Kottayam district

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is about the district in Kerala, India. For its namesake city, see Kottayam. For the old princely state, see Kingdom of Kottayam. For the town in northern Kerala, see Kottayam-Malabar.

Kottayam District
District
Mural at Kottayam
Mural at Kottayam
Location in Kerala
Location in Kerala
Coordinates: 9°35′42″N 76°31′52″E / 9.595°N 76.531°E / 9.595; 76.531Coordinates: 9°35′42″N 76°31′52″E / 9.595°N 76.531°E / 9.595; 76.531
CountryIndia
StateKerala
Established1 July 1949
RegionCentral Travancore
HeadquartersKottayam
Government
 • CollectorP.K Sudheer Babu I.A.S[1]
Area
 • Total2,208 km2 (853 sq mi)
Population
 • Total1,979,451
 • Density1,025/km2 (2,650/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KL
Vehicle registrationKL-05,KL-33,KL-34,KL-35,KL-36,KL-67
Websitewww.kottayam.gov.in

Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. Kottayam has no city or municipal corporation, but has the six municipal towns of Kottayam, Changanssery, Pala, Erattupetta, Ettumanoor, and Vaikom. Though the district is 65 km south to Kochi, it is located in an area with biggest diameter and population.[awkward] It is the only district in Kerala having no border with either the Arabian Sea or other states.[awkward]

Kottayam City is also known as Akshara Nagari (City of Literacy) and Chuvar Chitra Nagari (City of Murals). Kottayam is known as the city of three 'L's - Literacy, Lakes, and Latex. Kottayam is the first town to achieve a 100% literacy rate in India. On 27 September 2008, Kottayam district also became the first tobacco-free districts in India.[2][3]

Bordered by hills on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam has many unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills, and hillocks, rubber plantations and places associated with many legends give Kottayam District the title Land of letters, legends, latex, and lakes; the district is 15.35% urbanised.[4]

The district has its headquarters at Kottayam city, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. Pala or Kidangoor may be the center point of the district; the Rubber Board campus located in Puthuppally has its head office in Kottayam city. Hindustan Newsprint Limited and Rubber board are the central government organizations in the district; the headquarters of two significant religious communities in Kerala are located in Kottayam District: Nair Service Society and the Indian Orthodox Church.

History[edit]

Kottayam literally means the interior of a fort - Kotta + Akam. Rulers of Munjanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Thazhathangadi near Kottayam town.[5] Marthanda Varma of Travancore attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil Fort.[when?] The remnants of the palaces and forts are still seen here.

Kottayam has played its role in all political agitations of modern times; the 'Malayali Memorial' agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam.[by whom?] The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service against persons from outside.[when?] The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891), was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library; the event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the state.[5]

It was in Kottayam that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25), an epic struggle for the eradication of untouchability, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha, it is of immense historical significance that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V. Ramaswami Naykar, associated with this struggle.[5] 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 in this district; the district was also a centre of the agitation led by the state Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, the then Dewan of Travancore.[citation needed]

The present Kottayam district was previously a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions, the southern and northern divisions, under the administrative control of a "Diwan Peshkar" for each. Later in 1868 two more divisions Quilon (Kollam) and Kottayam were constituted; the fifth division Devikulam came next but lasted only for a short period, which in course of time was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to district collectors, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district in July 1949 which included Kottayam, Muvattupuzha (including present day Kothamangalam), Thodupuzha, Changanasserry, Vaikkom, Meenachil, Devikulam and Peermade taluks.[6]

Kottayam is also known as the language capital of Kerala.

Communities[edit]

The two major religious communities in Kottayam district are Hinduism and Christianity. NSS (Nair Service Society) has its headquarters at Perunna, Changanaserry; the Mannam memorial (in memory of renowned social reformer Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai) is also located here.

The headquarters of the Indian Orthodox Church (which is also known as Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) is the Catholicate Palace located at Devalokam, Kottayam, it is the official headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan and the Catholicos Of The East who reigns on the Supreme Throne of St.Thomas the Apostle.

The headquarters of Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India is located at Kottayam.

Weather[edit]

Kottayam has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala, hence there are no distinct seasons in the area. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon; the average rainfall is around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September; the north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains 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 here was 38.5 °C (6 April 1998) and the lowest was 15 °C (13 December 2000).[7] Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 during which the rain was coloured red, yellow, green, and black.[citation needed]

Tourism[edit]

Kottayam has a vast network of rivers, backwaters, ancient religious places, and hill stations; some of the noted tourist places here are:

  • Vembanad Lake has a great expanse of water which is a part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters that run virtually the length one-third of the state. Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into luxurious cruise boats and houseboats; these boats gracefully move around the backwaters, providing facilities to tourist to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake at a relaxed pace.
A house boat in Kumarakam
  • Pathiramanal (the midnight sands) is located in the Vembanad Lake is a small beautiful island. This island is accessible only by boat.
  • Kumarakom, located on the coast of Vembanad Lake, is a beautiful village stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense forests. Kumarakom bird sanctuary, is home to migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl and water hen and other common varieties like the woodpecker, sky lark, crane and parrot can also be spotted here. Ninety-one species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here; the best time to watch local birds is June–August and the best time for migratory birds is November–February. Houseboats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the lake.


During the months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene backwaters come alive during Onam with a regatta -the snake boat races. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the rhythm of their own full-throated singing; the Thazhathangadi boat race in Kummanam is over a century old. Boat races are conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers in Kumarakom; these vallam kali have about 50 boats participating, including Chundan, Churulan, Iruttukuthi(ody) Veppu, and canoes.

Other nearby tourist destinations:

Accessibility[edit]

Kottayam town is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in Kerala, and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel; the Kottayam Kumali, Kottayam-Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla-Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass, and MC road are the major roads in the district. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 88 kilometres away; the Kerala government and Central government both agreed to build an airport at Cheruvallay Estate in Erumeli. Given it is a plain plateau with strong soil, the Aviation Ministry estimated that the airport could be completed in just six months. SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of Kottayam district.

Agriculture[edit]

Kottayam has 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 occupies first place in the production of rubber in India. Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though highlands are more suitable, the cultivation has spread to almost everywhere. Other crops cultivated are tapioca, coconut, pepper, and vegetables, etc. To enhance the rubber productivity, the government of India has set up a Rubber Board and a rubber research institute in Kottayam.[8][9]

Industry[edit]

The district lacks catalysts like refineries, port, economic zone, airport, etc. for major industries, though it has a well-educated population.[awkward] 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; the main activities are in publishing and processing of rubber (latex) and manufacturing of rubber based products. Rubber based industries in the district include a unit of Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) ltd. in Vadavathoor, St. Mary's Rubbers Ltd. Koovapplly, Kanjirappally the No.1 centrifuged latex, skim rubber, block and skim crepe rubber exporter in India.[awkward] Other manufacturers are Midas Rubber Ltd. at Ettumanoor, Intermix factory (Neezhoor) and Rubco at Pampady.

Confined mostly to the Vaikom area of the district is a thriving coir processing industry, processing coir and making coir products. Consisting of more than twenty cooperatives, it employs around 20,000 people. In the handloom sector, eight cooperative societies provide employment to 2,100 persons; the district has rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood and other varieties of timber providing the raw material for a number of small enterprises in the production of plywood, packing cases, splints, veneers and furniture.

The first printing press in Kerala, C.M.S. Press, was established here in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Bailey, a British missionary. Maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively.[awkward] The only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS) for publishing books and periodicals was set up here in 1945. Kottayam is the hometown of a vast number of books and periodicals and is the centre of publishing business in the state. Popular publishing houses like Malayala 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 publishing from here. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year.

Demographics[edit]

Main article: Demographics of Kottayam district
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:[10]

According to the 2011 census Kottayam district has a population of 1,979,384,[11] roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia[12] or the US state of New Mexico;[13] this gives it a ranking of 234th in India (out of a total of 640).[11] The district has a population density of 896 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,320/sq mi),[11] its population growth rate over the decade 2001–11 was 1.32%.[11] Kottayam has a sex ratio of 1040 females for every 1000 males,[11] and a literacy rate of 97.21, the highest in the state and 4th highest in India.

As per the 2001 Indian Census, the population in Kottayam included Hindus (49.32%), Christians (44.60%) and Muslims (5.97%).

Religions in Kottayam District
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 49.40%
Christians
 
 44.60%
Muslims
 
 5.70%
Others
 
 0.3%
Distribution of religions
Source: 2011 Census.

Kottayam, Thiruvalla and Chengannur are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala. During December and January of each year, pilgrims from all over India head to Kottayam and its vicinities to start their final journey to the Sabarimala Temple; the temple is located around 110 km from Kottayam, in the district of Pathanamthitta. Devalokam Aramana, the head office of Indian Orthodox Church and Panachikad Temple, one of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala, is located nearly 12 km from Kottayam.

Education[edit]

The Old Seminary--Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary--of the Malankara Orthodox Church at Chungam, is the first institution to start English education in South India, it was founded in 1815 by Colonel John Monroe. IPC Theological Seminary is located in Manganam.

C.M.S High School (which later became Church Missionary Society College High School) was founded by the British missionary Rev. Benjamin Bailey.[14][15][when?] The first college in the state (C.M.S. College) was started at Kottayam in 1840. It is also the second college in India established by the British empire.[citation needed] C.M.S. College was previously known as "Grammar School".[citation needed]

Kottayam is a major centre of education. Mahatma Gandhi University, one of the six universities in Kerala, is located here. Other prominent educational institutions located in Kottayam include Government College, Kottayam, C.M.S. College, Baselius College, KG College Pampady, B.C.M College and K. E. College (Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam). Medical College, Kottayam, one of the government medical colleges, is located at Gandhinagar close to Kottayam. Government Dental College, Kottayam, the third and the latest dental college, is also located in Gandhinagar. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, the government engineering college named after the former prime minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, is situated in Pampady. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rubber Board is located in Puthuppally. Kottayam has a Technical Higher Secondary School, the College of Applied Science managed by IHRD, as well as MG University nursing and paramedical colleges located at Puthuppally. St Berchmans College, one of the finest centers of higher education,[according to whom?] is also located at Chanaganacherry, Kottayam.[16]

Notable persons[edit]

Main article: Demographics of Kottayam district

Politics[edit]

K. R. Narayanan, the former President of India hails from Kottayam district. Currently, Kottayam is represented in the Lok Sabha by Jose K. Mani of Kerala Congress (Mani).

Members representing constituencies in Kottayam in the Kerala state Legislative Assembly

Towns and villages in the district[edit]

Major Tier-I towns[edit]

Major Tier-II towns[edit]

Other villages[edit]

Akalalkunnam, Ambikamarket, Amayannoor, Arumanoor, Amparanirappel, Anchery, Anthinadu, Arpookara, Athirampuzha, Ayamkudy, Aymanam, Ayarkunnam, Chemmalamattam, Chenappady, Chengalam, Cheruvally, Chungam, Changanassery, chempu, Cheeranchira, Cherpunkal, Chingavanam, Choondacherry, Ettumanoor, Edakkunnam, Elikkulam, Elivali, Erumely, Erattupetta, Kadaplamattom, Kadappoor, Kaduthuruthy, Kaipuzha, Kalikave, Kallara, Kanakkary, Kanjiramattom, Kanjirappally, Kangazha, Karikkattoor, Karukachal, Kezhuvamkulam, Kidangoor, Kizhaparayar, Kodungoor, Koottickal, Koodalloor, Koovappally, Kothala, Kothanalloor, Kudamaloor, Kumarakom, Kumaranalloor, Kummannoor, Kuravilangad, Kurichithanam, Kurumannu, Kurupanthara, Malloossery, Manarkadu, Manimala,Marangattupilly, Meenadam, Melukavu, Mudiyoorkara, Mukkoottuthara, Mundakayam, Mutholy, Muttuchira, Naduvile, Neendoor, Neericadu, Padinjattinkara, Palackattumala, Palai, Pallickathode, Palayam, Pampady, Panachikkad, Panamattom, Parampuzha, Parathodu, Pathamuttom, Payappar, Peroor, Ponkunnam, Poonjar, Poovarany, Puthuppally, Puthuvely, Ramapuram, Vaikom, Kidangoor, Thalayolaparambu, Thekkumthala, Thiruvanchoor, Uzhavoor, Vadakkemuri, Vadavathoor, Vaikom, Vakathanam, Vazhappally Padinjaru, Vechoor, Vellilappally, Venkotta, Villoonni

Education[edit]

Main article: Education in Kottayam district

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About District Collector - Kottayam District, Government of Kerala - India". Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. ^ Kottayam to be declared as tobacco-free district soon[permanent dead link] Yahoo! India
  3. ^ Kottayam district to be declared tobacco-free The Hindu
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2012.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link) Urban statistics of the district
  5. ^ a b c "History | Kottayam District, Government of Kerala". Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  6. ^ K. M. Mathew, ed. (2006). Manorama Year Book. Malayala Manorama. p. 116.
  7. ^ http://www.kerala.gov.instatistical/panchayat_statistics2001/ktm_shis.htm[permanent dead link] Climate of Kottayam
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "naturemagics.com - Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! - Informationen zum Thema naturemagics". ww1.naturemagics.com. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  10. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  11. ^ a b c d e "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  12. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Slovenia 2,000,092 July 2011 est.
  13. ^ "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
  14. ^ "About Benjamin Bailey". Benjamin Bailey Foundation. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  15. ^ McKee, Gary. "Benjamin Bailey, a brief biographical sketch". Academia.edu. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  16. ^ "SB College – Tradition of Excellence in the Field of Education since 1922". Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Amal Jyothi College of Engineering". ajce.in. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  18. ^ http://gckottayam.ac.in
  19. ^ "Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rubber Board, Puthuppally". Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kottayam_district&oldid=911059536"