In this post, we will learn everything you need to know about the Kottayam district for the upcoming psc exams.

Kottayam

Kottayam Map
The name Kottayam is believed to be originated from the Malayalam words "Kotta" and "akam" which literally means "inside the fort."

Basic Facts About Kottayam

  • Formed on – 1 July 1949.
  • Architect/Founder/Designer – T. Ramarao.
  • Only Land Locked District of Kerala – Kottayam.
  • The Leading Producer of Rubber in Kerala – Kottayam.
  • The only district in Kerala that does not have a coastal line – Kottayam.
  • The district is known as the 'Cradle of Malayalam Journalism' – Kottayam.
  • The district where Malayalam Manorama and Deepika newspapers began publishing – Kottayam.
  • Taluks – Kottayam, Meenachil, Changanacherry, Vaikom, Kanjirapally.
  • Rivers – Meenachil River, Manimala River, Muvattupuzha River, Pamba River.
  • The town situated on the banks of Meenachil river – Kottayam.
  • Largest Lake – Vembanad Lake.
  • Famous Temples –
    • Vaikom temple
    • Adityapuram Sun Temple,
    • Vaikom Mahadeva Temple,
    • Panachikkad Saraswathi Temple,
    • Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple.
  • Famous Islands – Pathiramanal island, Perumbalam island, Kakkathuruth.
  • Famous Places –
    • Vavarupally,
    • Poonjar Palace,
    • Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall.
    • Manarcadu St.Mary's Church,
    • Thazhathangadi Juma Masjid,
    • Bharananganam Church,
    • Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium – Nagambadom,
    • Kumarakam Bird Sanctuary,
  • Famous Festivals –
    • Ezhara ponnana
    • Petta Thullal – Vavaru Pally (Erumeli),
    • Chandanakudam Festival (prelude to Petta Thullal).
    • Ezhara Ponnana – Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple.
  • Art Forms –
    • Thattupolippan Chavittu Nadakam,
    • Arjuna Nirtham,
    • Margamkali.
  • Historical Events –
    • Malayali Memorial (1891),
    • Vaikom Sathyagraha (1924-25).
  • Hill Stations – Ilaveezha Poonchira, Vagamon (Meenachil & Kanjirappally taluks).


Ancient names of Kottayam

  • Vembolinadu (was a part of the Kulasekhara Empire).
  • Thaliyilkotta.

Epithets/Nicknames of Kottayam

  • 'Akshara Nagaram.'
  • 'Mural City of Kerala.'
  • 'Vatican of Nair Community' – Perunna.
  • 'Gateway to Kuttanad' – Changanassery.
  • 'Land of three L's' ( Lakes, Letters, Latex).
  • 'Kasi of South' – Vaikom Mahadeva Temple.
  • 'Mookambika of the South' ('Dakshina Mookambika') – Panachikkad Saraswathi Temple.

Firsts of Kottayam

  • First Fully Literate Municipality.
  • First Fully Literate Town in India (June 25, 1989).
  • First Tobacco Free District in India (2008).
  • First Mural City in India.
  • First Solar Ferry in India – Adithya.
  • First Science City of South India – Kurvilangad.
  • CMS CollegeFirst College in Kerala – CMS College (1817).         
  • First Western Style College in India.
  • First Printing Press in Kerala – CMS Press (By Rev. Benjamin Brailey, 1821).
  • First Publication of a Malayalam – English Dictionary (1846).
  • First Fast Track Court in Kerala.
  • First Chumar Chithra Nagaram in Kerala.
  • First Wetland Research Institute of Kerala.
  • First Rubberized Road in Kerala – Kottayam-Kumily.
  • First Cement Factory in Kerala – Travancore Cements Ltd.
  • First Kudumbasree Unit for Transgenders in Kerala – Manaswini.
  • First Malayali President of India – K.R. Narayanan.
  • First Joint Stock Company in Kerala – Malayala Manorama (1888).

Famous Personalities of Kottayam

  • P. N. Panikker – Changanassery,
  • Mannathu Padmanabhan – Perunna,
  • Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thampuran,
  • K. R. Narayanan – Uzhavoor, Kottayam,
  • Vaikom Muhammmad Basheer – Thalayolaparambu,
  • Janaki Ramachandran (First Malayali Woman to become CM of an Indian State),
  • K.G. Balakrishnan – Thalayolaparambu (First Malayali to become Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India).
  • Ulloor,
  • K.M. Mani,
  • Mammooty,
  • Arundathi Roy,
  • Abhilash Tomy,
  • Saint Alphonsa,
  • Ponkkunnam Varkey,
  • Kottarathil Sankunni,
  • Pala Narayanan Nair,
  • Ramapurathu Warrier,
  • A.R. Raja Raja Varma,

















Institutions & Headquarters

  • Rubber Research Institute of India.
  • Hindustan Newsprint Factory – Vellore.
  • Travancore Cements Ltd – Nattakom.
  • State Seed Farm – Kozha.
  • Soil Testing Laboratory – Ettumannor.
  • Institute of Information Technology – Valavoor.
  • Centre for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences – Pala.
  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication – Vijayapuram.
  • Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute for Basic Science – Pampady.
  • K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts – Thekkumthala.

  • Headquarters of
    • Deepika,
    • Rubber Board,
    • Plantation Corporation,
    • Oil Palm India Ltd – Kodimatha,
    • NSS (Nair Service Society) – Perunna,
    • Indian Orthodox Church – Devalokam,
    • Kerala Forest Development Corporation,
    • Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam,
    • Madhya Kerala Diocese of Church of South India,
    • Mahatma Gandhi University – Priyadarshini Hills, Athirampuzha.
      • First University in Kerala named after a person.

📝 SideNotes:

  • Only Sun Temple in Kerala – Adityapuram.
  • Oldest Existing Newspaper of Kerala – Deepika (Mannanam, 1887).
  • Largest Mural Painting in Kottayam – Noah's Ark (St. Joseph's Church).
  • Mural City Project (2013) is under the aegis of – Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.
  • First Indian to circumnavigate the globe – solo, nonstop and unassisted – Abhilash Tomy.
  • The river mentioned in Arundhathi Rai's 'God of Small things.' – Meenachil (Aymanam village).
  • Vechur Cattle, the smallest cattle breed in the world (90 cm in height & weighs around 130 kg) was named after which village in Kerala – Vechoor, Vaikom Taluk.
  • The year in which Gandhiji visited Kottayam (Kerala) in relation to Vaikom Satyagraha – 1925.
  • First Protest against untouchability in India – Vaikom Satyagraha.

Thanks for reading!!!