
20111,974,551+0.11%
source:[36]

According to the 2011 census Kottayam district has a population of 1,974,551,[37] roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia[38] or the US state of New Mexico.[39] This gives it a ranking of 234th in India (out of a total of 640).[37] The district has a population density of 896 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,320/sq mi).[37] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–11 was 1.32%.[37] Kottayam has a sex ratio of 1040 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 97.21%, the highest in the state and 4th highest in India. 28.63% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.79% and 1.11% of the population respectively.[37]

Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 98.88% of the population. Tamil is spoken by a small minority in urban areas.[40]

Religion

Religions in Kottayam district (2011)[41]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
49.81%
Christianity
43.48%
Islam
6.41%
Other or not stated
0.30%

According to the 2011 Indian Census, Hinduism (49.81%) is the largest religion in Kottayam, with a significant Christian minority (43.48%). Syro-Malabar, Orthodox,Jacobites and Pentecostals are the main Christian sects. The Muslim population constitutes 6.41% of the district.[41]

The three major religious communities in the Kottayam district are Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. The Nair Service Society's headquarters are located in the district's town of Perunna, Changanassery. The Mannam memorial, created in memory of social reformer Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai, is also located there.

The headquarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Malankara Church/Indian Orthodox Church), is located in Devalokam, Kottayam. It is the official headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan and the Catholicos of the East.

The Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India has its headquarters in Kottayam.

The Knanaya Christian community (both the Catholic and Jacobite factions) also has its headquarters in Kottayam district.

The Thazhathangady Juma Mosque, which is one of the oldest Masjids in the country, is also located at Kottayam.

Kottayam, Thiruvalla, and Chengannur are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala.

The pilgrim centers in Kottayam include a number of Hindu temples, Christian churches and Muslim mosques, including:[42]

Hindu temples

 
Vaikom temple is known as the Kasi of the South

Churches

 
St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally

Mosques

 
Thazhathangady Juma Mosque is one among the oldest mosques in India
  • Thazhathangady Juma Mosque—One of the ancient mosques in India.
  • Thangalppara in Kottayam—The mausoleum of Sheikh Fariduddin, and a Muslim pilgrim centre.[44]

Education

The first Western styled college in Kerala was the C.M.S. College (Grammar School) (1840) in Kottayam.[45] Notable educational institutions in the district include:-

  • IHRD and MG university, Puthuppally
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya, Puthuppally[47]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Who's Who". Official website of Kottayam District. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Kerala | UNDP in India". UNDP.
  3. ^ (PDF). p. 15,16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2019.
  4. ^ . The Hindu. 16 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. ^ "States of poverty: an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index – The Hindu". The Hindu. 29 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq Menon, Sreedhara A. (January 2007). Kerala Charitram (in Malayalam) (2007 ed.). Kottayam: DC Books. ISBN 9788126415885. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  7. ^ Devadevan, Manu V. (2020). "Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State". The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9781108494571.
  8. ^ a b c Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 435.
  9. ^ Veluthat, Kesavan. "The Temple and the State in Medieval South India." Studies in People's History, vol. 4, no. 1, June 2017, pp. 15–23.
  10. ^ a b 'Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State,' In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan, Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. 58.
  11. ^ Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Travancore Archaeological Series (Volume II, Part II). 8–14.
  12. ^ a b Narayanan, M. G. S., ed. (2013) [1972]. "Index to Cera Inscriptions". Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 467–70.
  13. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 20, 125–130, 467–470. ISBN 9788188765072.
  14. ^ Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption of Lands) Act, 1971
  15. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Handbook of Kottayam district, published by Government of Kerala
  16. ^ "History | Kottayam District, Government of Kerala". Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  17. ^ a b Pillai, N. Kunjan (1932). Census of India, 1931, VOLUME XXVIII, Travancore, Part-I Report. Trivandrum: Government of Travancore.
  18. ^ K. M. Mathew, ed. (2006). Manorama Year Book. Malayala Manorama. p. 116.
  19. ^ a b c d U. Sivaraman Nair (1952). 1951 Census Handbook- Kottayam District (PDF). Trivandrum: Travancore-Cochin Government Press.
  20. ^ a b c d e M. K. Devassy (1965), 1961 Census Handbook- Kottayam District, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
  21. ^ M. Vijayanunni, 1981 Census Handbook- Kottayam District, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala
  22. ^ a b "Kerala's Kottayam only district in India with no poor residents: Niti Ayog index". Times of India. Kottayam. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  23. ^ http://www.kerala.gov.instatistical/panchayat_statistics2001/ktm_shis.htm[permanent dead link] Climate of Kottayam
  24. ^ Ramakrishnan, Venkatraman (30 July 2001). (PDF). BBC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  25. ^ http://www.forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/kottayam[bare URL]
  26. ^ a b "VEMBANAD LAKE | Kottayam District, Government of Kerala | India".
  27. ^ "ILAVEEZHAPOONCHIRA | Kottayam District, Government of Kerala | India".
  28. ^ "Vagamon,Wagamon, Vagamon hill station, Vagamon Heights, Vagamon Hideout".
  29. ^ "Revenue divisions in Kottayam district". National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Municipalities | District Kottayam, Government of Kerala | India". Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  31. ^ Niyamsabha official site
  32. ^ a b c d e "Taluks in Kottayam district". National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx "Revenue villages in Kottayam district". National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  34. ^ . Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  35. ^ . ww1.naturemagics.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  36. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  37. ^ a b c d e "District Census Hand Book: Kottayam" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  38. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. . Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Slovenia 2,000,092 July 2011 est.
  39. ^ . U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. New Mexico – 2,059,179
  40. ^ "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  41. ^ a b "Table C-01: Population by religious community: Kerala". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  42. ^ . Archived from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  43. ^ "St.Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad".
  44. ^ "Thangalppara, Muslim pilgrim centre, Kottayam".
  45. ^ CMS College CMS website.
  46. ^ . Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  47. ^ . Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  48. ^ "റോസ് മേരി". Kerala Women (in Malayalam). Department of Women and Child Development, Kerala state. 26 March 2021.

Further reading

  • U. Sivaraman Nair (1952), 1951 Census Handbook- Kottayam District (PDF), Trivandrum: Travancore-Cochin Government Press
  • M. K. Devassy (1965), 1961 Census Handbook- Kottayam District (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
  • Government of India (2014–2015), District Census Handbook – Kottayam (Part-A) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala
  • Government of India (2014–2015), District Census Handbook – Kottayam (Part-B) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala

External links

  • Official website of Kottayam District
  • Kottayam district at Curlie

kottayam, district, this, article, about, district, kerala, india, name, sake, city, kottayam, princely, state, kingdom, kottayam, town, northern, kerala, kottayam, malabar, kottayam, koːʈːɐjɐm, districts, indian, state, kerala, comprises, municipal, towns, ko. This article is about the district in Kerala India For its name sake city see Kottayam For the old princely state see Kingdom of Kottayam For the town in Northern Kerala see Kottayam Malabar Kottayam IPA koːʈːɐjɐm is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns Kottayam Changanassery Pala Erattupetta Ettumanoor and Vaikom It is the only district in Kerala that neither borders the Arabian Sea nor any other states Kottayam DistrictDistrictClockwise from top Kumarakom Malarikkal Nair Service Society at Changanassery Indian Institute of Information Technology Kottayam CMS College Kottayam and Vaikom Boat Jetty Location in KeralaKottayam districtCoordinates 9 35 42 N 76 31 52 E 9 595 N 76 531 E 9 595 76 531CountryIndiaStateKeralaEstablished1 July 1949HeadquartersKottayamGovernment CollectorP K Jayasree I A S 1 Area Total2 208 km2 853 sq mi Population Total1 974 551 Density890 km2 2 300 sq mi Languages OfficialMalayalam EnglishTime zoneUTC 5 30 IST ISO 3166 codeIN KLVehicle registrationKL 05 Kottayam KL 33 Changanassery KL 34 Kanjirappally KL 35 Pala KL 36 Vaikom KL 67 UzhavoorHDI 2005 0 796 2 High Websitekottayam wbr nic wbr in wbr en wbr The district is bordered by hills in the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west The area s geographic features include paddy fields highlands and hills As of the 2011 census 28 6 of the district s residents live in urban areas and it reports a 97 2 literacy rate 3 In 2008 the district became the first tobacco free district in India 4 Kottayam registered the lowest Multidimensional Poverty Index MPI of zero among all districts of India indicating no deprivation as per the report published by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP for districts across India 5 The district s headquarters are based in the city of Kottayam Hindustan Newsprint Limited and Rubber Board are two central government organizations located in the district The headquarters of two religious communities in Kerala are also in the Kottayam District Nair Service Society and the Indian Orthodox Church Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Prehistoric period 2 2 Classical Antiquity 2 2 1 Chera dynasty and the Keralaputras of ancient Tamilakam up to 5th century CE 2 2 2 Invasions and social transformation from 6th century CE to 800 CE 2 3 Medieval history 2 3 1 The Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram 800 1102 CE 2 3 2 Thekkumkur dynasty 1102 1749 CE 2 3 3 Vadakkumkur dynasty 1102 1750 CE 2 3 4 Poonjar dynasty 1160 1750 CE 2 4 Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era 1750 1947 2 5 Post independence 1947 present 3 Climate 4 Tourism and wildlife 5 Transport 6 Administration 6 1 Municipal towns 6 2 Villages 6 3 Legislative representation 6 4 Taluks 6 5 Revenue villages 6 5 1 Changanassery Taluk 6 5 2 Kanjirappally Taluk 6 5 3 Kottayam Taluk 6 5 4 Meenachil Taluk 6 5 5 Vaikom Taluk 7 Economy 7 1 Agriculture 7 2 Industry 8 Demographics 8 1 Religion 8 2 Hindu temples 8 3 Churches 8 4 Mosques 9 Education 10 Notable people 11 See also 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External linksEtymology EditThe name Kottayam is a combination of the words kotta and akam in the local language of Malayalam meaning interior of a fort History EditSee also History of Kerala Prehistoric period Edit Main article Prehistory A substantial portion of Kottayam district may have been under the Arabian Sea during prehistoric times 6 Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery thus supporting the hypothesis 6 However there are archaeological evidences of the early human inhabitation period of this district including ancient fossils stone inscriptions and monuments in the archeological sites like the excavation sites the caves the temples etc 6 The literary works of the Sangam period also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district 6 Classical Antiquity Edit Main article Classical Antiquity Chera dynasty and the Keralaputras of ancient Tamilakam up to 5th century CE Edit Main article Chera dynasty See also Tamilakam The extent of the Chera dynasty known as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire 322 BCE 184 BCE 6 during the early centuries of the Common Era Early members of the Chera dynasty first few centuries of the Common Era had their original headquarters in a region called Kuzhamur at Kuttanad in the ancient Tamilakam and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans 6 The Chera dynasty is mentioned as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire 322 BCE 184 BCE 6 The province Kuttanad of the ancient kingdom of Keralaputras included the modern day districts of Kottayam Ernakulam Idukki and parts of Alappuzha which can be defined as the region between the rivers Periyar and Pamba 6 It was bounded by the Ay kingdom to the south which included the regions between Pamba River and Kanyakumari Cape Comorin and the province of Kudanad which lies between the rivers Periyar and Chaliyar modern day districts of Thrissur Palakkad and Malappuram to the north 6 It was during the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan 105 130 CE that the Chera dynasty began to expand towards the northern and the eastern regions of Kuttanad by conquering the provinces of Kudanadu and Kongu Nadu 6 Afterwards the dynasty got split into three branches and fixed their capitals at Muziris Tyndis and Caroura respectively as seen in the ancient Greco Roman travelogues as well as the Old Tamil literary works of the Sangam period 6 During the reign of Narmudi Cheral the regions included in the Kingdom of Ezhimala was also added to the Chera empire 6 Invasions and social transformation from 6th century CE to 800 CE Edit See also Kalabhra dynasty Pallava dynasty Chalukya dynasty Pandya dynasty and Rashtrakuta dynasty The ancient Chera empire collapsed due to the continuous invasions carried out by the Kalabhras the Pallavas the Chalukyas the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas during the period between 500 CE and 800 CE for nearly three centuries 6 This era marked the migration of Nambudiri Brahmins into the district which later led to a transformation in the social structure of the region after the 10th century CE 6 The ancient prominent religions in the district like Buddhism began to vanish after the 10th century CE 6 Sri Mulavasam was a prominent centre of Buddhism in the Indian peninsula until the early medieval period prior to the Chera Chola wars of the 11th century CE 6 Medieval history Edit The regions included in the modern day district of Kottayam is described well in the medieval Kerala literature which includes works written in both Malayalam and Sanskrit 6 The 14th century Sanskrit work Sukasandesam describes about Kaduthuruthy 6 Similarly the 17th century Sanskrit work Bhramara Sandesam contains details about Kumaranalloor and Vaikom 6 The 18th century Sanskrit literary work Chathaka Sandesam also contains references to Vaikom 6 Unnuneeli Sandesam a work which belongs to the Malayalam literature written during early decades of the 14th century CE contains a short geographical and political description of the regions and the medieval feudal states that lied between Kaduthuruthy and Thiruvananthapuram 6 It contains details about the medieval kingdoms of Thekkumkur 1102 1749 and Vadakkumkur 1102 1750 those together constitute the modern district of Kottayam 6 The writings and the records of the Portuguese as well as the Dutch who visited and interfered in the political affairs of the district after the Age of discovery 1498 CE such as the Hortus Malabaricus contain significant information about the geographical and the political conditions of the region during the late medieval period 6 The Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram 800 1102 CE Edit Main article Chera Perumals of Makotai See also Vazhappally copper plate See also Medieval Cholas Kerala during 11th century CE the region which is marked as Chera The area included in the modern day district of Kottayam was part of three Nadus provinces during the period of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram 800 1102 CE for nearly three centuries 6 The region around the city of Kottayam was known as Munjunadu while the Vaikom Meenachil region which lies to the north of Munjunadu was included in a province called Vempolinadu known as Bimbali Desam in Sanskrit 6 The third province was the Nantuzhainadu which constitutes the modern day Taluks of Changanassery and Thiruvalla 6 This period saw the decline of Buddhism and Jainism which were once prominent in the region along with the growth of Hinduism characterised by a large scale migration of the Nambudiri Brahmins into the region 6 The territory of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram got disintegrated into several small feudal states by early 12th century CE as a result of the continuous war that occurred between the Chera Perumals and the Medieval Cholas throughout the 11th century CE 6 The Vazhappally copper plate 882 883 CE written in Old Malayalam found near Changanassery 6 The Vazhappally copper plate c 882 83 CE 7 is a copper plate inscription written in Old Malayalam language that dates back to the 9th century CE found at Vazhappally in Kottayam district 8 9 Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c 882 83 CE 10 The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate with five lines on both sides in an early form of the Old Malayalam language in Vatteluttu script with some Grantha characters The contents of the plate are incomplete 8 The inscription was discovered by V Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near Changanassery 11 The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madom Thiruvalla 8 The record is dated to the twelfth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Rama Rajasekhara 882 83 CE 10 The Perunna inscription 1099 CE of Rama Kulasekhara written in Old Malayalam found near Changanassery 12 Inscriptions related to Rama Kulasekhara 1089 1123 CE of Chera Perumal dynasty can be found at Perunna near Changanassery 13 The Perunna inscription dates back to the year 1099 CE the 10th regional year of Rama Kulasekhara 12 Thekkumkur dynasty 1102 1749 CE Edit Main article Thekkumkur See also Battle of Changanassery A political map of the Kingdom of Thekkumkur 1102 1749 The province Vempolinadu Bimbali Desam of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram attained political autonomy in 1102 CE following the Chera Chola wars of the 11th century CE 6 The Vempolinadu royal family got evolved into two independent branches by the 12th century CE the southern branch among them later came to be known as the kingdom of Thekkumkur 6 It included the modern day Taluks of Changanassery Kanjirappally Kottayam and Thiruvalla 6 The kings of the Thekkumkur dynasty are described by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the Sanskrit literary works 6 Vennimala and Manikandapuram were the early headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty 6 Later it was transferred to Thazhathangady near the town of Kottayam 6 Thazhathangady is one of the places in Kerala where a church a mosque and a Hindu temple co exist together which points out the religious harmony that existed under the Thekkumkur Rajas 6 Sometimes the town of Changanassery has also acted as the headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty 6 The Thekkumkur Rajas were vassals to the Kingdom of Cochin until the mid 18th century CE 6 Thekkumkur Rajas also allied with the Kingdom of Cochin and the Kingdom of Odanad Kayamkulam against the military invasions of the kingdom of Travancore into its northern kingdoms that occurred during the 1740 s 6 As a result Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma the architect of the modern Travancore attacked and annexed the kingdom of Thekkumkur into Travancore in 1749 during the Battle of Changanassery after his annexation of Kayamkulam in 1746 6 The Thekkumkur king took refuge in the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut following his defeat in the battle 6 Vadakkumkur dynasty 1102 1750 CE Edit Main article Vadakkumkur Vadakkumkur was the northern branch of the erstwhile province of Vempolinadu which attained political autonomy in 1102 CE after the collapse of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram 6 The rulers of this dynasty were also known by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the contemporary Sanskrit works just like their Thekkumkur counterparts 6 The kingdom of Vadakkumkur included the modern day Taluks of Ettumanoor and Vaikom along with a portion of the Meenachil Taluk 6 Kaduthuruthy was the earlier headquarters of the Vadakkumkur dynasty which was later transferred into Vaikom 6 Vadakkumkur was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1750 6 The Portuguese explorers described Vadakkumkur as The Pepper country due to the availability and high scale production of good quality pepper there during the 16th century CE 6 The Dutch Malabar who became an influential power in the territory of Vadakkumkur during the 17th century CE and the first half of the 18th century CE had a trade centre at Vechoor in Vaikom taluk in Vadakkumkur 6 The Kingdom of Kizhmalanadu 1102 1600 which had included the modern day Taluks of Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha with its headquarters at Karikode near Thodupuzha merged with the kingdom of Vadakkumkur around 1600 CE 6 Vadakkumkur Raja was also a part of the combined military alliance formed by the kingdoms of Odanad Kayamkulam Thekkumkur and Cochin against the expansion of Travancore into the northern territories 6 As a result Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma the architect of the modern Travancore attacked and annexed Vadakkumkur in 1750 6 The Vadakkumkur Raja sought asylum in the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut 6 Later he returned back into Travancore 6 Poonjar dynasty 1160 1750 CE Edit Main article Poonjar dynasty In 1157 CE Kulothunga Chola who belonged to the lineage of the Medieval Cholas entered into a war with Manavikrama Kulasekhara Perumal who belonged to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai 6 Upon the failure in the battle Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreevallabha as the monarch of the Pandya dynasty and left Madurai with his family and some of his trusted servants 6 Manavikrama crossed the Western Ghats and sought political asylum in Kerala 6 The ruler of Thekkumkur awarded him a portion of the Meenachil taluk which included the region of Poonjar along with the High Range region of modern day Idukki district in 1160 CE which originally belonged to the Thekkumkur Rajas 6 This incident commenced the beginning of the Poonjar dynasty 6 The territory of Poonjar was annexed by the Kingdom of Travancore following the annexation of the principalities of Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur in 1749 1750 6 The Kannan Devan Hills on the High Range region were given on lease on 11 July 1877 by the ruler of the Poonjar dynasty to John Daniel Munroe from London and for tea plantations The land and the plantations were later resumed by the Government of Kerala through the Kannan Devan Hills Resumption Of Lands Act 1971 14 Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era 1750 1947 Edit Main article Travancore See also Kerala reformation movement and Vaikom Satyagraha The CMS College Kottayam established in 1815 was the first Western model institute of higher education in India 6 A map of the British princely state of Travancore published in 1871 Entire portion of the modern day district of Kottayam became part of the erstwhile British princely state of Travancore by 1750 CE 6 This era marked considerable progress and social reformation in all spheres 6 The Church Mission Society press at Kottayam was established in 1821 by Rev Benjamin Baily a British missionary as the first printing press in Kerala 15 They had also established the CMS College Kottayam in 1815 as the first Western style institute of higher education in India The region progressed much in its literacy rate by the end of the 19th century CE 6 It became one of the most literate regions in the British Indian Empire by 1860 6 Due to its remarkable progress in the fields of literacy education and printing many early newspapers and magazines in Malayalam such as Deepika 1887 and Malayala Manorama 1888 were established in Kottayam 6 The same period also saw the commencement of Kerala reformation movement with an aim to eradicate the Untouchability inequality and the irrational practices existed in the Kerala society for many centuries which ultimately led to the movements like the Vaikom Satyagraha 1924 6 Kottayam has been involved in a number of political movements including the Malayali Memorial movement 6 The goal of the movement was to seek more representation for Malayalis in the Travancore civil service irrespective of their caste and religion 16 Vaikom Satyagraha a protest against caste discrimination took place in Kottayam district in 1924 6 The district also participated in the protests for responsible government in Travancore which ended with the overthrow of Sir C P Ramaswami Iyer who was the Divan of the British princely state of Travancore in 1947 6 During the Travancorean administration the British princely state of Travancore was divided into four revenue divisions the Northern division headquartered at Kottayam the Central division headquartered at Kollam the Southern division headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram and the High Range division with its headquarters at Devikulam 17 Kottayam was the headquarters of the northernmost revenue division in Travancore which included the Taluks of North Paravur Kunnathunad Muvattupuzha Thodupuzha Meenachil Changanassery Kottayam Vaikom and Cherthala in 1931 17 Post independence 1947 present Edit See also Indian Independence Act 1947 and Instrument of Accession At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin into the state of Travancore Cochin in 1949 following the integration of the British Princely states of Travancore and Cochin into the Dominion of India the erstwhile revenue divisions were reorganised into districts and the Divan Peshkars gave way to district collectors paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district on 1 July 1949 18 The erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin was reorganized into Thrissur district and Taluks of North Paravur and Kunnathunad were transferred to that district 19 Similarly the Cherthala Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Kollam district on 1 July 1949 19 The High Range division of the erstwhile Travancore was merged with the remaining Taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam division to form the Kottayam district as a part of the inauguration of the new Indian state of Travancore Cochin on 1 July 1949 19 The new district of Kottayam at that time contained eight Taluks Changanassery Kottayam Vaikom Meenachil Muvattupuzha Thodupuzha Devikulam and Peerumede 19 As a part of the formation of the new Indian state of Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act 1956 many jurisdictional changes were done in the district 20 Two new Taluks namely Kanjirappally from Changanassery and Thiruvalla and Udumbanchola from Devikulam and Peerumede were carved out on 1 October 1956 20 After a month a new Taluk called Kuttanad was carved out from Changanassery and Ambalappuzha 20 The Kuttanad Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Alappuzha district on 17 August 1957 20 The Taluks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were transferred into the newly formed Ernakulam district on 1 April 1958 20 On 26 January 1972 the three High Range Taluks namely Devikulam Udumbanchola and Peerumede were separated from Kottayam district to form a new district called Idukki 21 The district of Kottayam took its current shape on 26 January 1972 Now it contains five Taluks Changanassery Kottayam Vaikom Meenachil and Kanjirappally The municipality of Kottayam was declared as the first town in India to achieve 100 literacy in 1989 22 The Multidimensional Poverty Index prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015 16 declared Kottayam as the first Indian district to achieve zero multidimensional poverty rate 22 Climate EditThere are no distinct seasons in Kottayam as it has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala Humidity is high and rises to about 90 during the rainy season Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons the south west monsoon and the north east monsoon and accumulates an average rainfall of around 3600 mm per year The south west monsoon starts in June and ends in September and the north east monsoon season is from October to November Pre monsoon rains from March to May are accompanied by thunder and lightning 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 in Kottayam was 38 5 C on 6 April 1998 and the lowest was 15 C on 13 December 2000 23 The Kottayam district experienced intense red rainfall in 2001 during which the rain was colored red yellow green and black 24 Tourism and wildlife EditKottayam has a network of rivers backwaters ancient religious places and hill stations Local tourist places include House Boat in Kumarakom Kumarakom a tourist destination located near the city of Kottayam It contains the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary which is known for migratory birds 25 Vembanad Lake is home to traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams which are modified into cruise boats and houseboats 26 Pathiramanal is a small island located in the Vembanad Lake and is only accessible by boat 26 Ilaveezha Poonchira Ilaveezha Poonchira is a hill station in Kottayam 27 Vagamon is a hill station in Kerala It is located primarily in the Idukki district but includes the Meenachil taluk and Kanjirappally taluk as well 28 During the Onam festival in August and September water boat races are conducted in Kottayam The major one is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race The Thazhathangadi boat race in Kummanam is over a century old Vaikom a historical town Illickal Kallu the highest point in the Kottayam district Malarikkal and Panachikkad in Kottayam is famous for Ambal fest Transport EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kottayam is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in Kerala and also by waterways allowing for waterborne travel The Kottayam Kumali Ettumanoor Ernakulam Kottayam Pathanamthitta Thiruvalla Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass and MC road are the major roads in the district The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of the Kottayam district The ferry service from Vaikom to Thavanakkadavu in the Alappuzha district is the longest India s first solar ferry service boat Adhithya operates from Vaikom citation needed Administration EditKottayam city is the administrative headquarters of the Kottayam district The district is divided into two revenue divisions Kottayam and Pala 29 Municipal towns Edit Main article Municipalities of Kerala There are 6 municipal towns in the district They are 30 Changanassery Erattupetta Ettumanoor Kottayam Pala Vaikom Villages Edit Mammood MarangolyLegislative representation Edit See also Kerala Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in Kottayam district Kottayam 7 assembly constituencies and Pathanamthitta 2 assembly constituencies i e Kanjirappally and Poonjar There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Kottayam district 31 Kerala Legislative Assembly Constituencies from Kottayam district 9 Sl no Constituency Member Party Alliance1 Pala Mani C Kappan NCP UDF2 Kaduthuruthy Monce Joseph KEC UDF3 Vaikom C K Asha CPI LDF4 Ettumanoor V N Vasavan CPI M LDF5 Kottayam Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan INC UDF6 Puthuppally Oommen Chandy INC UDF7 Changanassery Job Michael KC M LDF8 Kanjirappally N Jayaraj KC M LDF9 Poonjar Sebastian Kulathunkal KC M LDFTaluks Edit Main article List of taluks of Kerala The district is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate five Taluks within them 32 Taluks in the Kottayam Revenue Division are 32 Changanassery Kanjirappally Kottayam 32 Taluks in the Pala Revenue Division are 32 Meenachil Vaikom 32 Revenue villages Edit Kottayam district is divided into 100 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration 33 They are further incorporated into 5 taluks as eludicated below 33 Changanassery Taluk Edit See also Changanassery Changanassery 33 Chethipuzha 33 Kangazha 33 Karukachal 33 Kurichy 33 Madappally 33 Nedumkunnam 33 Payippad 33 Thottackad 33 Thrikkodithanam 33 Vakathanam 33 Vazhappally East 33 Vazhappally West 33 Vazhoor 33 Vellavoor 33 Kanjirappally Taluk Edit See also Kanjirappally Cheruvally 33 Chirakkadavu 33 Edakkunnam 33 Elamgulam 33 Elikkulam 33 Erumeli North 33 Erumeli South 33 Kanjirappally 33 Koottickal 33 Koovappally 33 Koruthodu 33 Manimala 33 Mundakkayam 33 Kottayam Taluk Edit See also Kottayam Akalakunnam 33 Anickad 33 Arpookara 33 Athirampuzha 33 Ayarkunnam 33 Aymanam 33 Chengalam East 33 Chengalam South 33 Ettumanoor 33 Kaipuzha 33 Kooroppada 33 Kottayam 33 Kumarakom 33 Manarcaud 33 Meenadam 33 Muttambalam 33 Nattakom 33 Onamthuruthu 33 Pampady 33 Panachikkad 33 Peroor 33 Perumbaikad 33 Puthuppally 33 Thiruvarppu 33 Veloor 33 Vijayapuram 33 Meenachil Taluk Edit See also Meenachil Bharananganam 33 Elackad 33 Erattupetta 33 Kadanad 33 Kadaplamattom 33 Kanakkary 33 Kidangoor 33 Kondoor 33 Kuravilangad 33 Kurichithanam 33 Lalam 33 Meenachil 33 Melukavu 33 Monippally 33 Moonilavu 33 Poonjar 33 Poonjar Nadubhagam 33 Poonjar Thekkekara 33 Thalanadu 33 Poovarany 33 Puliyannoor 33 Ramapuram 33 Thalappalam 33 Teekoy 33 Uzhavoor 33 Vallichira 33 Veliyannoor 33 Vellilappally 33 Vaikom Taluk Edit See also Vaikom Chempu 33 Kaduthuruthy 33 Kallara 33 Kothanalloor 33 Kulasekharamangalam 33 Manjoor 33 Mulakulam 33 Muttuchira 33 Naduvile 33 Njeezhoor 33 Thalayazham 33 Vadakkemuri 33 Vadayar 33 Vaikom 33 Vechoor 33 Velloor 33 Udayanapuram 33 T V Puram 33 Economy EditAgriculture Edit Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low lying areas very close to sea level Depending on the location different varieties of food and cash crops are cultivated Rice is the principal crop extensively cultivated in low lying regions like Vaikom and Upper Kuttanad The district occupies third place in the production of rice in Kerala behind Palakkad and Alappuzha Though it is the staple food of the people 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 Kottayam is India s largest rubber producer Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations Though the highlands are more suitable cultivation has spread to almost all regions Other crops cultivated include tapiocas coconuts peppers and vegetables To enhance rubber productivity the government of India has set up a Rubber Board as well as a rubber research institute in Kottayam 34 35 Industry Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The district lacks refineries ports and an airport which are needed for major industries citation needed 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 size operations These mainly include the publishing and processing of rubber or latex and manufacturing of rubber based products Confined mostly to the Vaikom area of the district is an industry of coir processing and making coir products citation needed Consisting of more than twenty cooperatives it employs around 20 000 people citation needed In the hand loom sector eight cooperative societies employ 2 100 persons The district s forests include varieties of softwood and other varieties of timber providing the raw material for several small enterprises in the production of plywood packing cases splints veneers and furniture citation needed The first printing press in Kerala C M S Press was established in 1821 by Rev Benjamin Bailey a British missionary Malayalam English and English Malayalam dictionaries were published in Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 The only cooperative society of writers authors and publishers SPCS for publishing books and periodicals was established in 1945 Kottayam is home to a number of books and periodicals and is the center of publishing business in the state citation needed Publishing houses like Malayala Manorama Mathrubhumi publications Labour India Publications Ltd Mangalam Publications Deepika D C Books V Publishers Vidhyamitram Kerala Kaumudi daily and Kerala Kaumudi Flash are also publishers in the district The city of Kottayam hosts several book exhibitions every year Demographics EditMain article Demographics of Kottayam district Historical populationYearPop p a 1901450 615 1911488 040 0 80 1921585 478 1 84 1931775 069 2 84 1941942 899 1 98 19511 132 478 1 85 19611 313 983 1 50 19711 539 030 1 59 19811 697 442 0 98 19911 828 271 0 75 20011 953 646 0 67 20111 974 551 0 11 source 36 According to the 2011 census Kottayam district has a population of 1 974 551 37 roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia 38 or the US state of New Mexico 39 This gives it a ranking of 234th in India out of a total of 640 37 The district has a population density of 896 inhabitants per square kilometre 2 320 sq mi 37 Its population growth rate over the decade 2001 11 was 1 32 37 Kottayam has a sex ratio of 1040 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 97 21 the highest in the state and 4th highest in India 28 63 of the population lives in urban areas Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7 79 and 1 11 of the population respectively 37 Malayalam is the predominant language spoken by 98 88 of the population Tamil is spoken by a small minority in urban areas 40 Religion Edit Religions in Kottayam district 2011 41 Religion PercentHinduism 49 81 Christianity 43 48 Islam 6 41 Other or not stated 0 30 According to the 2011 Indian Census Hinduism 49 81 is the largest religion in Kottayam with a significant Christian minority 43 48 Syro Malabar Orthodox Jacobites and Pentecostals are the main Christian sects The Muslim population constitutes 6 41 of the district 41 The three major religious communities in the Kottayam district are Hinduism Christianity and Islam The Nair Service Society s headquarters are located in the district s town of Perunna Changanassery The Mannam memorial created in memory of social reformer Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai is also located there The headquarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malankara Church Indian Orthodox Church is located in Devalokam Kottayam It is the official headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan and the Catholicos of the East The Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India has its headquarters in Kottayam The Knanaya Christian community both the Catholic and Jacobite factions also has its headquarters in Kottayam district The Thazhathangady Juma Mosque which is one of the oldest Masjids in the country is also located at Kottayam Kottayam Thiruvalla and Chengannur are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala The pilgrim centers in Kottayam include a number of Hindu temples Christian churches and Muslim mosques including 42 Hindu temples Edit Vaikom temple is known as the Kasi of the South Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple Pilgrims arrive here during Mandalakalam on their way to Sabarimala Erumeli Pettathullal is a notable ritual Vaikom Mahadeva Temple It is known as the Kasi of the south The Vaikath Ashtami is held in November and December Vadakkumpurathupattu is held every 12 years to attract devotees Kodungoor Devi Temple Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple Annual festival and Ezhunallath are held in this Shiva temple in Kumbham February to March Panachikkadu Dakshina Mookambilka Saraswathy Devi Temple Kumaranalloor Devi Temple Known for Thrikarthika Deshavilakku Navarathri and Meena Pooram are the other festivals celebrated at this temple citation needed Adithyapuram Sun Temple It is the only Adithya Hindu solar deity shrine in the state citation needed Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple The temple is situated in the heart of Kottayam city and is built in the traditional architectural styles of Kerala The temple is about 500 years old and was built by the Thekkumkoor Raja and occupies about 4 acres of land Churches Edit St George Orthodox Church Puthuppally St George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Orthodox Georgian Pilgrim Centre Founded AD 1557 Relics of St George is kept here Pazhaya Seminary Orthodox The remains of Saint Vattasseril Dionysius VI 15th Malankara Metropolitan are kept here Bharananganam Syro Malabar Catholic The remains of Saint Alphonsa are kept here St Joseph s Church Mannanam Syro Malabar Catholic It was built by Kuriakose Elias Chavara His remains are preserved here St Mary s Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Manarcad Jacobite Orthodox Its Ettunompu festivals perunnals are notable 43 St Thomas Cathedral of Pala cathedral of the Syro Malabar Diocese of Pala St Mary s Church Kottayam Kottayam Cheriapalli Orthodox It was built in 1579 AD with a Kerala and Portuguese style Vimalagiri Cathedral Latin Catholic It was built in the Gothic Architectural style Cathedral of the Latin Diocese of Vijayapuram Marth Mariam Archdeacon Pilgrim Church Kuravilangad Syro Malabar Catholic 13 km north of Ettumanoor Mar Sleeva Forane Church Cherpunkal Syro Malabar Catholic near Pala Marth Mariyam Metropolitan Cathedral Valiyapally cathedral of the Syro Malabar Archdiocese of Changanassery St Dominic s Cathedral Kanjirappally cathedral of the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kanjirappally citation needed St Alphonsa Church Payyanithottam church of the Syro Malabar Diocese of pala citation needed Mosques Edit Thazhathangady Juma Mosque is one among the oldest mosques in India Thazhathangady Juma Mosque One of the ancient mosques in India Thangalppara in Kottayam The mausoleum of Sheikh Fariduddin and a Muslim pilgrim centre 44 Education EditMain article Education in Kottayam district CMS College Kottayam The first Western styled college in Kerala was the C M S College Grammar School 1840 in Kottayam 45 Notable educational institutions in the district include CMS College Kottayam Government College Kottayam 46 Government Medical College Kottayam Indian Institute of Information Technology Kottayam IIIT K Indian Institute of Mass Communication Kottayam IIMC K K R Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts Kottayam Institute of Technology amp Science Mahatma Gandhi University Kerala Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology Kottayam Government Engineering College This section contains embedded lists that may be poorly defined unverified or indiscriminate Please help to clean it up to meet Wikipedia s quality standards Where appropriate incorporate items into the main body of the article August 2022 IHRD and MG university Puthuppally Kendriya Vidyalaya Puthuppally 47 Notable people EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Saint Alphonsa a canonised saint Meenakshi Anoop a child artist K G Balakrishnan the first judge from the state of Kerala to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Malayalam writer Oommen Chandy the former Chief minister of Kerala Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer a Malayalam writer V N Janaki a Tamil actress and politician Janardhanan actor in India Manoj K Jayan a Malayalam actor Jayaraj director Santhosh George Kulangara managing director of Safari TV K P A C Lalitha South Indian actress Mammootty an actor K M Mani who was the chairman and leader of Kerala Congress M which is one of the oldest regional political parties in India Rosemary Malayalam language poet and translator 48 P K Vasudevan Nair Former Chief Minister Kerala K R Narayanan the former President of India Parvathy Omanakuttan the Miss World 2008 runner up Guinness Pakru a South Indian actor who is the shortest actor in the world Karoor Neelakanta Pillai writer Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai a social reformer and the founder of Nair Service Society N S S N N Pillai an Indian playwright actor theatre director and orator Jose Prakash actor Arundhati Roy an Indian author Kottarathil Sankunni Malayalam writer Kalabhavan Shajohn an actor E C George Sudarshan scientist 9 times Nobel Prize nominee Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran a Malayalam language poet and translator Abhilash Tomy sailor Rimi Tomy playback singer in Kerala Ponkunnam Varkey Malayalam writer A R Raja Raja Varma a poet Vijayaraghavan an actorSee also EditDemographics of Kottayam district Education in Kottayam district Tourist attractions in Kottayam district Alappuzha district Idukki district Kottayam Poonjar dynasty Thekkumkur VadakkumkurReferences Edit Who s Who Official website of Kottayam District Retrieved 28 November 2021 Kerala UNDP in India UNDP 2011 Kottayam Census PDF p 15 16 Archived from the original PDF on 4 November 2019 Kottayam district to be declared tobacco free KERALA The Hindu The Hindu 16 February 2020 Archived from the original on 16 February 2020 Retrieved 16 February 2020 States of poverty an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index The Hindu The Hindu 29 October 2018 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq Menon Sreedhara A January 2007 Kerala Charitram in Malayalam 2007 ed Kottayam DC Books ISBN 9788126415885 Retrieved 10 June 2022 Devadevan Manu V 2020 Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State The Early Medieval Origins of India Cambridge University Press p 128 ISBN 9781108494571 a b c Narayanan M G S Perumaḷs of Kerala Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks 2013 435 Veluthat Kesavan The Temple and the State in Medieval South India Studies in People s History vol 4 no 1 June 2017 pp 15 23 a b Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R Davis Jr eds Irreverent History Essays for M G S Narayanan Primus Books New Delhi 2014 58 Rao T A Gopinatha Travancore Archaeological Series Volume II Part II 8 14 a b Narayanan M G S ed 2013 1972 Index to Cera Inscriptions Perumaḷs of Kerala Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks pp 467 70 Narayanan M G S 2013 1972 Perumaḷs of Kerala Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks pp 20 125 130 467 470 ISBN 9788188765072 Kannan Devan Hills Resumption of Lands Act 1971 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 19 March 2009 Retrieved 11 March 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Handbook of Kottayam district published by Government of Kerala History Kottayam District Government of Kerala Retrieved 8 January 2019 a b Pillai N Kunjan 1932 Census of India 1931 VOLUME XXVIII Travancore Part I Report Trivandrum Government of Travancore K M Mathew ed 2006 Manorama Year Book Malayala Manorama p 116 a b c d U Sivaraman Nair 1952 1951 Census Handbook Kottayam District PDF Trivandrum Travancore Cochin Government Press a b c d e M K Devassy 1965 1961 Census Handbook Kottayam District Directorate of Census Operations Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive Minicoy and Amindivi Islands M Vijayanunni 1981 Census Handbook Kottayam District Directorate of Census Operations Kerala a b Kerala s Kottayam only district in India with no poor residents Niti Ayog index Times of India Kottayam 28 November 2021 Retrieved 20 June 2022 http www kerala gov instatistical panchayat statistics2001 ktm shis htm permanent dead link Climate of Kottayam Ramakrishnan Venkatraman 30 July 2001 Coloured Rain A Report on the Phenomenon PDF BBC Archived from the original PDF on 13 June 2006 Retrieved 23 September 2019 http www forest kerala gov in index php kottayam bare URL a b VEMBANAD LAKE Kottayam District Government of Kerala India ILAVEEZHAPOONCHIRA Kottayam District Government of Kerala India Vagamon Wagamon Vagamon hill station Vagamon Heights Vagamon Hideout Revenue divisions in Kottayam district National Informatics Centre Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Government of India Retrieved 13 June 2022 Municipalities District Kottayam Government of Kerala India Retrieved 13 June 2022 Niyamsabha official site a b c d e Taluks in Kottayam district National Informatics Centre Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Government of India Retrieved 13 June 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx Revenue villages in Kottayam district National Informatics Centre Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Government of India Retrieved 13 June 2022 Agriculture Government of Kerala Archived from the original on 19 July 2011 Retrieved 3 January 2011 naturemagics com Diese Website steht zum Verkauf Informationen zum Thema naturemagics ww1 naturemagics com Archived from the original on 6 June 2019 Retrieved 6 June 2019 Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901 a b c d e District Census Hand Book Kottayam PDF Census of India Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India US Directorate of Intelligence Country Comparison Population Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 Retrieved 1 October 2011 Slovenia 2 000 092 July 2011 est 2010 Resident Population Data U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on 19 October 2013 Retrieved 30 September 2011 New Mexico 2 059 179 Table C 16 Population by Mother Tongue Kerala www censusindia gov in Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India a b Table C 01 Population by religious community Kerala Census of India Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India 2011 District Profile Archived from the original on 8 September 2019 Retrieved 1 September 2019 St Mary s Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Manarcad Thangalppara Muslim pilgrim centre Kottayam CMS College CMS website Government College Kottayam Archived from the original on 20 March 2015 Retrieved 11 June 2021 Kendriya Vidyalaya Rubber Board Puthuppally Archived from the original on 13 March 2008 Retrieved 1 June 2008 റ സ മ ര Kerala Women in Malayalam Department of Women and Child Development Kerala state 26 March 2021 Further reading EditU Sivaraman Nair 1952 1951 Census Handbook Kottayam District PDF Trivandrum Travancore Cochin Government Press M K Devassy 1965 1961 Census Handbook Kottayam District PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive Minicoy and Amindivi Islands Government of India 2014 2015 District Census Handbook Kottayam Part A 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala Government of India 2014 2015 District Census Handbook Kottayam Part B 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations KeralaExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kottayam district Official website of Kottayam District Kottayam district at Curlie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kottayam district amp oldid 1162411970, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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