KOTTAYAM
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Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located in central Kerala and is also the administrative capital of Kottayam district. Kottayam has an estimated population of 60,725, according to the 2001 census. The city is an important trading center of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber. Major Kerala print media such as Malayala Manorama group and Deepika are headquartered in the city.
History
Thazhathangady Juma Masjid by the Meenachil river is one of the oldest mosques of India and famous for its wooden carvings and architecture
It is believed that the name Kottayam originated from the Malayalam words 'Kotta' meaning fort and 'akam' meaning 'inside', giving the word meaning 'interior of the fort'.
Kottayam was ruled by the Rajas of the independent little kingdom of Thekkumcore who ruled from Thazhathangadi, a place in the present day Kottayam, till mid-18th century. At that time, Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore annexed Thekkumcore and surrounding areas of Kottayam to the Kingdom of Travancore. During the British rule of India, Kottayam continued to be ruled under the Princely State of Travancore. In 1947, when India became independent, Kottayam became a part of the state of Travancore-Cochin, formed from the former Princely states of Travancore and Cochin Later it became a part of Kerala when the state was formed in 1957. Kottayam became the headquarters of the district bearing the same name.
The citizens of Kottayam played an important in the early social struggles in Kerala. In 1891 a protest movement, known as the 'Malayali Memorial Agitation', took place seeking a better representation of Travancoreans, compared to outsiders, in the Travancore civil service. It is believed to have started in Kottayam. This movement had a big influence in beginning the modern political movements of Kerala. During the 'Nivarthana struggle' which took place in the 1930s in Kerala seeking the representation of Hindus of the lower castes, Christians and Muslims in the Travancore Legislature, Kottayam played a major role. The famous Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924 by Mahatma Gandhi, against untouchability occurred in Vaikom near Kottayam. It was the first systematically organized agitation in Kerala against orthodoxy to secure the rights of the depressed classes.
Geography and Climate
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) photographed in Vembanad Lake, Kottayam
Kottayam town is located in the central Kerala at a location of 9.58, 76.52. It has an average elevation of 3 metres (9 feet) from the sea level.
Kottayam town is situated in the basin of Meenachil river which is formed from several streams in the Western Ghats in Idukki district .It flows through the Kottayam district and joins the Vembanad lake. As per division of places in Kerala as Highlands, Midlands and Lowlands based on altitude, Kottayam is considered to be part of the Midlands. The general soil type is alluvial soil. The vegetation is mainly tropical evergreen and moist deciduous type.
Kottayam's proximity to the equator results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 20 to 35 °C (68–95 °F) From June through September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kottayam lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kottayam receives light rain from the northwest monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 315cms.
Transport
Autorickshaw in a road in Kottayam. They are a major form of hired transport as in the rest of India
Public transport in the city is largely dependent on buses, run by both private operators and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). Bus services are very economical. Besides local bus service for travelling within the town, Kottayam is well-connected to the rest of the Kerala through inter-state bus services run by KSRTC. Hired forms of transport include the metered taxis and auto-rickshaws. Two-wheelers form the majority of the private-owned vehicles.
The inter-city rail transport system in the city is administered by the Southern Railway division of the Indian Railways. Trains between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram pass through Kottayam, with almost all major trains having a stop. There are trains passing through Kottayam, from and to most major cities in the country like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. The nearest airport is at Cochin International Airport, 76 km away from the city. The other major nearby airport is at Thiruvanthapuram, approximately 150 kilometers away.
Culture
Kottayam has its place of honour in the cultural map of Kerala. The culture of Kottayam is influenced mainly by the large presence of the Syrian Christian community. The Syrian Christians of Kottayam are popularly known as Achayans. The cuisine of Kottayam is Keralite Cuisine, characterised by the use of parboiled rice as the staple food and the presence of coconut and spices in abundance.
Margamkali and Arjuna Nritham are popular dance forms. Margamkali, which consists of group dance and martial arts like Parichamuttukali popular among the Syrian Christian community. It is performed by men and women separately. In the past, it was performed during Syrian Christian weddings. Arjuna Nritham also known as Mayilpeeli Thookkam performed by men was also popular. Besides these, popular South India dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattom and Kuchipudi and the classical Carnatic Music are also learned by a large number of young people, mainly as a hobby and extracurricular activity.
A Municipal park is located in Sastri road.There are several movie halls which screens Malayalam, English, Tamil and movies. There are also restaurants that cater to Kerala, Tamil and North Cuisines.
