Kottayam

India / Kerala / Kottayam /
Bordered by the lofty and mighty Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics.
Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, hills and hillocks, extensive rubber plantations, places associated with many legends and a totally literate people have given Kottayam District the enviable title: The land of letters, legends, latex and lakes.

Kottayam Town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy(a remarkable feat achieved as early as in 1989).

English education in South India did actually start at the Old Seminary here at Kottayam in 1813. The first printing press in Kerala was established (CMS Press) here in 1821 by Rev.Benjamin Baily. The first college in the State (CMS College) was also started here at Kottayam in 1840. Maiden printed Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam Dictionaries were published from Kottayam in 1846 and 1847 respectively. The first and only Cooperative Society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS), for publishing books and periodicals was set up here in 1945.

Kottayam is the hometown of a vast number of books and periodicals and is the center of publishing business in the State.

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.

Sri K R Narayanan, the former President of India hails from Kottayam District.

Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam, also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary commodities board.

Kottayam is the ideal take off point for visits to Peermade, Munnar, Thekkady, Ernakulam and the temple city, Madurai. It is also a gateway to the pilgrim centers of Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, Ettumanoor, Bharananganam, Erumeli, Manarcaud, and so on.

kottayam.nic.in/
kottayam.nic.in/tourism/places.htm
www.kottayam.com/

Kottayam area was the center of a fall of Red Rain in 2001. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_rain_in_Kerala
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kottayam
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   9°36'1"N   76°31'9"E

Comments

  • Central travancore. A beautiful place in the world. Kumarakam is world famous for back water tourism
  • First District to achieve 100% literacy in India. Famous for rubber and educational institutions. Leading dailies had got origin here. Economically very advanced. Place called kanjirapally leads in Latex production. Tata and RPG has got thier own plantations in the district.
  • Kottayam is remembered for three 'L's. The three 'L's stands for Latex, Letters and Lakes. Largest producer of rubber with respect to Kerala. First 100% literate district of India. The leading dailies such as Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhoomi, Mangalam, Deepika, Kerala Kaumudi and Desabhimani are published from Kottayam. Kumarakom is famous for its back water tourism.
  • KERALA IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT EVERYONE (SPECIALLY IT"S GOD"S OWN COUNTRY EVERY MONTH I AM COMEING AND GOEING BUT ONLY THE PROBLEM IS"" WATER WATER EVERY WHERE BUT NO WATER TO DRINK ""SPECIALLY IN KOTTAYAM DIST...LIKE AYMANAM VALLIADU KUMMANAM KUMARAKOM LIKE...SO WHAT TO DO