Location : Central Kerala
Tourist Attractions : Bharananganam, Cheryapalli, Mannanam, Thirunakkara Mahadev Temple, Valiyapalli Church.
When to Visit : October to March
The name Kottayam is derived from the word
"Kotta" which means
"Fortress" in Malayalam.
The old town of Kottayam was originally founded on the hilltop now known as Kunnumpuram. This fortress was called Thaliyil Kotta and was founded by the local chieftain or RAJA known as the Thekkumcoor RAJA. The small hamlet developed within the walls of the fort and thus was derived the present name from the words "Kottackk Akam" which literally means "Inside the Fortress". It is commonly believed that down the ages this gradually assumed its present form, Kottayam.
Kottayam has the distinction of being the first fully literate town ( 100 per cent literacy) in the whole of India. The first English school was started here by the missionaries of the Church Mission Society of the erstwhile Anglican Church( C.M.S.School.) The C.M.S.College is also one of the oldest Colleges in the state of Kerala. The former President of India Mr.K.R.Narayanan is a disitinguished alumni of this college.
An important centre of the Syrian Christian community in Kerala, Kottayam is located between the palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western Ghats to the east. Also called the
Rome of the East, the city is renowned for its churches and houses built in the colonial styleIn 9th century AD Kottayam was a part of the Kulashekara Empire (AD 1090–1102) and was referred to as Vempolinad (the logical root of the Vembanad Lake). By about 1102, the empire split into the kingdoms of Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur. Both these kingdoms were annexed by Marthanda Varma of Travancore between 1748 and 1754. During Marthanda Varma/’s reign, Kottayam received a prominent place among the princely states of the South. During 1924–25, Kottayam became the breeding ground for the Vaikom Satyagraha, a movement started for eradication of untouchability in the state The Syrian Christian community has a special place in the history of Kottayam. Kottayam has a moderate and pleasant climate. The temperature here reaches up to 34.33°C during summers. The winter months are more suited for a visit to this place.
How to Get There :
Kottayam can be reached by all the means of transportation.
By Air : The nearest international airport is at Cochin, located at a distance of around 80 kilometers.
By Rail :The railway station of Kottayam is located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from the bus station. There are regular trains from major cities of Kerala that come to Kottayam.
By Road : Kottayam is well connected to the rest of Kerala and India by a wide network of motorable roads.
