jst4u: November 2009

Kottayam (Malayalam) 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. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India. On 27 September 2008, Kottayam district also became the first tobacco free districts in India. ^[1] ^[2]

Bordered by the Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields ofKuttanad 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 given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes. The district is 15.35% urbanised.^[3]

]History

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

Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The 'Malayali Memorial ' agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

It was in Kottayam that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha (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 likeMahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V. Ramswami Naykar, associated with this struggle.^{[citation needed]} 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.

The present Kottayam district was previously a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions viz. the southern and northern divisions, under the administrative control of a 'Diwan Peshkar' for each. Later in 1868 two more divisions Quilon (Kollam) and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division Devikulam came next but only for a short period, which in course of time, was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to District Collectors, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

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 from June and ends in September. The north-east monsoon is in October-November. Pre-monsoon rains during March to May is accompanied by thunder and lightening during which Kottayam gets the highest rainfall. December, January and February are cooler, while March, April and May are hotter. The highest temperature recorded here was 38.5 °C (6 April 1998) and the lowest was 16 °C (13 December 2000).^[4] Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 which the rain was colored red, Yellow, green, and black.

Tourism

Kottayam has a vast network of rivers, backwaters, ancient religious places, and hillstations. 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 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 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.

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. House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the Lake.

Vagamon is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki district.

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 spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full-throated singing. 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:

§ Thekkady Periyar Tiger Reserve - 104 kilometers away, in the Idukki District.

§ Peerumed, about 75 km located in Idukki district

§ Munnar hill station, about 80 km away

§ Vaikom, about 50 km away

§ Kottayam is also a gateway to the pilgrim centres like Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, Ettumanoor Siva temple, Thirunakkara,Bharananganam, Erumeli and famous Manarcaud church. Kottayam town is linked by rail to other prominent cities in Kerala and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 88 kilometers away. 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.[1]

Industry

Aside from two public sector companies, Hindustan Newsprint at Velloor and Travancore Cements at Nattakom, industries in the district consist mostly of small and medium scale units. The main activity are in publishing (newspapers and books) and processing of rubber (latex) and manufacturing of rubber based products. Rubber based industries in the district include a unit of MRF Ltd. (Madras Rubber Factory) in Vadavathoor, Midas Rubber Ltd. at Ettumanoor, Intermix factory (Neezhoor) and Rubco at Pampady.

Confined more or less to the Vaikom area of the district, is a thriving coir processing industry, processing coir and making coir products. Consisting of more than twenty co-operatives, it employs around 20,000 people. In the hand loom sector, eight co-operative societies provide employment to 2100 persons. The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood and other varieties of timber providing raw material for a number of small enterprises in the production of plywood, packing cases, splints, veneers and furniture.

Publishing

The first printing press in Kerala (C.M.S Press) was established here in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily, a British missionary. Maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively. The 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 publishes from here. Kottayam city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year.

Education

The Old Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church at Chungam, Kottayam is the first institution to start English education in South India.^{[citation needed]} C.M.S High School (which later became Church Missionary Society College High School) was founded by the British missionary Rev. Benjamin Bailey. 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]} CMS college was previously known as "grammar school".

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 C.M.S College, Baselius College, B.C.M College, Government College Nattakom and K.G College. 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 former prime minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi is situated in Pampady. There are also a number of other engineering colleges situated in the district. Theophilus college of Nursing, Kangazha is the first Self-financing Nursing College to be started in the private sector.

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

The school Pallikoodam, (which means "holy place of learning" or "school") is situated in Kalathilpady suburb of Kottayam.

The famous school Girideepam("light on the hill")is located here in kottayam

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

Hospitals, Health care

§ Medical College, Kottayam

§ Caritas Hospital

§ Matha Hospital, Thellakom

§ Medical Center

§ Little Lourdes Mission hospital, Kidangoor

§ Indo - American Hospital

§ Bharath Hospital

§ MGDM Hospital

§ Mangalam Hospital

§ S.H Medical Center

§ Bharat Hospital

§ Karipal Hospital

§ Marian Medical Centre, Pala

§ Cherupushpam trust Hospital Pala

§ Apart from above, Kottayam has a Government medical college and Dental college

§ St.Thomas Hospital,Changanassery

§ St.Marys Hospital Manarcad

Politics

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

Members representing constituencies in Kottayam in the Kerala state Legislative Assembly

§ Kanjirappally: Alphonse Kannanthanam, L.D.F

§ Vazhoor: Prof.N. Jayaraj, Kerala Congress (Mani)

§ Changanacherry: C.F. Thomas, Kerala Congress (Mani)

§ Kottayam: V N Vasavan Communist Party Of India(Marxist)

§ Ettumanoor: Thomas Chazhikadan, Kerala Congress (Mani)

§ Puthuppally: [ Ommen Chandy ] (Ex Chief Minister), Indian National Congress

§ Poonjar: P.C.George, Kerala Congress (Seculer)

§ Pala: K.M. Mani, Kerala Congress (Mani)

§ Kaduthuruthy: Mons Joseph, Kerala Congress (Joseph)

§ Vaikom: Ajith, Communist Party Of India

Religion

Like the rest of Kerala, Hindus, Christians and Muslims form a significant part of the population. The Percentage being 48.76%, 45.83%, 5.35% respectively. (Census 2001)

Kottayam, 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. Panachikad Temple, one of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala is located nearly 12 km away from Kottayam. The Siva temple at Thirunakkara is in the heart of Kottayam town. Three festivals are celebrated here in Thulam (October-November), Mithunam (June-July) and Meenam (March-April) of which the last one is the most important. The Aaraattu, conducted on the last day of the festival, is the festival of Kottayam, irrespective of caste and creeds. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is another important temple located near Kottayam town. Thirunakkara Srikrishna temple, Pallipurathukavu Devi Temple are other important temples located in the town. Kodungoor Devi temple, Kavinpuram Devi Temple (Ezhacherry), Chirakadavu Mahadevar temple,Ponkunnam Devi temple, Cherubally Devi temple, Kidangoor Subramanyaswamy Temple and Vaikom Mahadevar temple are other famousHindu temples near Kottayam.

Kottayam has a rich culture. One of the oldest mosques in Kerala, Thazhathangady Mosque is situated in Kummanam at 3 kilometers from Kottayam town. This mosque is considered to be around 1500 years old and was built by early Arab travelers who landed in Kerala during the time of the Cheraman empire.

A number of old and sacred Christian churches are also located in Kottayam. Old Syrian Seminary, a prominent religious institution belonging to the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and a seminary for aspiring priests for Syrian Christians in Kerala, is also located in Chungam, Kottayam. The Cheria Pally, an ancient Church belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church is a well preserved church with wall murals dating back to ancient times. These unique wall murals have been painted using vegetable dyes. The Valia Palli has Persian inscriptions and a stone cross and belongs to the Knanaya Jacobite Church. St. George Church, Puthupally, and the Vakathanam Palli are two renowned and ancient churches frequented by pilgrims. Cherpunkal Church is a famous Church in the name of Infant Jesus. Lots of people visit the church every First Friday. The Syrian Christians of Kottayam are popularly known as Achayans.

St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Manarkadu is another very important and famous Christian church in Kottayam. This church is located at Manarcadu, near Kottayam.

The mortal remains of Saint Alphonsa, the first women saint from India is kept in a chapel inBharananganam is currently considered to be one of the major Christian pilgrimages in India.