Kottayam Kerala

Kottayam

Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36 N and 76.17 E.

Bordered by the lofty and mighty Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics. Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, extensive rubber plantations, places associated with many legends and a totally literate people have given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes. Kottayam town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as in 1989).

Kottayam, among the State's more mountainous districts, provides some of Kerala's finest natural scenes sandwiched between serene palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western ghats on the east. Much of this beauty is laid out in all its glory along the road which winds from Kottayam to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady through plantations of rubber, tea, coffee and pepper.

Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India, thanks to its strength as a producer of cash crops. Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam, also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary commodities board.

Kottayam came into limelight when it was declared the first fully literate municipal town of India, an event that triggered a mass movement to make Kerala the country’s only state to achieve total literacy. Kottayam is also the birthplace of the state’s publishing industry, and is home to a number of globally renowned newspapers and magazines including Malayala Manorama (India’s largest circulated daily), The Week, Mathrubhumi, and Deepika

History

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

It was here that the famous Vaikom Satyagraham (1924-25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha. It is of immense historic significance that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V. Ramswami Naykar, associated with this struggle. The ' Nivarthana ' agitation of the early thirties, to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the State Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district. The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the State Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir. C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, the then Dewan of Travancore.

Climate
Highest 38.5 C recorded on 6th April 1998 and the lowest being 16 C recorded in 13th December 2000.

Tourism

Backwaters in KottayamKottayam has a vast network of rivers and canals which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake, part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters that run virtually the length of the state. Vembanad Lake is 83.72km. in length and 14.48km in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into cruise boats and house boats. These boats gracefully move around the back waters, providing facilities to tourist to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace. In the Vembanad Lake there is a small beautiful island called Pathiramanal or the Midnight sands. This lonely island in the Vembanad Lake 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 and the magnificent delicate fluttering blossoms. Kumarakom bird sanctuary, an ornithologist's delight, 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 Parrots can also be spotted here. 91 species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here. The best time to watch local birds is June-August and the best time for migratory birds is November-February. A cruise along the Vembanad Lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary.House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the Lake.

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

You could also reach Thekkady (Periyar Tiger Reserve), which is 104 km away, in Idukki District from Kottayam traveling approximately 3 hours by public transportation. It is also a gateway to the pilgrim centers of Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, Ettumanoor,Thirunakkara Bharananganam, Erumeli, Manarcaud, and so on. Kottayam town is linked by rails to other prominent cities in Kerala and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel.

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

Industry
Although it lacks heavy industrial units, a number of small and medium scale industrial units are based in Kottayam. The main industries are publishing (newspapers and books) and those based on cash crops like latex (rubber). There are 14 large and medium scale industries functioning in the district. Of these, one is in the central public sector, two each in the state public sector and co-operative sector. The only central public sector undertaking in the district is the Hindustan News Print Limited at Velloor in Vaikom taluk, which is engaged in the production of newsprint. Travancore Cements Limited at Nattakom is the major state public sector undertaking in the district which manufactures white cement. The coir industry in the district is more or less confined to Vaikom taluk. There are 27 coir co-operatives and 20,000 workers in the district. In the handloom sector, there are eight co-operative societies which provide employment to 2100 persons. In 1998, there were 151 Industrial co-operatives in the district of which 63 women, 18 SC and 4 ST. The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood and other varieties of timber. As a result, many industries like plywood, packing cases, splints and veneers, furniture etc., are thriving.

Publishing industry
The first printing press in Kerala (C.M.S Press) was established here in 1821 by Rev.Benjamin Baily, a British missionary. Maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively. The first and only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS), for publishing books and periodicals was set up here in 1945. Kottayam is the hometown of a vast number of books and periodicals and is the center of publishing business in the state. Popular publishing houses like DC Books, V Publishers and Vidhyamitram are also located in Kottayam. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year. Numerous news papers in Malayalam, the local language, including Malayala Manorama, Deepika , Mathrubhumi , Desabhimani and Mangalam, are based in Kottayam. Malayala Manorama and Deepika are among the earliest newspapers to have been established in India that are still in circulation and among the largest selling newspapers in india.

Rubber (latex) industry

Rubber (Latex) plantationKerala accounts for 90% of the rubber (latex) production in India, major part being the contribution of Kottayam. The increasing output in rubber production and the advent of modern processing techniques have resulted in the establishment of rubber-based industrial units like latex and crepe rubber diversifying into items such as M.C. sheets,foot wear etc. The Rubber Board, a central government research institution, is located at Kottayam. Kottayam is a major trading centre for rubber and rubber-based products. A common facility service centre, training centre and field testing laboratory for rubber - plastic industries has set up at Changanassery and a central government production cum training centre at Ettumanoor. Rubco opened a new factory at Pampady in 2001. Other rubber based industries in the district include MRF Ltd (Vadavathoor), Midas Rubber Pvt Ltd (Ettumanoor) and Intermix factory (Neezhoor).

Accessing Kottayam

By Air: The nearest airport is at Cochin (Kochi) located 76 km from Kottayam. Another airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 160 km away. 

By Rail:  Kottayam is well connected with the major towns in and outside Kerala by an extensive rail network. The railway station is situated just 2 km away from the central bus station. There are regular trains from Kottayam to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam (165 km), and Ernakulam (65 km). 

By Road: Kottayam is connected to major cities of South India by good motorable roads. There are two bus stations, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus station on T.B. Road and a private bus stand near the railway station. Buses to major centres operate from the KSRTC bus station.