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. 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 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 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.

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.

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 in June and ends in September. The north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains during March to May is accompanied by thunder and lightening ; the highest rainfall during this period 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 16 °C (13 December 2000).[4] Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 during 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.

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. 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

Towns & Villages in Kottayam District

Amparanirappel, Anchery, Arpookara, Athirampuzha, Ayamkudy, Aymanam, Ayarkunnam, Ammayanoor, Cheruvally, Chungam, Mutholy, Changanassery, Cherpunkal, Chingavanam, Ettumanoor, Edakkunnam, Erumely, Erattupetta, Kaipuzha, Kallara, Kanjirappally, Kangazha, Karukachal, Kodungoor, Koottickal, Yendayar, Kanakkary, Kothanalloor, Kudamaloor, Kumarakom, Kumaranalloor, Kurupanthara, Malloossery, Manarkadu, Mundakkayam, Neendoor, Neericadu, Palai, Pallickathode, Pampady, Parathodu Ponkunnam, Poovarany, Poonjar, Puthuppally, Puthuvely, Vaikom, Kidangoor, Vakathanam, Parampuzha, Thiruvanchoor, Peruva, Uzhavoor, Kurichithanam, Marangattupilly, Palackattumala, Kadappoor, Kalikave, Kuravilangad, Kaduthuruthy, Muttuchira, Kothala, Koodalloor, Kadaplamattom etc.

List of Educational Institutions in the district

CMS College Higher Secondary School Kottayam (ESTD 1817)
M.T Seminary Higher Secondary School, Kottayam
St. Joseph's High School, Kudakkachira
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kottayam Kendriya Vidyalaya,Rubber Board, Kottayam
Alphonsa Residential School, Bharananganam
AKJM School, Kanjirappally, Kottayam (http://akjmschool.net/)
CMS LP School Arpookara
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Kottayam
College Of Engineering poonjar
M.D Seminary School, Kottayam
Mahatma Gandhi University and its Departments
N.S.S. College Perunna, Changanacherry
S.V.R.N.S.S. College, (Kodungoor) Vazhoor, Kottayam
Medical College, Kottayam
Govt. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Pampady, Kottayam
College of applied science (under IHRD), Puthupally
C.M.S College, Kottayam
College of Engineering, Kidangoor
Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirapally
Holy Family High School, Parampuzha
Baselius College, Kottayam
B.C.M College for Women, Kottayam.
B.V.M. College, Pala
S.B College, Changanassery
St. Dominic's College, Kanjirapally
K.E College, Mannanam
Bappuji Central School Peruva
Mar Augusthinose College Ramapuram.
D B College Keezhoor.
K.G College, Pampady
Government College, Nattakom
Mangalam College of Engineering, Ettumanoor
Mangalam EMRHSS, Ettumanoor
Theophilus College of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
P G M College, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
Devamatha College, Kuravilangad
Depaul English medium & public H.S.S. school Kuravilangadu
Emmanuel's HSS Kothanalloor
P Geevarghese School of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
School of Laboratory Technology MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.
St. Thomas College, Pala
Alphonsa college Pala
Saintgits College of Engineering, Pathamuttom
St. Thomas High School, Marangattupilly
Labour India Gurukulam Public School
Labour India College for Teacher Education
St. George's College Aruvithura
Model Polytechnic College, Mattakkara
D.B college, Thalayolaparambu
St.mary's H.S school, Vaikom
Govt. Boys H.S Vaikom
Govt. Girls H.S Vaikom
Govt. Polytechnic Collage Pala
Govt. L.P.S Mevada
ST. Johns Nephumsians HSS Kozhuvanal
St. Antony's High School Mutholy
St Joseph's Girls Hight School Mutholy
Holy Cross H S S Cherpunkal
St. Xavers U P S Palayam
St. Gerge's LPS Mutholy
St. Dominic's Higher Secondary School Kanjirappally
St. Antony's Public School and Junior College ,Anackal, Kanjirappally
Govt. Polytechnic College, Nattakom
St Johns higher secondary school, Nedumkunnam
Govt higher secondary school, Nedumkunnam
St. Tersas high school, Nedumkunnam
St Johns bed college, Nedumkunnam
J J Murphy Memorial HSS, Yendayar
St Johns itc, Nedumkunnam
St.Vincent E.M.H.S, Pala
S.F.S Public School & Junior College ,Ettumanoor, www.sfspublicschool.com
M G E M H S,Vakathanam
St. Antony's HS Kadpaplamattom
St. Joseph's LP School Koodalloor