Editing Kottayam district

{{About|the district in Kerala, India|its name sake city|Kottayam  |the old princely state|Kingdom of Kottayam|the town in Northern Kerala|Kottayam-Malabar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Kottayam District
| other_name             =
| settlement_type        = [[List of districts of Kerala|District]]
| image_skyline          = {{Photomontage
 | photo1a      = Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom.jpg
 | photo2a      = Vaikom and Vembanadu Kayal.jpg
 | photo2b      = Malarikkal5 (1).jpg
 | photo3a      = Cms college old building.JPG
 | photo3b      = NSS Head Quarters Main Gate Changanassery.JPG
 | photo4a      =Sbcollegechry.jpg
 | spacing      = 1
 | color_border = black
 | color        = white
 | size         = 225
 | foot_montage = '''Clockwise from top:'''<br />[[Kumarakom]], [[Malarikkal]], [[Nair Service Society]] at [[Changanassery]], [[SB College]] [[Changanassery]], [[CMS College Kottayam]], and [[Vaikom]] Boat Jetty.
}}
| image_map             = India Kerala Kottayam district.svg
| image_map1            = {{maplink |frame=yes
|frame-width=300 |frame-height=300 |frame-align=center
|text= '''Kottayam district'''
|type=shape |id=Q1353354
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=2
|title= Kottayam district of Kerala
|type2=line|id2=Q1186|stroke-width2=1|stroke-colour2=#0000ff|title2=Kerala
}}
| map_caption            = '''Location in [[Kerala]]'''
| coordinates            = {{coord|9.595|N|76.531|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = India
| subdivision_type1      = State
| subdivision_name1      = [[Kerala]]
| established_title      = <!-- Established -->
| subdivision_type2      = Established
| subdivision_name2      = 1 July 1949
| seat_type              = Headquarters
| seat                   = [[Kottayam]]
| leader_title1          = Collector
| leader_name1           = John V Samuel IAS<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who's Who |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/en/about-district/whos-who/ |access-date=28 November 2021 |website=Official website of Kottayam District}}</ref>
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_total_km2         = 2,208
| area_rank                = [[List of districts of Kerala|10th]]
| elevation_footnotes    =
| elevation_m            =
| population_total       = 1,974,551
| population_as_of       =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1     = Languages
| demographics1_title1   = Official
| demographics1_info1    = [[Malayalam]], English
| timezone1              = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1            = +5:30
| postal_code_type       = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code            = 686***
| iso_code               = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KL]]
| registration_plate     = '''KL-05''' [[Kottayam]],<br /> '''KL-33''' [[Changanassery]],<br /> '''KL-34''' [[Kanjirappally]],<br /> '''KL-35''' [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]],<br /> '''KL-36''' [[Vaikom]],<br /> '''KL-67''' [[Uzhavoor]]
| blank_info_sec1                 = {{nowrap|{{increase}} 0.796<ref name="unhdi-gdl">{{Cite web |title=Kerala &#124; UNDP in India |url=https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/library/hdr/human-development-reports/State_Human_Development_Reports/Kerala.html |website=UNDP}}</ref> ({{color|Green| High}})}}
| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] {{nobold|(2005)}}

| website                = {{URL|https://kottayam.nic.in/en/}}
}}
'''Kottayam''' ({{IPA|ml|koːʈːɐjɐm|IPA|LL-Q36236 (mal)-Vis M-കോട്ടയം.wav}}) is one of [[List of districts of Kerala|14 districts]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Kerala]]. Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: [[Kottayam]], [[Changanassery]], [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]], [[Erattupetta]], [[Ettumanoor]], and [[Vaikom]]. It is the only [[List of districts in India|district]] in Kerala that does not border either the Arabian Sea or another Indian state.

The district is bordered by hills in the east, and the [[Vembanad Lake]] and [[paddy field]]s of [[Kuttanad]] on the west. The area's geographic features include paddy fields, highlands, and hills. As of the 2011 census, 28.6% of the district's residents live in urban areas, and it reports a 97.2% [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Kottayam Census |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3210_PART_B_KOTTAYAM.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104214810/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3210_PART_B_KOTTAYAM.pdf |archive-date=4 November 2019 |page=15,16}}</ref> In 2008, the district became the first tobacco-free district in India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 February 2020 |title=Kottayam district to be declared tobacco-free – KERALA – The Hindu |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Kottayam-district-to-be-declared-tobacco-free/article15311477.ece |access-date=2020-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216011122/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Kottayam-district-to-be-declared-tobacco-free/article15311477.ece |archive-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> Kottayam registered the lowest [[Multidimensional Poverty Index]] (MPI) of zero among all districts of India, indicating no deprivation as per the report published by [[Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative]] and [[UNDP]] for districts across India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 2018 |title=States of poverty: an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index – The Hindu |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/multidimensional-poverty-index-india/article25359230.ece}}</ref> The district's headquarters are based in the city of Kottayam.

[[Hindustan Newsprint Limited]] and [[Rubber Board]] are two central government organizations located in the district. The headquarters of two religious communities in Kerala are also in the Kottayam District: [[Nair Service Society]] and the [[Indian Orthodox Church]].

== Etymology ==
The name Kottayam is a combination of the words "kotta" and "akam" in the local language of [[Malayalam]], meaning "interior of a fort".{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

== History ==
{{See also|History of Kerala}}

=== Prehistoric period ===
{{Main|Prehistory}}
A substantial portion of Kottayam district may have been under the [[Arabian Sea]] during prehistoric times. Marine fossils have been found in an area near [[Changanassery]], thus supporting the hypothesis.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

However, there are archaeological evidences of the early human inhabitation period of this district, including ancient fossils, stone inscriptions and monuments, in the archeological sites like the excavation sites, the caves, the temples, etc. The literary works of the [[Sangam period]] also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

=== Classical Antiquity ===
{{Main|Classical Antiquity}}

==== Chera dynasty and the Keralaputras of ancient Tamilakam (up to 5th century CE) ====
{{Main|Chera dynasty}}
{{See also|Tamilakam}}
[[File:Chera country (early historic south India).jpg|thumbnail|The extent of the [[Chera dynasty]] (known as ''Keralaputras'' in the inscriptions of the emperor [[Ashoka]] of the [[Maurya Empire]] (322 [[Before Common Era|BCE]] – 184 BCE)<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> during the early centuries of the [[Common Era]].]]
Early members of the [[Chera dynasty]] (first few centuries of the [[Common Era]]) had their original headquarters in a region called ''Kuzhamur'' at ''Kuttanad'' in the ancient [[Tamilakam]] and were sometimes known as the  ''Kuttuvans''.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The [[Chera dynasty]] is mentioned as ''Keralaputras'' in the inscriptions of the emperor [[Ashoka]] of the [[Maurya Empire]] (322 [[Before Common Era|BCE]] – 184 BCE).<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The province ''Kuttanad'' of the ancient kingdom of ''Keralaputras'' included the modern-day districts of [[Kottayam]], [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]], [[Idukki district|Idukki]], and parts of [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]], which can be defined as the region between the rivers [[Periyar river|Periyar]] and [[Pamba River|Pamba]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> It was bounded by the [[Ay kingdom]] to the south, which included the regions between [[Pamba River]] and [[Kanyakumari]] (Cape Comorin), and the province of ''Kudanad'', which lies between the rivers [[Periyar river|Periyar]] and [[Chaliyar river|Chaliyar]] (modern-day districts of [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]], [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]], and [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]]), to the north.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

It was during the reign of [[Uthiyan Cheralathan]] (105–130 CE) that the [[Chera dynasty]] began to expand towards the northern and the eastern regions of ''Kuttanad'' by conquering the provinces of ''Kudanadu'' and ''[[Kongu Nadu]]''.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Afterwards the dynasty got split into three branches and fixed their capitals at [[Muziris]], [[Tyndis]], and [[Karur|Caroura]], respectively, as seen in the ancient [[Greco-Roman world|Greco-Roman]] travelogues as well as the [[Old Tamil]] literary works of the [[Sangam period]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> During the reign of ''Narmudi Cheral'', the regions included in the [[Mushika dynasty|Kingdom of Ezhimala]] was also added to the Chera empire.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

==== Invasions and social transformation from 6th century CE to 800 CE ====
{{See also|Kalabhra dynasty|Pallava dynasty|Chalukya dynasty|Pandya dynasty|Rashtrakuta dynasty}}
The ancient Chera empire collapsed due to the continuous invasions carried out by the [[Kalabhra dynasty|Kalabhras]], the [[Pallava dynasty|Pallavas]], the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]], the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandyas]], and the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]] during the period between 500 CE and 800 CE for nearly three centuries.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> This era marked the migration of [[Nambudiri]] [[Brahmin]]s into the district, which later led to a transformation in the social structure of the region after the 10th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The ancient prominent religions in the district like [[Buddhism]] began to vanish after the 10th century CE. [[Sri Mulavasam]] was a prominent centre of [[Buddhism]] in the [[Indian peninsula]] until the early medieval period, prior to the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

=== Medieval history ===
The regions included in the modern-day district of [[Kottayam]] is described well in the medieval Kerala literature which includes works written in both [[Malayalam]] and [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The 14th century [[Sanskrit]] work ''Sukasandesam'' describes about [[Kaduthuruthy]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Similarly the 17th century Sanskrit work ''Bhramara Sandesam'' contains details about [[Kumaranalloor]] and [[Vaikom]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The 18th century Sanskrit literary work ''Chathaka Sandesam'' also contains references to [[Vaikom]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

''[[Unnuneeli Sandesam]]'', a work which belongs to the [[Malayalam literature]] written during early decades of the 14th century CE, contains a short geographical and political description of the regions and the medieval [[Feudalism|feudal states]] that lied between [[Kaduthuruthy]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> It contains details about the medieval kingdoms of [[Thekkumkur]] (1102–1749) and [[Vadakkumkur]] (1102–1750) those together constitute the modern district of [[Kottayam]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The writings and the records of the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] as well as the [[Dutch Malabar|Dutch]], who visited and interfered in the political affairs of the district after the [[Age of Discovery]] (1498 CE), such as the ''[[Hortus Malabaricus]]'', contain significant information about the geographical and the political conditions of the region during the late medieval period.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

==== The Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram (800 – 1102 CE) ====
{{Main|Chera Perumals of Makotai}}
{{See also|Vazhappally copper plate}}
{{See also|Medieval Cholas}}
[[File:South India in early 11th century AD.jpg|thumbnail|[[Kerala]] during 11th century CE (the region which is marked as ''Chera'')]]
The area included in the modern-day district of [[Kottayam]] was part of three ''Nadus'' (provinces) during the period of the [[Chera Perumals of Makotai|Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram]] (800–1102 [[Common Era|CE]]) for nearly three centuries.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala">{{Cite book |last=Menon |first=Sreedhara A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82 |title=''Kerala Charitram'' |date=January 2007 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126415885 |edition=2007 |location=Kottayam |language=ml |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> The region around the city of [[Kottayam]] was known as ''Munjunadu'', while the [[Vaikom]]-[[Meenachil]] region, which lies to the north of ''Munjunadu'' was included in a province called ''Vempolinadu'' (known as ''Bimbali Desam'' in Sanskrit).<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The third province was the ''Nantuzhainadu'' which constitutes the modern-day [[List of taluks of Kerala|Taluks]] of [[Changanassery]] and [[Thiruvalla]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> This period saw the decline of [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]], which were once prominent in the region, along with the growth of [[Hinduism]] characterised by a large-scale migration of the [[Nambudiri]] [[Brahmin]]s into the region.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The territory of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram  disintegrated into several small [[Feudalism|feudal states]] by early 12th century CE as a result of the continuous war that occurred between the Chera Perumals and the [[Medieval Cholas]] throughout the 11th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />
[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (9th century AD).jpg|thumbnail|The [[Vazhappally copper plate]] (882/883 CE) written in [[Old Malayalam]], found near [[Changanassery]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />]]
The [[Vazhappally copper plate]] (c. 882/83 CE<ref name=":28">{{Cite book |last=Devadevan |first=Manu V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exzhDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%E2%80%98Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India |title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-108-49457-1 |pages=128 |chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State}}</ref>) is a copper plate inscription written in [[Old Malayalam]] language that dates back to the 9th century CE found at [[Vazhappally]] in Kottayam district.<ref name=":12">Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 435.</ref><ref name=":02">Veluthat, Kesavan. "The Temple and the State in Medieval South India." ''Studies in People's History'', vol. 4, no. 1, June 2017, pp. 15–23.</ref> Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 CE.<ref name=":3">'Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State,' In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), ''Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan,'' Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. 58.</ref> The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of the [[Old Malayalam]] language in [[Vatteluttu]] script with some [[Grantha script|Grantha characters]]. The contents of the plate are incomplete.<ref name=":12" /> The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from ''Thalamana Illam'' near [[Changanassery]].<ref name=":23">Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. ''Travancore Archaeological Series'' (Volume II, Part II). 8–14.</ref> The plate is owned by ''Muvidathu Madom'', [[Thiruvalla]].<ref name=":12" /> The record is dated to the twelfth [[regnal year]] of Chera Perumal king [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)|Rama Rajasekhara]] (882/83 CE).<ref name=":3" />
[[File:Perunna inscription of Rama Kulasekhara (1099 AD).jpg|left|thumbnail|The [[Perunna]] inscription (1099 CE) of [[Rama Kulasekhara]] written in [[Old Malayalam]], found near [[Changanassery]].<ref name=":9" />]]
Inscriptions related to [[Rama Kulasekhara]] (1089–1123 CE) of Chera Perumal dynasty can be found at [[Perunna]] near [[Changanassery]].<ref name=":35">{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=M. G. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=perumals+of+kerala |title=Perumāḷs of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |isbn=9788188765072 |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=20, 125–130, 467–470 |orig-date=1972}}</ref> The [[Perunna]] inscription dates back to the year 1099 CE (the 10th regional year of Rama Kulasekhara).<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |title=Perumāḷs of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |editor-last=Narayanan |editor-first=M. G. S. |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=467–70 |chapter=Index to Cera Inscriptions |orig-date=1972}}</ref>

==== Thekkumkur dynasty (1102–1749 CE) ====
{{Main|Thekkumkur}}
{{See also|Battle of Changanassery}}
[[File:Map of Thekkumkur in 1790.jpg|thumbnail|A political map of the Kingdom of [[Thekkumkur]] (1102–1749)]]
The province ''Vempolinadu'' (''Bimbali Desam'') of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram attained political autonomy in 1102 CE following the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The ''Vempolinadu'' royal family got evolved into two independent branches by the 12th century CE – the southern branch among them later came to be known as the kingdom of [[Thekkumkur]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> It included the modern-day [[List of taluks of Kerala|Taluks]] of [[Changanassery]], [[Kanjirappally]], [[Kottayam]], and [[Thiruvalla]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The kings of the Thekkumkur dynasty are described by the titles ''Bimbaleeshas'' and ''Manikandas'' in the Sanskrit literary works.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> [[Vennimala]] and [[Manikandapuram]] were the early headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Later it was transferred to [[Thazhathangady Juma Mosque|Thazhathangady]] near the town of [[Kottayam]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Thazhathangady is one of the places in Kerala where a church, a mosque, and a Hindu temple co-exist together, which points out the religious harmony that existed under the ''Thekkumkur Rajas''. At times, the town of [[Changanassery]] acted as headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The ''Thekkumkur Rajas'' were vassals to the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] until the mid-18th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Thekkumkur Rajas also allied with the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] and the Kingdom of [[Odanad]] ([[Kayamkulam]]) against the military invasions of the kingdom of [[Travancore]] into its northern kingdoms that occurred during the 1740s.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> As a result, Anizham Thirunal [[Marthanda Varma]], the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed the kingdom of [[Thekkumkur]] into Travancore in 1749 during the [[Battle of Changanassery]], after his annexation of [[Kayamkulam]] in 1746.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The Thekkumkur king took refuge in the kingdom of the [[Zamorin]] of Calicut following his defeat in the battle.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

==== Vadakkumkur dynasty (1102–1750 CE) ====
{{Main|Vadakkumkur}}
[[Vadakkumkur]] was the northern branch of the erstwhile province of ''Vempolinadu'' which attained political autonomy in 1102 CE after the collapse of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The rulers of this dynasty were also known by the titles ''Bimbaleeshas'' and ''Manikandas'' in the contemporary Sanskrit works just like their [[Thekkumkur]] counterparts. The kingdom of [[Vadakkumkur]] included the modern-day Taluks of [[Ettumanoor]] and [[Vaikom]] along with a portion of the [[Meenachil]] Taluk.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> [[Kaduthuruthy]] was the earlier headquarters of the [[Vadakkumkur]] dynasty which was later transferred into [[Vaikom]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Vadakkumkur was a vassal state of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] until 1750.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] explorers described [[Vadakkumkur]] as "The Pepper country" due to the availability and high scale production of good quality pepper there during the 16th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The [[Dutch Malabar]] who became an influential power in the territory of Vadakkumkur during the 17th century CE and the first half of the 18th century CE had a trade centre at [[Vechoor]] (in [[Vaikom]] [[List of taluks of Kerala|taluk]]) in Vadakkumkur.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The Kingdom of ''Kizhmalanadu'' (1102–1600), which had included the modern-day Taluks of [[Muvattupuzha]] and [[Thodupuzha]] with its headquarters at Karikode near Thodupuzha, merged with the kingdom of [[Vadakkumkur]] around 1600 CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

[[Vadakkumkur]] Raja was also a part of the combined military alliance formed by the kingdoms of [[Odanad]] (Kayamkulam), [[Thekkumkur]], and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] against the expansion of [[Travancore]] into the northern territories.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> As a result, Anizham Thirunal [[Marthanda Varma]], the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed Vadakkumkur in 1750.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The Vadakkumkur Raja sought asylum in the kingdom of the [[Zamorin]] of Calicut.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Later he returned back into Travancore.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

==== Poonjar dynasty (1160–1750 CE) ====
{{Main|Poonjar dynasty}}
In {{CE|1157}}, [[Kulothunga I|Kulothunga Chola]], who belonged to the lineage of the [[Medieval Cholas]], entered into a war with Manavikrama Kulasekhara Perumal, who belonged to the [[Pandya dynasty]] of [[Madurai]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Upon the failure in the battle, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreevallabha as the monarch of the [[Pandya dynasty]] and left Madurai with his family and some of his trusted servants.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Manavikrama crossed the [[Western Ghats]] and sought political asylum in [[Kerala]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Manavikrama purchased a vast tract of land bordering the Pandyan territories, from the ruler of [[Thekkumkur]] which comprised the [[Meenachil]] taluk the regions of [[Poonjar]], Erattupeta, Pala, Patthanamthitta, Thodupuzha, etc. along with the [[High Range, Kerala|High Range]] region of modern-day [[Idukki district]] in 1160 CE, which originally belonged to the [[Thekkumkur]] Rajas.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> This incident commenced the beginning of the [[Poonjar dynasty]]. They were a sovereign state.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Though disputed, the territory of Poonjar was claimed by the Kingdom of [[Travancore]] in 1899 AD. Travancore claimed that the sovereignty reverted to them following the annexation of the principalities of [[Thekkumkur]] and [[Vadakkumkur]] in 1749–1750.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The land ownership was not disputed.

The [[Kannan Devan Hills]] on the [[High Range, Kerala|High Range]] region were given on lease on 11 July 1877 by the ruler of the [[Poonjar dynasty]] to John Daniel Munroe from London and for [[History of tea in India|tea plantations]]. The land and the plantations were later resumed by the [[Government of Kerala]] through the Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption Of Lands) Act, 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://clr.kerala.gov.in/pdf/actsrules/kannan_devan_resumption_of_lands.pdf |title=Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption of Lands) Act, 1971 |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=25 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425074255/http://clr.kerala.gov.in/pdf/actsrules/kannan_devan_resumption_of_lands.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the act only addressed the issue of sovereignty which was taken over by the State of Kerala with the accession of Travancore to the Union of India. The ownership of the Kannan Devan plantation (125000 acres)leased to John Monroe, and subsequently transferred to Tata Finlay, and finally to Tata Tea was not relinquished by the Poonjar royal family. This was established by a court challenge to the status, which was resolved by a Kerala High Court order in the early 1990s. The order was in favor of the Poonjar royal family establishing ownership. The lease terms are currently being fulfilled with regards to lease payments as per the original deed.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

=== Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era (1750–1947) ===
{{Main|Travancore}}
{{See also|Kerala reformation movement|Vaikom Satyagraha}}
[[File:Cms college old building.JPG|thumbnail|The [[CMS College Kottayam]], established in 1815, was the first [[Western world|Western model]] institute of higher education in India.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />]]
[[File:Travancore 1871.JPG|left|thumbnail|A map of the [[British Raj|British]] [[princely state]] of [[Travancore]] published in 1871]]
Entire portion of the modern-day district of [[Kottayam]] became part of the erstwhile [[British Raj|British]] [[princely state]] of [[Travancore]] by 1750 CE. This era marked considerable progress and social reformation in all spheres.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The [[Church Mission Society]] press at [[Kottayam]] was established in 1821 by Rev. [[Benjamin Bailey (missionary)|Benjamin Baily]], a British missionary, as the first printing press in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/district_handbook/Kottayam.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319183020/http://www.kerala.gov.in/district_handbook/Kottayam.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-19 |access-date=2009-03-11}}   Handbook of Kottayam district, published by Government of Kerala</ref> They had also established the [[CMS College Kottayam]] in 1815 as the first [[Western world|Western style]] institute of higher education in India. The region progressed much in its literacy rate by the end of the 19th century CE.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> It became one of the most literate regions in the [[British Raj|British Indian Empire]] by 1860.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Due to its remarkable progress in the fields of literacy, education, and printing, many early newspapers and magazines in [[Malayalam]] such as ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]'' (1887) and ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'' (1888) were established in [[Kottayam]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

The same period also saw the commencement of [[Kerala reformation movement]] with an aim to eradicate the [[Untouchability]], inequality, and the irrational practices existed in the Kerala society for many centuries which ultimately led to the movements like the [[Vaikom Satyagraha]] (1924).<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> Kottayam has been involved in a number of political movements, including the 'Malayali Memorial' movement.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The goal of the movement was to seek more representation for [[Malayali]]s in the [[Travancore]] civil service irrespective of their caste and religion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Kottayam District, Government of Kerala |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/history/ |access-date=2019-01-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Vaikom Satyagraha]], a protest against [[Caste system in India|caste discrimination]], took place in Kottayam district in 1924.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" /> The district also participated in the protests for responsible government in Travancore, which ended with the overthrow of [[Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer]], who was the [[Divan]] of the British princely state of Travancore in 1947.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala" />

During the [[Travancore]]an administration, the [[British Raj|British]] [[princely state]] of Travancore was divided into four revenue divisions- the [[Northern Division (Travancore)|Northern division]] headquartered at [[Kottayam]], the [[Central Division (Travancore)|Central division]] headquartered at [[Kollam]], the [[Southern Division (Travancore)|Southern division]] headquartered at [[Thiruvananthapuram]], and the [[High Range, Kerala|High Range division]] with its headquarters at [[Devikulam]].<ref name="1931_census">{{Cite book |last=Pillai |first=N. Kunjan |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/18998 |title=Census of India, 1931, VOLUME XXVIII, Travancore, Part-I Report |publisher=Government of Travancore |year=1932 |location=Trivandrum}}</ref>

[[Kottayam]] was the headquarters of the northernmost revenue division in Travancore which included the [[List of taluks of Kerala|Taluks]] of [[North Paravur]], [[Kunnathunad]], [[Muvattupuzha]], [[Thodupuzha]], [[Meenachil]], [[Changanassery]], [[Kottayam]], [[Vaikom]], and [[Cherthala]] in 1931.<ref name="1931_census" />

=== Post-independence (1947–present) ===
{{See also|Indian Independence Act 1947|Instrument of Accession}}
At the time of the integration of the state of [[Travancore]] and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] into the state of [[Travancore-Cochin]] in 1949 following the integration of the [[British Raj|British]] [[Princely state]]s of [[Travancore]] and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] into the [[Dominion of India]], the erstwhile revenue divisions were reorganised into [[List of districts of Kerala|districts]] and the [[Divan]] Peshkars gave way to [[district collector]]s, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district on 1 July 1949.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Manorama Year Book |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]] |year=2006 |editor-last=K. M. Mathew |editor-link=K. M. Mathew |page=116}}</ref>

The erstwhile [[Kingdom of Cochin]] was reorganized into [[Thrissur district]] and Taluks of [[North Paravur]] and [[Kunnathunad]] were transferred to that district.<ref name="1951c">{{Cite book |last=U. Sivaraman Nair |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5609/1/23587_1951_KOT.pdf |title=1951 Census Handbook- Kottayam District |publisher=Travancore-Cochin Government Press |year=1952 |location=Trivandrum}}</ref> Similarly the [[Cherthala]] Taluk was transferred into the newly formed [[Kollam district]] on 1 July 1949.<ref name="1951c" /> The [[High Range, Kerala|High Range]] division of the erstwhile Travancore was merged with the remaining Taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam division to form the Kottayam district as a part of the inauguration of the new Indian state of [[Travancore-Cochin]] on 1 July 1949.<ref name="1951c" /> The new district of Kottayam at that time contained eight Taluks – Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Devikulam, and Peerumede.<ref name="1951c" />

As a part of the formation of the new Indian state of [[Kerala]] according to the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]], many jurisdictional changes were done in the district.<ref name="1961c">{{Citation |last=M. K. Devassy |title=1961 Census Handbook- Kottayam District |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/handle/123456789/5663 |year=1965 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands}}</ref> Two new Taluks, namely [[Kanjirappally]] (from Changanassery and Thiruvalla) and [[Udumbanchola]] (from Devikulam and Peerumede) were carved out on 1 October 1956.<ref name="1961c" /> After a month, a new Taluk called [[Kuttanad]] was carved out from Changanassery and [[Ambalappuzha]].<ref name="1961c" /> The Kuttanad Taluk was transferred into the newly formed [[Alappuzha district]] on 17 August 1957. The Taluks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were transferred into the newly formed [[Ernakulam district]] on 1 April 1958.<ref name="1961c" />

On 26 January 1972, the three [[High Range, Kerala|High Range]] Taluks, namely Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumede, along with [[Thodupuzha]] from the [[Ernakulam district]] were separated from Kottayam district to form a new district called [[Idukki district|Idukki]].<ref name="1981c">{{Citation |last=M. Vijayanunni |title=1981 Census Handbook- Kottayam District |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/handle/123456789/5750 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala}}</ref> The district of [[Kottayam]] took its current shape on 26 January 1972. Now it contains five Taluks- [[Changanassery]], [[Kottayam]], [[Vaikom]], [[Meenachil]], and [[Kanjirappally]].

The municipality of [[Kottayam]] was declared as the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy in 1989.<ref name="niti">{{Cite news |date=28 November 2021 |title=Kerala's Kottayam only district in India with no poor residents: Niti Ayog index |work=Times of India |location=Kottayam |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kottayam-only-dist-in-india-with-no-poor-residents/articleshow/87954775.cms |access-date=20 June 2022}}</ref> The Multidimensional Poverty Index prepared by [[NITI Aayog]] based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kottayam as the first [[List of districts of India|Indian district]] to achieve zero multidimensional poverty rate.<ref name="niti" />

== Climate ==
There are no distinct seasons in Kottayam, as it has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two [[monsoon]] seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon, and accumulates an average rainfall of around 3600&nbsp;mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September, and the north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains from March to May are accompanied by thunder and lightning; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala is received in Kottayam. December, January, and February are cooler, while March, April, and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded in Kottayam was 38.5&nbsp;°C on 6 April 1998, and the lowest was 15&nbsp;°C on 13 December 2000.<ref>http://www.kerala.gov.instatistical/panchayat_statistics2001/ktm_shis.htm{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Climate of Kottayam</ref>

The Kottayam district experienced intense [[red rain in Kerala|red rainfall]] in 2001, during which the rain was colored red, yellow, green, and black.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Venkatraman |date=30 July 2001 |title=Coloured Rain: A Report on the Phenomenon |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.geocities.com/iamgoddard/Sampath2001.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613135746/http://www.geocities.com/iamgoddard/Sampath2001.pdf |archive-date=13 June 2006}}</ref>

== Tourism and wildlife ==
Kottayam has a network of rivers, [[backwater (river)|backwaters]], ancient religious places, and hill stations. Local tourist places include:
[[File:KumarakomHouseBoat.jpg|thumb|House Boat in [[Kumarakom]]]]
* [[Kumarakom]], a tourist destination located near the city of Kottayam. It contains the [[Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary]], which is known for migratory birds.<ref>http://www.forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/kottayam {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920194825/http://forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/kottayam |date=20 September 2020 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref>
* [[Vembanad Lake]] is home to traditional cargo boats called [[Kettuvallams]], which are modified into cruise boats and houseboats.<ref name="kottayam.nic.in">{{Cite web |title=VEMBANAD LAKE &#124; Kottayam District, Government of Kerala &#124; India |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/tourist-place/vembanad-lake/}}</ref> [[Pathiramanal]] is a small island located in the Vembanad Lake, and is only accessible by boat.<ref name="kottayam.nic.in" />

[[File:Ilaveezhapoonchira.jpg|thumb|[[Ilaveezha Poonchira]]]]
* [[Ilaveezha Poonchira]] is a [[hill station]] in Kottayam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ILAVEEZHAPOONCHIRA &#124; Kottayam District, Government of Kerala &#124; India |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/tourist-place/ilaveezhapoonchira/}}</ref>
* [[Vagamon]] is a hill station in Kerala. It is located primarily in the [[Idukki district]], but includes the [[Meenachil]] taluk and [[Kanjirappally]] taluk as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vagamon,Wagamon, Vagamon hill station, Vagamon Heights, Vagamon Hideout |url=https://www.vagamon.com/}}</ref>
* During the [[Onam]] festival in August and September, water boat races are conducted in Kottayam. The major one is the [[Nehru Trophy Boat Race]]. The Thazhathangadi boat race in [[Kummanam]] is over a century old.
* [[Vaikom]], a historical town.
* [[Illickal Kallu]], the highest point in the Kottayam district.
Malarikkal and Panachikkad in Kottayam is famous for Ambal fest.

== Transport ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2019}}
Kottayam is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in [[Kerala]], and also by waterways allowing for waterborne travel. The Kottayam Kumali, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam, Kottayam-Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla-Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass, and MC road are the major roads in the district. The nearest airport is the [[Cochin International Airport]]. SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of the Kottayam district. The ferry service from Vaikom to Thavanakkadavu in the Alappuzha district is the longest. India's first solar ferry service boat, 'Adhithya', operates from Vaikom.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

== Administration ==
[[Kottayam]] city is the administrative headquarters of the Kottayam district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions- Kottayam and Pala.<ref name="ktmrvn">{{Cite web |title=Revenue divisions in Kottayam district |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/en/revenue-division-office/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India}}</ref>

=== Municipal towns ===
{{Main|Municipalities of Kerala}}
There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipalities {{!}} District Kottayam, Government of Kerala {{!}} India |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/en/municipalities/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Changanassery]]
* [[Erattupetta]]
* [[Ettumanoor]]
* [[Kottayam]]
* [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]]
* [[Vaikom]]
}}

=== Villages ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
* [[Achickal]]
* [[Kalathukadavu]]
* [[Karimpany]]
* [[Mammood]]
* [[Marangoly]]
* [[Panackapalam]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Water surges overnight at Panackapalam |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/content/mm/en/kerala/top-news/2018/07/29/panackapalam-kottayam-flood.html |website=Onmanorama |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>
* [[Villoonni]]

=== Legislative representation ===
{{See also|Kerala Legislative Assembly|Lok Sabha}}
There are three [[Lok Sabha]] constituencies in Kottayam district: [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kottayam]] (6 assembly constituencies), [[Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency)|Pathanamthitta]] (2 assembly constituencies, i.e., Kanjirappally and Poonjar) and [[Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency|Mavelikara]] (1 assembly constituency, 
i.e., Changanassery).

There are nine [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]] seats in Kottayam district.<ref>[http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members.htm Niyamsabha official site]</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]] Constituencies from Kottayam district (9)
!width="20px" |Sl no.
!width="75px" |Constituency
!width="85px" |Member
!width="35px" |Party
!width="35px" |Alliance
|-
| 1 ||[[Pala (State Assembly constituency)|Pala]] || [[Mani C. Kappan]] ||style="background:{{party color|Nationalist Congress Party}}; color:white;"|'''NCP'''||{{legend2|{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 2 ||[[Kaduthuruthy]] ||[[Monce Joseph]] ||style="background-color:{{party color|Kerala Congress (Mani)}}; color:white;"|'''KEC'''||{{legend2|{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 3 ||[[Vaikom (State Assembly constituency)|Vaikom]] ||[[C. K. Asha]] ||style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of India}}; color:white;"|'''CPI'''||{{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front}}|[[Left Democratic Front|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 4 ||[[Ettumanoor]] ||[[V. N. Vasavan]] ||style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}; color:white;"|'''CPI(M)'''||{{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front}}|[[Left Democratic Front|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 5 ||[[Kottayam]]||[[Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan]] ||style="background-color:{{party color|Indian National Congress}}; color:white;"|'''INC'''||{{legend2|{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 6 || [[Puthuppally (State Assembly constituency)|Puthuppally]] ||[[Chandy Oommen]] ||style="background-color:{{party color|Indian National Congress}}; color:white;"|'''INC'''||{{legend2|{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 7 || [[Changanassery]] || Job Michael || style="background-color:{{party color|Kerala Congress (Mani)}}; color:white;"|'''KC(M)'''||{{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front}}|[[Left Democratic Front|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 8 ||[[Kanjirappally]] ||[[N. Jayaraj]] ||style="background-color:{{party color|Kerala Congress (Mani)}}; color:white;"|'''KC(M)'''||{{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front}}|[[Left Democratic Front|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|-
| 9 ||[[Poonjar]] ||[[Sebastian Kulathunkal]] ||style="background-color:{{party color|Kerala Congress (Mani)}}; color:white;"|'''KC(M)'''||{{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front}}|[[Left Democratic Front|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
|}

=== Taluks ===
{{Main|List of taluks of Kerala}}
The district is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate five [[List of taluks of Kerala|Taluks]] within them.<ref name="ktmtlk" />
* Taluks in the '''Kottayam Revenue Division''' are:<ref name="ktmtlk" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[Changanassery]]
| [[Kanjirappally]]
| [[Kottayam]]<ref name="ktmtlk">{{Cite web |title=Taluks in Kottayam district |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/en/organisation-chart/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India}}</ref>
|}
* Taluks in the '''Pala Revenue Division''' are:<ref name="ktmtlk" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[Meenachil]]
| [[Vaikom]]<ref name="ktmtlk" />
|}

=== Revenue villages ===
Kottayam district is divided into 100 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration.<ref name="ktmvlg">{{Cite web |title=Revenue villages in Kottayam district |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/en/tehsil/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India}}</ref> They are further incorporated into 5 [[List of taluks of Kerala|taluks]] as eludicated below.<ref name="ktmvlg" />

==== Changanassery Taluk ====
{{See also|Changanassery}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Changanassery]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Chethipuzha]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kangazha]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Karukachal]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kurichy]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* Madappally<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Nedumkunnam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Payippad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thottackad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thrikkodithanam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vakathanam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vazhappally]] East<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vazhappally]] West<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vazhoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vellavoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
{{div col end}}

==== Kanjirappally Taluk ====
{{See also|Kanjirappally}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Cheruvally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Chirakkadavu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Edakkunnam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Elamgulam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Elikkulam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Erumeli North]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Erumeli South]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kanjirappally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Koottickal]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Koovappally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Koruthodu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Manimala]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Mundakkayam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
{{div col end}}

==== Kottayam Taluk ====
{{See also|Kottayam}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Akalakunnam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Anicad (Kottayam)|Anickad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Arpookara]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Athirampuzha]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Ayarkunnam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Aymanam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Chengalam]] East<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Chengalam]] South<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Ettumanoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kaipuzha]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kooroppada]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kottayam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kumarakom]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Manarcaud]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Meenadam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Muttampalam|Muttambalam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* Nattakom<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* Onamthuruthu<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Pampady]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Panachikkad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Peroor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Perumbaikad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Puthuppally, Kottayam|Puthuppally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thiruvarppu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Veloor, Kottayam|Veloor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vijayapuram Grama Panchayat|Vijayapuram]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
{{div col end}}

==== Meenachil Taluk ====
{{See also|Meenachil}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Bharananganam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Elackad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Erattupetta]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kadanad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kadaplamattom]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kanakkary]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kidangoor, Kottayam|Kidangoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kondoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kuravilangad]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kurichithanam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Lalam, Kottayam|Lalam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Meenachil]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Melukavu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Monippally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Moonilavu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Poonjar]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Poonjar]] Nadubhagam<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Poonjar]] Thekkekara<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thalanadu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Poovarany]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Puliyannoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Ramapuram, Kottayam|Ramapuram]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thalappalam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Teekoy]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Uzhavoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vallichira]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Veliyannoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vellilappally]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
{{div col end}}

==== Vaikom Taluk ====
{{See also|Vaikom}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Chempu]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kaduthuruthy]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kallara]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kothanalloor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Kulasekharamangalam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Manjoor (village)|Manjoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Mulakulam]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Muttuchira]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Naduvile]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Njeezhoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Thalayazham]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vadakkemuri]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vadayar]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vaikom]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Vechoor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Velloor]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* Udayanapuram<ref name="ktmvlg" />
* [[Chemmanathukara|T V Puram]]<ref name="ktmvlg" />
{{div col end}}

== Major Towns ==
The major towns of the district include:
* '''Vaikom taluk:''' [[Vaikom]], [[Kaduthuruthy]], [[Kallara]], Chempu, Njeezhoor, Vadakkemuri
* '''Kottayam taluk:''' [[Kottayam]], [[Pampady]], [[Athirampuzha]], [[Ettumanoor]],  Chingavanam,[[Ayarkunnam]],  [[Manarcaud]], [[Puthuppally, Kottayam|Puthupally]], 
* '''Changanasserry taluk:''' [[Changanassery]], Karukachal, Vazhoor, [[Vakathanam]]
* '''Kanjirappally taluk:''' [[Kanjirappally]], [[Manimala]], Ponkunnam, Koottickal, Koruthodu, [[Erumeli]], [[Mundakayam]]
* '''Meenachil taluk:''' [[Kuravilangad]], Pala, Bharanaganam, [[Erattupetta]], Theekoy, Ramapuram, [[Poonjar]], Uzhavoor

== Economy ==
=== Agriculture ===
Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low-lying areas very close to sea level. Depending on the location, different varieties of food and cash crops are cultivated. Rice is the principal crop extensively cultivated in low-lying regions like [[Vaikom]] and [[Upper Kuttanad]]. The district occupies third place in the production of rice in Kerala behind [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]] and [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]].

Although it is the staple food of the people, the area under cultivation is dwindling due to more lucrative cash crops such as rubber plantations for which Kottayam significantly contributes to the overall rubber production in India. Kottayam is India's largest rubber producer. Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though the highlands are more suitable, cultivation has spread to almost all regions. Other crops cultivated include tapiocas, coconuts, peppers, and vegetables. To enhance rubber productivity, the government of India has set up a [[Rubber Board]] as well as a rubber research institute in Kottayam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture |url=http://www.ktm.kerala.gov.in/agriculture.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719032500/http://www.ktm.kerala.gov.in/agriculture.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=3 January 2011 |publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture in Kottayam |url=http://www.naturemagics.com/kottayam-backwater-cruise/kottayam-agriculture-rubber.shtm |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125063206/http://www.naturemagics.com/kottayam-backwater-cruise/kottayam-agriculture-rubber.shtm|archive-date=25 January 2013 |access-date=6 June 2019 |website=naturemagics.com}}</ref>

=== Industry ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2019}}
The district lacks refineries, ports, and an airport, which are needed for major industries.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}Aside from two public sector companies, [[Hindustan Newsprint]] at Velloor and Travancore Cements at Nattakom, industries in the district consist mostly of small and medium-size operations. These mainly include the publishing and processing of rubber or [[latex]], and manufacturing of rubber-based products.

Confined mostly to the Vaikom area of the district is an industry of [[coir]] processing and making coir products.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Consisting of more than twenty [[cooperative]]s, it employs around 20,000 people.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In the hand-loom sector, eight cooperative societies employ 2,100 persons. The district's forests include varieties of [[softwood]] and other varieties of timber providing the raw material for several small enterprises in the production of [[plywood]], packing cases, splints, [[Wood veneer|veneers]], and furniture.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The first printing press in Kerala, [[C.M.S. Press]], was established in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Bailey, a British missionary. Malayalam-English and English-Malayalam dictionaries were published in Kottayam in 1846 and 1847. The only cooperative society of writers, authors and publishers (SPCS) for publishing books and periodicals was established in 1945. Kottayam is home to a number of books and periodicals, and is the center of publishing business in the state.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Publishing houses like [[Malayala Manorama]], [[Mathrubhumi]] publications, [[Labour India Publications]] Ltd, [[Mangalam Publications]], [[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]], [[D. C. Books]], V Publishers, Vidhyamitram, ''[[Kerala Kaumudi]]'' daily and Kerala Kaumudi Flash are also publishers in the district. The city of Kottayam hosts several book exhibitions every year.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Kottayam district}}
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=4,50,615|13=1911|14=4,88,040|15=1921|16=5,85,478|17=1931|18=7,75,069|19=1941|20=9,42,899|21=1951|22=11,32,478|23=1961|24=13,13,983|25=1971|26=15,39,030|27=1981|28=16,97,442|29=1991|30=18,28,271|31=2001|32=19,53,646|33=2011|34=19,74,551|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=center}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Kottayam district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 1,974,551,<ref name="districtcensus">{{Cite web |title=District Census Hand Book: Kottayam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/654/download/2264/DH_2011_3210_PART_A_DCHB_KOTTAYAM.pdf |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Slovenia]]<ref name="cia">{{Cite web |last=US Directorate of Intelligence |title=Country Comparison:Population |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927165947/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |access-date=1 October 2011 |quote=Slovenia 2,000,092 July 2011 est.}}</ref> or the US state of [[New Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Resident Population Data |url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=30 September 2011 |publisher=U. S. Census Bureau |quote=New Mexico – 2,059,179}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 234th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name="districtcensus" /> The district has a population density of {{convert|896|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–11 was 1.32%.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Kottayam has a [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] of 1040 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males, and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 97.21%, the highest in the state and 4th highest in India. 28.63% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.79% and 1.11% of the population respectively.<ref name="districtcensus" />

[[Malayalam]] is the predominant language, spoken by 98.88% of the population. [[Tamil language|Tamil]] is spoken by a small minority in urban areas.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10209/download/13321/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-3200.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title = Religions in Kottayam district (2011)<ref name="religion" />
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]]|darkorange|49.81}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|43.48}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Kerala|Islam]]|green|6.41}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.30}}
}}

According to the 2011 Indian Census, [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]] (49.81%) is the largest religion in Kottayam, with a significant [[Christianity in Kerala|Christian]] minority (43.48%). Syro-Malabar, Orthodox, Jacobites and Pentecostals are the main Christian sects. The Muslim population constitutes 6.41% of the district.<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01: Population by religious community: Kerala |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11379/download/14492/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Religions in Kottayam (%)
!Talukas
!Hindus
!Christians
!Muslims
!Others
|-
|[[Meenachil]]
|39.91
|style="background:dodgerblue;color:white" |52.54
|7.36
|0.19
|-
|Vaikom
|style="background:darkorange" |67.62
|28.72
|3.41
|0.25
|-
|Kottayam
|style="background:darkorange" |50.41
|45.56
|3.71
|0.32
|-
|Changanassery
|style="background:darkorange" |47.21
|45.71
|6.66
|0.42
|-
|Kanjirappally
|style="background:darkorange" |46.30
|39.02
|14.37
|0.31
|}

The three major religious communities in the Kottayam district are [[Hinduism]], Christianity, and [[Islam]]. The [[Nair Service Society]]'s headquarters are located in the district's town of [[Perunna]], Changanassery. The Mannam memorial, created in memory of social reformer [[Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai]], is also located there.

The headquarters of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] (Malankara Church/Indian Orthodox Church), is located in [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church#Catholicate Palace|Devalokam]], [[Kottayam]]. It is the official headquarters of the [[Malankara Metropolitan]] and the [[Catholicos]] of the East.

The Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India has its headquarters in Kottayam.

The [[Knanaya]] Christian community (both the Catholic and Jacobite factions) also has its headquarters in Kottayam district.

The [[Thazhathangady Juma Mosque]], which is one of the oldest [[Mosque|''Masjids'']] in the country, is also located at Kottayam.

[[Kottayam]], [[Thiruvalla]], and [[Chengannur]] are the railway stations for pilgrims heading to the Hindu holy site of [[Sabarimala]].

The pilgrim centers in Kottayam include a number of Hindu temples, Christian churches and Muslim mosques, including:<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Profile |url=http://spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/district-profile-kottayam.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908185036/http://spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/district-profile-kottayam.html |archive-date=8 September 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

=== Hindu temples ===
[[File:Vaikom Temple.JPG|thumb|[[Vaikom temple]] is known as the [[Varanasi|Kasi]] of the South]]
* [[Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple]] – The temple is situated in the heart of Kottayam city and is built in the traditional architectural styles of Kerala. The temple is about 500 years old and was built by the Thekkumkoor Raja, and occupies about 4 acres of land.
* [https://thiruvambadytemple.org Thiruvambady Sreekrishna Swami Temple, Mukkoottuthara] - The temple is located near the small town of Mukkoottuthara, 7 km from the historic Erumely on the Pampa route. From here, the distance to Sabarimala is only 40 km.
* [[Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple]] – It is known as the [[Varanasi|Kasi]] of the south. The Vaikath Ashtami is held in November and December. Vadakkumpurathupattu is held every 12 years to attract devotees.
* [[Kodungoor Devi Temple]]
* [[Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple]] – Annual festival and Ezhunallath are held in this Shiva temple in Kumbham (February to March).
* [[Panachikkadu Temple|Panachikkadu Dakshina Mookambilka Saraswathy Devi Temple]]
* [[Kumaranalloor|Kumaranalloor Devi Temple]] – Known for Thrikarthika Deshavilakku. ''Navarathri'' and  ''Meena Pooram'' are the other festivals celebrated at this temple.
* [[Adithyapuram Sun Temple]] – It is the only 'Adithya' (Hindu solar deity) shrine in the state.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
* [[Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple]] – Pilgrims arrive here during Mandalakalam on their way to [[Sabarimala]]. [[Pettathullal|Erumeli Pettathullal]] is a notable ritual.

=== Churches ===
[[File:Front View 3.jpg|thumb|upright|St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally]]
* [[St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally]] (Orthodox) – Georgian Pilgrim Centre (Founded AD 1557). Relics of [[St. George]] is kept here
* [[Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam|Pazhaya Seminary]] (Orthodox) – The remains of Saint Vattasseril [[Dionysius VI]] (15th [[Malankara Metropolitan]]) are kept here
* [[File:Bharananganam.jpg|thumb|Bharananganam Syro Malabar Catholic Church]][[Bharananganam]] (Syro-Malabar Catholic) – The remains of [[Saint Alphonsa]] are kept here.
* [[File:Saint Joseph's Church, Mannanam - സെന്റ് ജോസഫസ് ചർച്ച്, മാന്നാനം 06.jpg|thumb|St. Joseph Church Mannanam]][[St. Joseph's Monastery Shrine, Mannanam ]] (Syro-Malabar Catholic) – It was built by [[Kuriakose Elias Chavara]]. His remains are preserved here.
* [[File:Manarcad Jacobite Church.jpg|thumb|Manarcad Jacobite Church]][[St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad]] (Jacobite Orthodox) – Its Ettunompu festivals/perunnals are notable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St.Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad |url=http://manarcadstmaryschurch.org/about-st-marys-cathedral/ettu-nombu/}}</ref>
* [[File:St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala.jpg|thumb|St. Thomas Cathedral Pala]][[St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala|St Thomas Cathedral of Pala]] – cathedral of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Syro-Malabar Diocese of Pala]]
* [[File:St Mary,'s Orthodox church , Kottayam (cheriya palli).jpg|thumb|St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Kottayam]][[St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Kottayam]] —(Kottayam Cheriapalli) (Orthodox) – It was built in 1579 AD with a Kerala and Portuguese style.
* [[File:Immaculate Heart of Mary Vimalagiri Cathedral Kottayam.jpg|thumb|Vimalagiri Cathedral Kottayam]][[Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam|Vimalagiri Cathedral]] (Latin Catholic) – It was built in the Gothic Architectural style. Cathedral of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayapuram|Latin Diocese of Vijayapuram]]
* [[File:Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Archdeacon Church, Kuravilangad.jpg|thumb|Marth Mariam Syro Malabar Archdeacon Major Archiepiscopal Catholic Church, Kuravilangad ]][[Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Kuravilangad ]] (Syro-Malabar Catholic) – 13&nbsp;km north of Ettumanoor.
* [[File:Cathedral Changancherry.jpg|thumb|St. Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral Church, Changanassery.]][[St. Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery]] (Valiyapally) – cathedral of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery|Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanassery]]
* [[File:St Mary's Church Koothrapally.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Church Koothrappally]][[St. Mary's Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Koothrapally|St. Mary's Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Koothrappally]] (Syro-Malabar Catholic) - It was built by the Christian leader, [[Palakunnel Valiyachan|Palakunnel Marth Mariam Kathanar]] and is also buried here. Notable for its unique [[veneration]] of [[Saint Maurus|St. Maurus]].
[[File:ThazhathangadyJumaMasjid1.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Thazhathangady Juma Mosque]] is one among the oldest mosques in India]]
* [[Thazhathangady Juma Mosque]]—One of the ancient mosques in India.
* Thangalppara in Kottayam—The mausoleum of Sheikh Fariduddin, and a Muslim pilgrim centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thangalppara, Muslim pilgrim centre, Kottayam |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/thangalppara-kottayam/4}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Kottayam district}}
[[File:Cms college1.JPG|thumb|[[CMS College Kottayam]]]]
[[File:Sbcollegechry.jpg|thumb|[[ St. Berchmans College|SB College Changanassery]]]]
In the 17th century, a Dutch school was started at Kottayam, which was short-lived. The first English school in Kerala, and the first college in India, was established in 1817 by the [[Church Missionary Society]] of England under the leadership of [[John Munro, 9th of Teaninich|Col. John Munro]], as [[CMS College Kottayam|CMS College]]. Later in 1891, the [[Clergy|clergies]] of [[Catholic Church]], under the leadership of [[Charles Lavigne|Fr Charles Lavigne]], established [[St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School|St Berchmans English High School, Changanassery]], one of the first residential English High School in Central Travancore. On seeing a need for instituition for higher education in [[Northern Division (Travancore)|Kottayam - Malabar region]], under the leadership of [[Thomas Kurialacherry|Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry]], Bishop of [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry|Archeparchy of Changanassery]] with help of [[Syro-Malabar Church|Syro Malabar Catholic Church]], established the famous [[St. Berchmans College|SB College]] in [[Changanassery|Changanasserry]] in 1922. Today CMS College Kottayam and SB College Changanasserry stands as a landmark and has made a huge contribution to education in the district. Thus, Kottayam became India's first district with 100% literacy in 1989.

Notable educational institutions in the district include:-
<!---♦♦♦ Only add an institution to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
* [[Assumption College, Changanasserry]]
* [[St. Berchmans College|SB College Changanassery]]
* [[CMS College Kottayam]]
* [[Government College, Kottayam]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government College Kottayam |url=http://gckottayam.ac.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320062444/http://gckottayam.ac.in/ |archive-date=20 March 2015 |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>
* [[Government Medical College, Kottayam]]
* [[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kottayam]](IIIT-K)
* [[Indian Institute of Mass Communication]], Kottayam (IIMC-K)
* [[K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts]]
* [[Kottayam Institute of Technology & Science]]
* [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala]].
* [[Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam]] (Government Engineering College)

== Notable people ==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2019}}
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Joseph Abraham|Joseph G Abraham]], athlete
* [[George Alencherry|Mar George Alencherry]], [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal of Catholic Church]] and Major Archbishop Emeritus of Syro Malabar Catholic Church
* [[Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception|Saint Alphonsa]], a canonised saint
* [[Alummoodan]], Malayalam actor 
* [[Meenakshi Anoop]], a child artist
* [[Anto Antony]], Member of Parliament 
* [[Babu Antony]], actor
* [[Roshy Augustine]],Politician

* [[Ponnamma Babu]] , Malayalam actress 
* [[Mamitha Baiju]], actress
* [[K. G. Balakrishnan]], the first judge from the state of Kerala to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
* [[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]], Malayalam writer
* [[Bhama Kurup|Bhamaa]], actress
 
* [[Chemmanam Chacko]], Poet
* [[Oommen Chandy]], the former [[Chief minister of Kerala]]

* [[Miya George]], Malayalam actress
* [[P. C. George]], Politician

* [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer]], a Malayalam writer
* [[V. N. Janaki]], a Tamil actress and politician
* [[Janardhanan (actor)|Janardhanan]], actor in India
* [[Manoj K. Jayan]], a Malayalam actor
* [[Jayaraj]], director
* [[Geethu Anna Jose]], basketball player

* [[James Kalacherry|Mar James Kalacherry]], Archbishop 
* [[Joseph Kallarangatt|Mar Joseph Kalarangatt]], Bishop of Palai
* [[Beena Kannan]], business women 
* [[Alphons Kannanthanam]], politician
* [[Thampi Kannanthanam]], film director
* [[Mathew Kavukattu|Mar Mathew Kavukattu]], Archbishop 
* [[George Koovakad|Mar George Koovakad]], Cardinal and Prefect of [[Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue]]
* [[Santhosh George Kulangara]], managing director of Safari TV
* [[Anju Kurian]], Malayalam actress 

* [[K. P. A. C. Lalitha]], South Indian actress

* [[Matthew Makil|Mar Mathew Makil]], Archbishop 
* [[Mammootty]], an actor
* [[Jose K. Mani]], politician 
* [[K. M. Mani]], who was the chairman and leader of [[Kerala Congress (M)]] which is one of the oldest regional political parties in India.

* [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]], Former Chief Minister, Kerala
* [[Seema G. Nair]], Malayalam artist
* [[K. R. Narayanan]], the former [[President of India]]
* [[Kalabhavan Navas]], an actor 
* [[Kottayam Nazeer]], an actor

* [[Parvathy Omanakuttan]], the Miss World 2008 runner-up

* [[Antony Padiyara|Mar Antony Padiyara]], Cardinal and Major Archbishop
* [[Thomas Padiyath|Mar Thomas Padiyath]], Auxiliary Bishop 
* [[Guinness Pakru]], a South Indian actor who is the shortest actor in the world
* [[Joseph Perumthottam|Mar Joseph Perumthottam]], Archbishop Emeritus 
* [[Karoor Neelakanta Pillai]], writer
* [[Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai]], a social reformer and the founder of [[Nair Service Society]] (N.S.S.)
* [[N. N. Pillai]], an Indian playwright, actor, theatre director, and orator.
* [[Joseph Powathil|Mar Joseph Powathil]], Archbishop 
* [[Pradeep Kottayam|Kottayam Pradeep]], Malayalam actor 
* [[Jose Prakash]], actor

* [[Bheeman Raghu]], actor 
* [[Rosemary (poet)|Rosemary]], Malayalam language poet and translator.<ref name="keralawomen">{{Cite web |date=26 March 2021 |title=റോസ് മേരി |url=https://www.keralawomen.gov.in/ml/node/738 |website=Kerala Women |publisher=Department of Women and Child Development, Kerala state |language=ml |access-date=7 April 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224130748/https://keralawomen.gov.in/ml/node/738 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Arundhati Roy]], an Indian author

* [[Kottarathil Sankunni]], Malayalam writer
* [[Kalabhavan Shajohn]], an actor
* [[E. C. George Sudarshan]], scientist, 9 times Nobel Prize nominee.

* [[Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran]], a Malayalam-language poet and translator
* [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Mar Thomas Tharayil]], Archbishop 
* [[Thilakan]], malayalam actor 
* [[Baselios Cleemis|Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal]], Cardinal and Major Archbishop of [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church|Syro Malankara Catholic Church]]
* [[Abhilash Tomy]], sailor
* [[Rimi Tomy]], playback singer in [[Kerala]]

* [[Ponkunnam Varkey]], Malayalam writer
* [[Palakunnel Valiyachan]], Christian leader and writer
* [[A. R. Raja Raja Varma]], a poet
* [[Vaikom Vijayalakshmi]], singer
* [[Vijayaraghavan]], an actor
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->

== See also ==
* [[Demographics of Kottayam district]]
* [[Education in Kottayam district]]
* [[Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]
* [[Alappuzha district]]
* [[Idukki district]]
* [[Kottayam]]
* [[Poonjar dynasty]]
* [[Thekkumkur]]
* [[Vadakkumkur]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Citation |last=U. Sivaraman Nair |title=1951 Census Handbook- Kottayam District |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5609/1/23587_1951_KOT.pdf |year=1952 |place=Trivandrum |publisher=Travancore-Cochin Government Press}}
* {{Citation |last=M. K. Devassy |title=1961 Census Handbook- Kottayam District |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5663/1/22608_1961_KOT.pdf |year=1965 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands}}
* {{Citation |last=Government of India |title=District Census Handbook – Kottayam (Part-A) 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3210_PART_A_KOTTAYAM.pdf |year=2014–2015 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala}}
* {{Citation |last=Government of India |title=District Census Handbook – Kottayam (Part-B) 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3210_PART_B_KOTTAYAM.pdf |year=2014–2015 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kottayam district}}
* [https://kottayam.nic.in/ Official website of Kottayam District]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Kottayam district
| North     = [[Ernakulam district]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Idukki district]]
| Southeast =
| South     = [[Pathanamthitta district]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Alappuzha district]]
| Northwest =
}}

{{Kerala}}
{{Kottayam district}}
{{Hindu temples in Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kottayam district| ]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Districts of Kerala]]