Distance : 160km from Thiruvananthapuram
76km from Cochin
Population : 166,200
Kottayam
Perched On The Western Ghats
Nestling on the foothills in the lofty Western Ghats, Kottayam is synonymous having a picturesque landscape, labyrinthine backwaters, lush paddy fields, rubber plantations, ayurvedic resorts along with a fully literate population. The palm-fringed Vembanad Lake, embracing the western part of Kottayam, totally compensates for that lack of a sea coast. The eastern aspect of the district is hemmed in through the rugged Western Ghats. While Ernakulam types the northern boundary of Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta are towards the south of your district. Like most other locations in South India, Kottayam features a tropical humid local weather with a lot of rainfall throughout the year.
The Vegetation
Quite a few rivers meander by means of the district of Kottayam. Whilst rivers just like the Muvattupuzha and also the Manimala could be categorised as inter-district rivers, the Meenachil River flows entirely via Kottayam. The secret of Kottayam's financial prosperity lies in its production of money crops like rubber, tea, pepper and cardamom that earn a substantial amount of foreign exchange. Comprehensive growth of rubber has given rise to rubber-based industries. Meals crops like paddy, tapioca, coconut, ginger, pulses, pineapple and sugarcane are also abundantly available on this district.
Thaliyil Fort Trip of Kottayam
The story of how the modern day town of Kottayam acquired its title has an uncommon ring to it. The seat of energy of your Murinjanad and Thekkumkur kings was at Thazhathangadi in Kottayam. Sadly, Marthanda Varma of Travancore defeated the Thekkumkur rulers and demolished the palace plus the Thaliyil fort. The Kottayam of right now was once situated within the boundary with the fort.
Declared As a Totally Literate City
The socially progressive district of Kottayam has a lot of firsts to its name. Kottayam was catapulted to the limelight when it was declared as the first district in India to become fully literate. Kottayam's contribution towards the advancement of literature and schooling in Kerala continues to be immense. That modern day journalism in Kerala ought to have originated from Kottayam, hardly arrives as a shock. The 1st printing press was established here in 1821 below the patronage of Rev. Benjamin Baily. In 1848, the efforts in the regional people ultimately paid off when the CMS Press in Kottayam launched the initial newspaper referred to as Jnananikshepam. Kottayam has the singular honour of publishing a variety of primary dailies such as the Malayala Manorama, the Kerala Bhushanam plus the Deepika.
Generating a Mark of Kottayam
Kottayam has carved out a niche for itself around the cultural map of Kerala. Kidangoor, a place in Kottayam, will be the home of Kunchan Nambiar, known as the father of Thullal, a popular temple artwork form. The Malayalam masterpiece, Unnineeli Sandesam, was authored by one with the Vadakkumkur rulers who reigned over this area. About the 18th and 19th century, Christian missionaries created significant contribution to Malayalam literature. Quite a few notable personalities, who've enriched the culture of Kerala throughout the 20th century, have come from Kottayam. The name with the late G. Aravindan, the renowned film-maker arrives immediately to thoughts. Lately, the spot was inside the news again when Arundhati Roy, a native of Kottayam, won the prestigious Booker Prize for her novel, 'God of Small Things'.
Festivals of Kottayam Kerala
For centuries, various religions have co-existed harmoniously in Kottayam. Even though a stronghold of the Syrian Christians, Kottayam is house to a sizeable Hindu too as Muslim population. As churches, temples and mosques dot the landscape, religious festivals assume a unique significance in this district.But in contrast on the far more religious festivals, the popularity on the other people has by no indicates waned. The festival of Onam is celebrated with wonderful pomp and ceremony all more than Kerala. The highlight of this festival is the snake boat races which are held in the idyllic backwater stretches of Kottayam.
Arts and Crafts of Kottayam
Even though there are no handicrafts which are particularly linked with Kottayam, the nimble fingers on the craftsmen fashion exquisite objects out of bell metal, wood, cane, fibre and coconut shell. But these pieces are accessible all over Kerala. Intricate gold jewellery created and crafted in Kerala is also in terrific need amongst the vacationers also because the locals.
Tourist Hotspots of Kottayam
Several a temple, church and mosque dots the town of Kottayam. Amongst the temples, the Thirunakkara Mahadevar Temple will be the most noteworthy. Other temples like the Pallipurathukavu Bhadrakali Temple, theIranjali Devi Temple, the Keralapuram Temple, theThriguthapuram Sri Krishna Temple and so forth are critical pilgrim centres in their own correct. Being a stronghold on the Syrian Christians, it really is not surprising that Kottayam boasts of quite a few churches like the Valiapally, the Cheriapally and the Great Shepherd Church. The headquarters of His Highness the Catholics with the East, the chief dignity of your Orthodox Syrian church is the Devalokam Aramana at Kottayam. The Thazathangadi Mosque will be the religious hub from the Muslim population in Kottayam.
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