| Kottayam is located in central Kerala in India. The | | | | town. This church is famous for its two granite |
| town is an important trading center of spices and | | | | crosses known as Persian crosses. There are rare |
| predominantly known for its commercial crop rubber. | | | | antique carvings and mural paintings behind the main |
| Rubber trees are extensively cultivated in central | | | | altar and on the ceiling. |
| Kerala, especially in vast areas of Kottayam District, | | | | There is another St. Mary's Church known as Cheria |
| in plantations, both large and small. It is also known as | | | | Palli or the Little Church, belonging to the Malankara |
| the base of important print media majors. It has also | | | | Orthodox Church was built in 1579 by the Raja of |
| emerged as the pioneering centre of modern | | | | Thekkumkoor for his Christian subjects. These |
| education in Kerala with the city becoming India's first | | | | churches feature temple architectural influences. The |
| municipality to achieve over 100% literacy in 1989. | | | | interior murals, painted using vegetable dyes, depict |
| The city of Kottayam is also called as "Akshara | | | | Biblical themes. |
| Nagari" which means the "City of Letters" considering | | | | The Syro-Malabar rite of the Roman Catholic Church |
| its contribution to print media and literature. In | | | | has an archeparchy based in Kottayam. Some of the |
| keeping with its education, it also became the first | | | | important Catholic churches in Kottayam include |
| tobacco free district in India. | | | | Lourdes Forane Church, Good Shepherd Church, |
| Kottayam is bordered by Pathanamthitta district on | | | | Vimalagiri Cathedral and Christhuraja Cathedral. The |
| the south, Alappuzha district on the west, Ernakulam | | | | previous Pope John Paul II visited Kottayam, during |
| district on the north and Idukki district on the east. | | | | his visit to India in 1986. He announced the |
| Etymology: | | | | beatification of Father Kuriakose of Chavara and |
| It is believed that the name Kottayam originated | | | | Sister Alphonsa, who hails from Kottayam. The |
| from the Malayalam words 'Kotta' meaning fort and | | | | mortal remains of Saint Alphonsa, who was elevated |
| 'akam' meaning 'inside', giving the word meaning | | | | to sainthood in 12 October 2008, are kept in a chapel |
| 'interior of the fort'. | | | | next to St. Mary's Church, Bharananganam. It is a |
| Geography: | | | | popular Christian pilgrimage center. |
| Kottayam town is located in central Kerala at a | | | | Islam-The most prominent among mosques seem to |
| location of 9°35′N | | | | be the Thazhathangadi Juma Masjid, situated in the |
| 76°31′E9.58°N 76.52°E. It has | | | | banks of river Meenachil. It is reputed to be one of |
| an average elevation of 3 meters (9 feet) from sea | | | | the oldest mosques in India and according to legends |
| level. It is situated in the basin of the Meenachil River | | | | is more than 1000 years old. It is famous for its |
| that is formed by the confluence of several streams | | | | architectural beauty, and rich wood carvings. This |
| in the Western Ghats in Idukki district. The river | | | | mosque was constructed by the followers of the |
| flows through Kottayam district and joins the | | | | Islamic prophet Muhammad during one of their first |
| Vembanad Lake. Kerala geographically is divided into | | | | voyages to Kerala. |
| Highlands, Midlands and Lowlands based on altitude | | | | Hinduism- The native religion has a significant influence |
| with Kottayam falling within the Midlands. The general | | | | in the socio-cultural fabric of Kottayam. One of the |
| soil type is alluvial soil. The vegetation is mainly | | | | most important temples is the Thirunakkara |
| tropical evergreen and moist deciduous type. | | | | Mahadeva Kshetram, at the heart of the town. It is |
| The climate in this District is moderate and pleasant. | | | | dedicated to the destroyer among the Hindu trinity- |
| Kottayam's proximity to the equator results in little | | | | Shiva and is built in the typical Kerala style of temple |
| seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to | | | | architecture, with interior murals depicting themes |
| high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range | | | | from the Hindu epics. It was built at the beginning of |
| between 20 to 35 °C (68-95 °F) From June | | | | the 16th century by the then Raja of Thekkumkoor. |
| through September, the south-west monsoon brings | | | | The annual temple festival is a grand affair and |
| in heavy rains as Kottayam lies on the wind-facing | | | | culminates with the Aarattu ceremony that attracts |
| side of the Western Ghats. From October to | | | | large number of devotees. |
| December, Kottayam receives light rain from the | | | | Despite the presence of various religions and a large |
| northwest monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. | | | | no. of each faith, in keeping with its reputation for |
| Average annual rainfall is 315 cm. | | | | peace, various sections of Christianity, Muslim and |
| Brief History: | | | | Hinduism co-exist harmoniously. |
| Kottayam was ruled by the Rajas of the | | | | Tourism: |
| independent little kingdom of Thekkumkoor who | | | | It has been a major contribution to the economy of |
| ruled from Thazhathangadi till the mid-18th century. | | | | Kottayam. Many tourism related businesses thrive in |
| Marthanda Varma, the hero king of Travancore | | | | the town. Kumarakom, one of the most famous |
| annexed Thekkumkoor and surrounding areas of | | | | tourist destinations in Kerala, is only 14 km from the |
| Kottayam to the Kingdom of Travancore. During the | | | | town. Wagamon is another prominent place worth a |
| British rule of India, Kottayam continued to be ruled | | | | visit, and borders the districts of Kottayam and |
| by the Princely State of Travancore. | | | | Idukki. Kottayam has a vast network of rivers, |
| The Travancore State under royal rule consisted of | | | | backwaters, hill stations & ancient religious |
| two revenue divisions viz., the southern and northern | | | | places. Just a few prominent places have been |
| divisions, under the administrative control of a 'Diwan | | | | highlighted here: |
| Peshkar'. Later in 1868 two more divisions Quilon | | | | Places to visit: |
| (Kollam) and Kottayam were constituted. A fifth | | | | Vembanad Lake: It is a great water-body which is |
| division, Devikulam existed for a short period but was | | | | part of Kerala's famous interconnected Kerala |
| then added to Kottayam. At the time of the | | | | Backwaters that run virtually the length of the state. |
| integration of the State of Travancore and Cochin in | | | | Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 |
| 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as | | | | miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called |
| districts and the Diwan Peshkars were replaced the | | | | Kettuvallams have been modified into luxurious cruise |
| more British "District Collectors". Thus Kottayam | | | | boats and house boats for the convenience of the |
| district came into being in July 1949. Later it became | | | | tourists. These boats gracefully move around the |
| a part of the Kerala state and the headquarters of | | | | back waters, enabling its passengers to enjoy the |
| the district bearing the same name when the state | | | | beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace. |
| was formed in 1957. | | | | Pathiramanal: Translated as the midnight sands, |
| Economy: | | | | Pathiramanal is a small yet beautiful island located |
| Kottayam as already mentioned is a major trading | | | | within the Vembanad Lake that is accessible only by |
| center of natural rubber in India. The Rubber Board, a | | | | boat. |
| body set up by the Government of India for the | | | | Kumarakom: Located on the Coast of Vembanad |
| development of rubber industry, is located at | | | | Lake, Kumarakom is a village made picture perfect by |
| Kottayam. A number of small and medium sized | | | | mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy |
| enterprises in and around the town are engaged in | | | | fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense |
| the processing of rubber latex and manufacturing of | | | | forests. Kumarakom bird sanctuary is home to |
| rubber products. Besides rubber, Kottayam is a | | | | migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, |
| trading place of other commercial crops like spices | | | | heron and teal. Local birds like the water fowl, |
| cultivated widely in the surrounding areas. The | | | | cuckoo, owl and water hen and other common |
| Plantation Corporation of Kerala also has its | | | | varieties like the woodpecker, sky lark, crane and |
| headquarters at Kottayam. | | | | parrot can also be spotted here. Approximately 91 |
| Religion: | | | | species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are |
| Kerala has a history of being a magnet for traders' | | | | found here making it a bird watchers paradise. The |
| predominantly from the Arab world as well as Europe. | | | | best time to watch local birds is June-August and the |
| They not only brought along business opportunities | | | | best time for migratory birds is November-February. |
| but their culture and more importantly their religions | | | | House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for |
| along. Considering that the Hindu religion had been | | | | bird watching cruises in the Lake. |
| practiced here for ages, the negative practices of it | | | | Vagamon: is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki |
| were implemented in its harshness too-this included | | | | district. |
| the feudal system supported by the caste system. | | | | Other attractions close by:o Thekkady Periyar Tiger |
| Some of the religious beliefs that "offered" equality | | | | Reserve - 104 kilometers away, located in the Idukki |
| and a sense of self esteem was a welcome change | | | | District.o Peerumed- Roughly 75 Kms away, located in |
| for many suffering communities. One of the | | | | Idukki districto Munnar- The famous hill station, about |
| enticements of new religions was the opportunity to | | | | 80 km awayo Vaikom- Located about 50 km from |
| attain "nirvana" without social barriers. Christianity is | | | | Kottayam.o Kottayam is also a gateway to the |
| supposed to have reached the shores of Kerala way | | | | pilgrim centers like Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, |
| back in the first century. According to unconfirmed | | | | Ettumanoor Siva temple, Thirunakkara, |
| beliefs, St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ was | | | | Bharananganam, Erumeli and famous Manarcaud |
| also reputed to have landed in Kerala to spread the | | | | church. Kottayam town is linked by rail to other |
| good words of the lord. | | | | prominent cities in Kerala and also linked to the |
| Reflecting the religious make-up of the population, a | | | | waterways for scenic travel. |
| large number of Hindu temples and Christian churches | | | | During the months of August and September, the |
| along with Mosques dot the townscape. Apart from | | | | rivers in and near Kottayam transform into race |
| the native Hindu population, Kottayam in particular has | | | | tracks. The serene backwaters come alive during the |
| a large no. of Christians along with substantial no. of | | | | popular malayali festival of Onam when the |
| Muslims too. | | | | spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races. |
| Christianity- Kottayam is a major center of Syrian | | | | Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their |
| Christians of Kerala. Followers of Catholic Church, | | | | way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their |
| Orthodox Church, Jacobite Church, Knanaya, | | | | own full-throated singing. Thazhathangadi boat race in |
| Marthoma Church, St. Thomas Evangelical Church, CSI | | | | Kummanam is over a century old. Boat races are |
| Church, Pentecostal Churches, and Brethren form | | | | conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers in |
| major Christian sects. | | | | Kumarakom. These vallam kalis have about 50 boats |
| The St. Mary's Church, or the Valia Palli or the Big | | | | participating, including Chundan, Churulan, |
| Church, built in 1550 by Knanaya Syrian Jacobite | | | | Iruttukuthi(ody) veppu, and canoes. |
| Christians who emigrated from West Asia, is | | | | Bottomline, Kottayam is a beautiful part of the |
| considered as the first Christian church in Kottayam | | | | gorgeous Kerala. Visit it to believe it. |