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.
The Sri K R Narayanan, the former President of India hails from Kottayam District.
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.
Places of Interest
in & Around Kottayam
Kerala Must See › Alappuzha
› Ernakulam › Idukki
› Kannur › Kasaragod
› Kollam › Kottayam
› Kovalam › Kozhikode
› Malappuram › Palakkad
› Pathanamthitta › Periyar
› Thiruvananthapuram ›
Thrissur › Wayanad
