Kottayam: 4 healthy living

Kottayam [in Malayalam:കോട്ടയം] is a city in the state of Kerala in southern India, located at 9.36 N and 76.17 E. It is the administrative headquarters of Kottayam District. In 1989, Kottayam became the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy.
Contents
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* 1 History
* 2 Climate
* 3 Tourism
* 4 Industry
o 4.1 Publishing industry
o 4.2 Rubber (latex) industry
* 5 Education
* 6 Religion
* 7 External links

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History

By one theory, Kottayam literally means the interior of a fort - Kotta + Akam. Rulers of Munjanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Thazhathangadi in the present Kottayam town. Marthanda Varma of Travancore attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil Fort. The remnants of the palaces and forts are still seen here.it is a major city in Idanaad

Kottayam District was a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions viz. the southern and northern divisions, each under the administrative control of a 'Diwan Peshkar'. In 1868 two more divisions Quilon (Kollam) and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division Devikulam came next, but was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the State of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan peshkars gave way to District Collectors, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.

Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The 'Malayali Memorial ' agitation is said to have its origin in Kottayam. The 'Malayali Memorial' sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service. The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891) was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library. The event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the State.

Vaikom, a taluk of Kottayam district is famous for the Vaikom Satyagraham (1924-25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied entry into temples and access to temple roads. National leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V. Ramswami Naykar associated with this struggle.

The 'Nivarthana' agitation of the early thirties, to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the State Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district.

The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the State Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir. CP Ramaswami Iyer, the Dewan of Travancore.
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Climate

Highest 38.5 C recorded on 6th April 1998 and the lowest being 16 C recorded in 13th December 2000. [1]
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Tourism

Kottayam has a vast network of rivers and canals which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake, part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters that run virtually the length of the state. Vembanad Lake is 83.72km. in length and 14.48km in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are now modified into cruise/house boats. A small island called Pathiramanal (Midnight Sands, accessible only by boat) in the Vembanad lake is a major tourist attraction.

In the festive months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene lakes come alive during Onam with a spectacular water regatta - the snake boat races where oarsmen, at least a hundred in one boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full throated singing. In the Kumarakom boat race conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers, about 50 types of boats including veppu, ody and churulan boats participate.

Thekkady (Periyar Tiger Reserve) is 104 km (3-4 hours by bus/car)away from Kottayam in Idukki District. Kottayam is also a gateway to the pilgrim centers of Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, Ettumanoor,Thirunakkara Bharananganam, Erumeli, Manarcaud, Athirampuzha, Kuravilangadu and Kidangoor so on. Kottayam town is linked by rail and waterways. There is a helipad near the Kottayam collectorate. The nearest airport is 85 Km away at Kochi (Nedumbassery).

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.
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Industry

Although it lacks heavy industrial units, a number of small and medium scale industrial units are based in Kottayam. The main industries are publishing (newspapers and books) and those based on cash crops like latex (rubber). There are 14 large and medium scale industries functioning in the district. Of these, one is in the central public sector, two each in the state public sector and co-operative sector. The only central public sector undertaking is the Hindustan News Print Limited at Velloor in Vaikom taluk, engaged in the production of newsprint. Travancore Cements Limited at Nattakom is the major state public sector undertaking in the district which manufactures white cement.

The coir industry in the district is more or less confined to Vaikom taluk. There are 27 coir co-operatives and 20,000 workers in the district. In the handloom sector, there are eight co-operative societies which provide employment to 2100 persons. In 1998, there were 151 Industrial co-operatives in the district of which 63 women, 18 SC and 4 ST. The district has a rich forest wealth with good availability of softwood and other varieties of timber. As a result, many industries like plywood, packing cases, splints and veneers, furniture etc., are thriving.
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Publishing industry

The first printing press in Kerala (C.M.S Press) was established here in 1821 by Rev.Benjamin Baily, a British missionary. The first 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 -- Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, or SPCS 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. Publishing houses DC Books, V Publishers and Vidhyarthimitram are based in Kottayam. The city hosts a number of book exhibitions every year. The biggest selling news papers in Malayalam including Malayala Manorama, Deepika and Mangalam, are based in Kottayam. Malayala Manorama and Deepika are among the earliest newspapers to have been established in India that are still in circulation. Malayala Manorama is one of the largest selling newspapers in India.
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Rubber (latex) industry

Kottayam is a major trading centre for rubber and rubber-based products. Kerala accounts for 90% of the rubber (latex) production in India, major part being the contribution of Kottayam. The district is also the headquarters for the Rubber Board. The increasing output in rubber production and the advent of modern processing techniques have resulted in the establishment of rubber-based industrial units like latex and crepe rubber diversifying into items such as M.C. sheets, foot wear etc. A common facility service centre, training centre and field testing laboratory for rubber - plastic industries has set up at Changanassery and a central government production cum training centre at Ettumanoor. Rubco opened a new factory at Pampady in 2001. Other rubber based industries in the district include MRF Pvt Ltd (Madras Rubber Factory) in Vadavathoor, Midas Rubber Pvt Ltd (Ettumanoor) and Intermix factory (Neezhoor).
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Education

Old Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church situated in Chungam, Kottayam is the first institution to start English education in South India. C.M.S High School (which later became C.M.S College High School) was founded by the British missionary Rev. Benjamin Bailey. The first college in the State (C.M.S College) was started at Kottayam in 1817 by the Church Missionary Society of London.{cmscollege.ac.in}

Kottayam is a major center of education. Mahatma Gandhi University, one of the six universities in Kerala is located here. Other prominent educational institutions located in Kottayam include C.M.S College (the first college in kerala), Baselius College, B.C.M College and K.E College. Medical College, Kottayam one of the government medical colleges, is located at Gandhinagar close to Kottayam. School of Indian Legal Thought, Law Department of M.G University, is located at the Suryakaladi Hills, Nattasserry. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology , the government engineering college named after former prime minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi is situated in Pampady.There are also a number of other engineering colleges situated in the district.

The Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science managed by IHRD is situated in Puthuppally Kottayam.
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Religion

Like the rest of Kerala, Hindus, Christians and Muslims all form a significant part of the population.Kottayam is the rail stop for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of Sabarimala. The temple is located around 110 km from Kottayam, in the district of Panachikkadu templeone of the famous Saraswathy temples in Kerala is located 12 km from Kottayam town. The Siva temple at Thirunakkara is in the heart of Kottayam town. The sanctum-sanctorum is covered with pictures from the epics. Three festivals are celebrated here in Thulam (October-November) Mithunam (June-July) and Meenam (March-April). The Aaraattu, conducted on the last day of the Meenam festival can be called the "festival of Kottayam".

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Thirunakkara Srikrishna temple, Pallipurathukavu Devi Temple, Kidangoor Subramanyaswamy Temple, Vaikom Mahadevar temple and Thiruvayamkudy Mahadeva temple in ayamkudy are other famous Hindu temples.

Kottayam has its own rich Christian tradition.The Malankara Orthodox Church (Indian Orthodox Church), under His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, is administered from Devalokam, Kottayam. This ancient church of Saint Thomas Christians traces its origin to AD 52,the year when Apostle St.Thomas arrived in India.

Four Roman Catholic dioceses are based in the district. The Knanaya Catholic Dioceses of Kottayam is based in the Kottayam town. On February 8, 1986 Pope John Paul II visited Kottayam to beatify Blessed Chavara (church in Mannanam), along with Blessed Alphonsa (church in Bharananganam).

The headquarters of the Knanaya Jacobite church is based in Chingavanam a suburb of Kottayam.

A number of old Christian churches are also located in Kottayam. Old Seminary, a prominent teaching institution for religions belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church and a seminary for aspiring priests for Syrian Christians in Kerala, is also located in Chungam, Kottayam. The Cheria Pally('small church') an ancient Church belonging to the Jacobite Orthodox Church is well preserved with wall murals painted using vegetable dyes. The Valia Palli ('big church') has Persian inscriptions and a stone cross. Both the churches belong to the Jacobite Church.

St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Manarcadu is another important Christian church in Kottayam. St Mary's Forona church kuravilangadu is one of the ancient churches in kerala.

kottyam homes
kottyam builders