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{{About|the city in Kerala, India|its namesake district|Kottayam district |the old princely state|Kingdom of Kottayam|the town in northern Kerala|Kottayam-Malabar}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kottayam
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Kottayam Collage.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Top to bottom, left to right: MC Mathew memorial at [[Thirunakkara]], Aksharashilpam, [[Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral]], Kodimatha Boat Jetty, Kottayam Government Medical College, [[CMS College Kottayam]]
| native_name_lang = Malayalam
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.5947087|N|76.4855729|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Central Travancore
| subdivision_type4 = Incorporated
| subdivision_name4 = 1921
| subdivision_type5 = [[Official Language]]
| subdivision_name5 = [[Malayalam]]
| subdivision_type6 = Native Language
| subdivision_name6 = [[Malayalam]]
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Municipality]]
| governing_body = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Kottayam Municipality]]
| leader_title = Municipal Chairperson
| leader_name = Bincy Sebastian
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 108
| area_urban_km2 = 185
| area_metro_km2 = 220
| area_rank = 5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 3
| population_footnotes =
| area_land_km2 = 179.54
| area_water_km2 = 5.46
| population_total = 489,615
| population_urban = 571,856
| population_metro = 802,419
| population_as_of =
| population_rank = 8
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Kottayamkar
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 686 001
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = Kottayam:0481
| registration_plate = KL-05
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = 1075 female(s)/1000 male(s)/ [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank2_info_sec1 = 99.66 %
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]
| blank3_info_sec1 = 0.831
| website = {{URL|www.kottayammunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in}}
{{URL|kottayam.nic.in}}
| official_name =
}}
[[File:Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) 22-Mar-2007 10-12-15 AM.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Purple Swamphen (''[[Porphyrio porphyrio]]'') photographed in Vembanad Lake, Kottayam]]
'''Kottayam''' ({{IPA-ml|koːʈːɐjɐm|IPA}}) is a city in the Indian state of [[Kerala]], flanked by the [[Western Ghats]] on the east and the [[Vembanad Lake]] and [[paddy field]]s of [[Kuttanad]] on the west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kottayam.nic.in/about-district/|title=About Kottayam|date=4 April 2020|website=Government of Kerala|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> It is the district headquarters of [[Kottayam district]], located in south-west Kerala. Kottayam is located in the basin of the [[Meenachil River]] at an average elevation of {{convert|3|m}} above sea level, and has a moderate climate. It is located approximately {{Convert|155|km|mi}} north of the state capital [[Thiruvananthapuram]].

Kottayam is also referred to as "The City of Letters" as many of the first [[Malayalam]] daily newspapers, like ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]],'' ''[[Malayala Manorama]],'' and ''[[Mangalam Publications|Mangalam]],'' were started and are headquartered in Kottayam, as are a number of publishing houses.

==Etymology==
The royal palace of the [[Thekkumkur]] ruler was protected by a fort called ''Thaliyilkotta''. It is believed that the name ''Kottayam'' is derived from a combination of the [[Malayalam]] words ''kotta'' which means fort (''Thaliyilkotta'') and ''akam'' which means inside. The combined form, ''Kottaykkakam'' (കോട്ടയ്ക്കകം), can be translated as "inside the fort".<ref name="About Kottayam">{{Cite web|date=3 April 2020|title=About Kottayam|url=https://kottayam.nic.in/history/|access-date=9 April 2020|website=Kottayam}}</ref><ref name="Kurien">{{cite journal| author=Kurien L |url=http://ietd.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/354/2/11_chapter4.pdf |title=Structure and functioning of Gramsabhas |year=2010 }}</ref><ref name="Kottayam is a compound word- kotta+akam which means the interior of a fort. Rulers of Munjanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Slovenia Thazhathangadi in the present Kottayam town. Marthanda Varma of Travancore attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil fort. The remnants of place and forts are still seen here.">{{cite journal |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/d_ktmcontent.htm |title=Structure and functioning of Gramsabhas |year=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610040842/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/d_ktmcontent.htm |archive-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
=== Thekkumkur rule (1103 - 1753) ===
{{Main|Thekkumkur}}
From the beginning of the ninth century AD, the history of [[Thekkumkur]] and of Kottayam are virtually indistinguishable. Kottayam was then a part of Vempolinad, an area in the [[Venad|Kulashekara Empire]] (800 AD – 1103  AD). By 1103, the Kingdom of Vempolinad had split into the Kingdoms of Thekkumkur and [[Vadakkumkur]], and the latter became a vassal of [[Kochi|Cochin]].<ref name="ReferenceA">P. Shungoonny Menon - A HISTORY OF TRAVANCORE - First edition: 1878, New edition: 1983, Page 130, 131 - {{ISBN|978-8170200406}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=K.N Gopala Pillai Kuruppum Veettil|title=Thekkumkur Rani (Queen of Thekkumkur)|url=https://archive.org/details/ThekkumkoorRani/page/n7|access-date=2 December 2019|year=1948|publisher=The Hindustan Publishing House, Trivandrum, Publisher: Thomas George BA|pages=224–}}</ref>

The royal house had originally been situated in Vennimala in Kottayam. It was protected by a fort known as Thaliyilkotta and, as a result, the locality came to be known by the same name as the fort. Afterward, Thekkumkur kings shifted their capital to Nattassery near Kumaranallore at the outskirts of Kottayam town. It is believed that the Thekkumkur dynasty ruled Kottayam from Thazhathangadi. 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.

The [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] and the [[Dutch India|Dutch]] established trade relations with both of these kingdoms, dealing in black pepper and other spices. After the subjugation of the Dutch East India Company by the Kingdom of [[Travancore]] in the 1741 [[Travancore–Dutch War]], military operations of [[Marthanda Varma]] progressed against the northern neighboring kingdoms, including Thekkumkur.

===Travancore rule (1753 - 1949)===
{{Main|Travancore}}
Though Thekkumkur allied with Chempakassery and Vadakkumkoor to protect the kingdom, all of them were finally annexed to Travancore.<ref>{{cite book|author=A. Sreedhara Menon|title=Political History of Modern Kerala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wnAjqjhc1VcC&pg=PA140|access-date=10 August 2012|year=1987|publisher=D C Books|isbn=978-81-264-2156-5|pages=140–}}</ref> Another source states that the ruler of Thekkumkur had sided first with the [[Odanad|Kingdom of Kayamkulam]] and then with the principality of [[Ambalapuzha]] against Travancore. After the fall of Ambalapuzha, and as the ruler of Thekkumkur refused to come to terms with Travancore, his capital city was taken on 11 September 1750 by [[Ramayyan Dalawa]], the general and prime minister of Marthanda Varma, and the state was annexed to Travancore in 1753.

By the early 19th century, Travancore became a Protectorate of Britain after a series of unfair treaties. In 1817, the [[Church Missionary Society]] established [[CMS College Kottayam|CMS College]] as the first Western-style college in Kerala. It was welcomed by the [[Travancore]] government to provide administrators for the public bureaucracy<ref name="cms">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/04/stories/2005010400140400.htm|title=Setting standards of excellence: UGC recognition has added to CMS College's list of merits.|date=4 January 2005|work=The Hindu|accessdate=5 April 2010|archive-date=15 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050315182258/http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/04/stories/2005010400140400.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Gandhi at vaikom satyagraha-2.jpg|thumb|[[Mahatma Gandhi]] at [[Vaikom Satyagraha]]|115px|left]]

Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The ‘Malayali Memorial ‘ agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam. The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service against persons from outside. 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.<ref name="About Kottayam"/>

It was here that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kottayam.nic.in/history/|title=Kottayam|date=3 April 2020|website=Government of Kerala|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> Due to these protests, the Maharaja [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]] issued the [[Temple Entry Proclamation]] in 1936.

===Indian Rule (1949 - Present)===
Kottayam became a revenue division of Travancore.<ref name="Kurien" /> A fifth division, [[Devikulam]], existed for a short period but was later added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the [[Travancore-Cochin|State of Travancore and Cochin]] in 1949, these revenue divisions were redesignated as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to [[district collector]]s, with the Kottayam district established in July 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kottayam.nic.in/#|title = Kottayam District, Government of Kerala | Kottayam, the Land of Letters | India}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Kottayam has an average elevation of {{convert|3|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.placesonline.com/asia/india/kerala/kottayam/introduction.asp|title = Kottayam Travel Guide: Useful information to visit Kottayam. 8 Reviews}}</ref> It is situated in the [[Drainage basin|basin]] of the [[Meenachil River]] and in the basin of the [[Vembanad]] backwaters, which are formed from several streams in the [[Western Ghats]] of the [[Idukki district]]. The city is situated near the inland [[estuary]] of [[Meenachil River|Meenachil]] river where it empties into the [[Vembanad]] lake in [[Kumarakom]]. According to the division of places in Kerala based on altitudes, Kottayam is classified as a midland area. The general soil type is [[alluvium|alluvial]] soil. The vegetation is mainly tropical evergreen and moist deciduous.

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Kottayam has a [[Tropical monsoon climate]] (Am).

The climate in this district is moderate and pleasant. Kottayam's proximity to the [[equator]] results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of [[humidity]].

Kottayam district is bordered by [[Pathanamthitta district]] on the south, [[Alappuzha district]] on the west, [[Ernakulam district]] on the north and [[Idukki district]] on the east.

{{Weather box
| location = Kottayam (1981–2010, extremes 1970–2012)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 36.6
| Feb record high C = 37.5
| Mar record high C = 38.5
| Apr record high C = 38.0
| May record high C = 36.9
| Jun record high C = 35.9
| Jul record high C = 34.7
| Aug record high C = 33.8
| Sep record high C = 34.9
| Oct record high C = 35.0
| Nov record high C = 36.0
| Dec record high C = 35.6
| year record high C = 38.5
| Jan high C = 32.9
| Feb high C = 33.6
| Mar high C = 34.4
| Apr high C = 34.0
| May high C = 33.0
| Jun high C = 30.3
| Jul high C = 29.6
| Aug high C = 30.1
| Sep high C = 30.9
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 31.5
| Dec high C = 32.4
| year high C = 32.0
| Jan low C = 22.2
| Feb low C = 22.8
| Mar low C = 23.8
| Apr low C = 24.2
| May low C = 24.0
| Jun low C = 22.9
| Jul low C = 22.7
| Aug low C = 22.9
| Sep low C = 23.2
| Oct low C = 23.1
| Nov low C = 23.1
| Dec low C = 22.4
| year low C = 23.1
| Jan record low C = 16.9
| Feb record low C = 16.0
| Mar record low C = 18.5
| Apr record low C = 20.2
| May record low C = 16.9
| Jun record low C = 18.0
| Jul record low C = 18.1
| Aug record low C = 16.9
| Sep record low C = 20.2
| Oct record low C = 19.2
| Nov record low C = 18.1
| Dec record low C = 16.0
| year record low C = 16.0
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 9.6
| Feb rain mm = 22.8
| Mar rain mm = 56.3
| Apr rain mm = 147.4
| May rain mm = 264.2
| Jun rain mm = 640.0
| Jul rain mm = 542.3
| Aug rain mm = 382.8
| Sep rain mm = 286.0
| Oct rain mm = 335.8
| Nov rain mm = 196.0
| Dec rain mm = 40.9
| year rain mm = 2924.1
| Jan rain days = 0.9
| Feb rain days = 1.4
| Mar rain days = 3.0
| Apr rain days = 8.3
| May rain days = 10.9
| Jun rain days = 22.3
| Jul rain days = 22.3
| Aug rain days = 17.3
| Sep rain days = 12.8
| Oct rain days = 14.3
| Nov rain days = 9.7
| Dec rain days = 2.7
| year rain days = 125.8
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 65
| Feb humidity = 63
| Mar humidity = 63
| Apr humidity = 67
| May humidity = 71
| Jun humidity = 80
| Jul humidity = 81
| Aug humidity = 79
| Sep humidity = 76
| Oct humidity = 76
| Nov humidity = 75
| Dec humidity = 67
|year humidity = 72
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Kottayam Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 433–434
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M107
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations|type=India
|align=left
| 1901|17552
| 1911|15141
| 1921|18833
| 1931|25236
| 1941|33364
| 1951|44204
| 1961|52685
| 1971|59714
| 1981|64431
| 1991|89625
| 2001|129894
| 2011|172878
}}

{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Kottayam [[Urban agglomeration|Urban Agglomeration]] had a population of 172,878, while Kottayam district had a population of 1,974,551. The population of Kottayam municipality was 136,812. Males constituted 62% of the population and females 38%. Population growth in the district had a diminishing trend with a decadal population growth rate of 6.5% compared to 9.35% across the decade 1991–2000.<ref>{{cite book |author=Srikumar Chattopadhyay |title=Striving for Sustainability: Environmental Stress and Democratic Initiatives in Kerala |publisher= Concept Publishing |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gOrvghLklKoC |isbn=9788180692949 |page=157}}</ref> Population growth in the municipality is due to migration for employment. Kottayam District is ranked first in literacy, with 95.9% literacy compared to 90.92% for Kerala State and 65.38% for India (2001 census).<ref name="Kurien" />

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Kottayam (2011)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/religion/district/280-kottayam.html | title=Towns in Kottayam - Religion 2011 | publisher=Indian Population Census 2011 | access-date=22 September 2016 }}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hindu]]|orange|50.54}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians]]|blue|45.32}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|4.71}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhist]]|yellow|0.01}}
{{bar percent|[[Jains]]|yellow|0.01}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhs]]|pink|0.01}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|0.04}}
|caption=Distribution of religions
}}
[[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] constituted 6.73% and 0.31% of the total population in Kottayam respectively.<ref name="Census of India">{{Cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/803296-kottayam-kerala.html|title = Kottayam Municipality City Population Census 2011-2021 | Kerala}}</ref>
19,739 persons were engaged in work or business activity, including 14,282 males and 5,457 females. In the census survey, the worker is defined as a person who does business, job, service, cultivator or labour activity. Of total 19,739 working population, 90.17% were engaged in main work while 9.83% of total workers were engaged in marginal work.

==Literature==
''Jnananikshepam'' was the first newspaper published by the natives of Kerala, published at CMS press at Kottayam in 1848.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/d_ktmcontent.htm |title=official website of Information and Public Relation Department |access-date=19 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610040842/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/d_ktmcontent.htm |archive-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kottayam has produced many well-known writers, journalists and artists. Novelist [[Muttathu Varkey]] and poet [[Pala Narayanan Nair]] both have roots in Kottayam. [[Kottayam Pushpanath]], a writer of crime thrillers lives in Kottayam. The Indian-English novelist [[Arundhati Roy]] is a native of Kottayam and her semi-autobiographical Booker Prize-winning novel, ''[[The God of Small Things]],'' contains her childhood experiences in [[Aymanam]], Kottayam. [[Unni R.]] a story writer and scriptwriter, is also from Kottayam. Kottayam was the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kottayam.nic.in/about-district/|title=About District|date=3 April 2020|website=Government of Kerala|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
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 as [[CMS College Kottayam|CMS College]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/04/stories/2005010400140400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050315182258/http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/04/stories/2005010400140400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2005|title= Setting standards of excellence: UGC recognition has added to CMS College's list of merits. |date=4 January 2005|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> Kottayam became India's first town with 100% literacy in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/City-of-letters-sets-itself-a-new-milestone/article20809376.ece/amp/|title=City of letters sets itself a new milestone}}</ref>

The [[Government Medical College, Kottayam]], is one of the most prominent medical colleges in Kerala. [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala]], is based out of Kottayam. Kottayam boasts several other colleges and universities.

There are 14 engineering colleges. Government Engineering College, [[Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam]] is located in Pampady, 14 km east of Kottayam. Indian institute of information technology, Kottayam is an institute of national importance is also located around {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} from Kottayam, near to Pala town.

==Media==
In 1821, [[Benjamin Bailey (missionary)|Benjamin Bailey]], a British missionary, established C.M.S. Press, the first printing press in Kerala, in Kottayam. The town has been at the forefront of newspaper and book publishing in the state ever since.

Newspaper ''[[Malayala Manorama]],'' published from Kottayam, is one of the largest circulating dailies in India.<ref>http://www.auditbureau.org/files/JD%202019%20Highest%20Circulated%20(across%20languages).pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2022}}</ref> The Malayala Manorama Group, based in Kottayam, also owns Manorama Online, Manorama News Channel, ''[[The Week]]'' magazine and other publications. Other major Malayalam newspapers—''[[Mathrubhoomi]],'' ''[[Deshabhimani]],'' ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]],'' ''[[Madhyamam]],'' and around thirty periodicals are published from Kottayam. Kottayam is also home to several Malayalam book publishers such as [[D. C. Books]], [[Labour India Publications]] and Current Books. Almost 70 percent of books published in Kerala are from Kottayam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ktm.kerala.gov.in/artandculture.htm |title=Official website of the Kottayam District |access-date=19 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002192424/http://www.ktm.kerala.gov.in/artandculture.htm |archive-date=2 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1945, a group of writers set up [[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society|Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham]] (English: Literary Workers' Co-operative Society) in Malayalam.

==Sports==
A number of annual [[basketball]] tournaments including the Marian Trophy, Girideepam Trophy, Lourdes Trophy and Virginia Memorial Tournament are conducted. The main sports stadiums in Kottayam are [[Nehru Stadium, Kottayam|Nehru Stadium]] and [[Rajiv Gandhi International Indoor Stadium, Kottayam|Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium]], both located in Nagambadom.

==Governance==

===Legislature===
Kottayam is one of the six municipalities in the district, formed after the implementation of the Kerala Municipalities Act in 1994. The members of the municipal council are elected from each of 52 wards every five years, held with the local government elections across the state. The chairperson is the executive authority of the municipality.

Kottayam town is the part of the Kottayam legislative assembly constituency and the [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency]]. The legislative assembly election is conducted every four years, last in May 2016.

===Executive===
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = KottayamCollectorate.jpg|thumb
| caption1 = Kottayam Collectorate
}}
The [[collectorate]] of the [[Kottayam District]] is located in Kottayam town. The present collector is Dr. P. K. Jayasree IAS. Many administrative and district offices of Kottayam including the District Court is situated within the collectorate premises.

===Judiciary===
Five courts were established during the tenure of [[John Munro, 9th of Teaninich|Colonel John Munro]], as the Diwan of various states in India. One of these was established in [[Vaikom]], in the northwest of Kottaya district.

The district court at Kottayam was established in 1910 during the period of [[Moolam Thirunal|Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja of Tranvancore]]. The court celebrated its centenary in 2010.

The District Headquarters of the judiciary is set up at Kottayam town with the Principal District Court as it Administrative Centre. The justice delivery system consists of eight Munsiff Courts, ten Judicial 1st Class Magistrate Courts, three Sub Courts, one Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, and three Additional District Courts. In addition to these regular courts, two Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals, one special court for Vigilance cases and two Family Courts also function in this district.

==Politics==
{{Multiple image
| align = right
|imagesize = 75px
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.jpg|thumb
| caption1 = [[Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan]], The current member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Kottayam
}}

The major political parties active in Kottayam are [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI[M]), [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and [[Kerala Congress]]. Trade union movements are also popular in Kottayam as [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]] (BMS, Indian Workers' Union), [[Indian National Trade Union Congress]] (INTUC) and [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]] (CITU) affiliated workers engaged in the labor sector.

The current municipal chairperson is PR Sona. [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)]] (UDF[K]) is the ruling coalition of parties, holding a majority in the municipal council.

The current member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Kottayam is [[Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|title=Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
|access-date=2008-10-19
|work=Kerala
|publisher=Election Commission of India
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011026/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|archive-date=4 March 2009 }}</ref> He has been of the member of legislative assembly of Kerala representing Kottayam town constituency since 2011.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|title=Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
|access-date=2008-10-19
|work=Kerala
|publisher=Election Commission of India
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011026/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|archive-date=4 March 2009
}}</ref>



== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==


* [http://kottayam.nic.in/ Official website of Kottayam District]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080423042158/http://www.ktm.kerala.gov.in/home.htm Official website from Gov. of Kerala]
* [https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322904/Kottayam Britannica Reference on Kottayam]
* [http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/kerala/districts/kottayam.htm Kottayam District Map, MapsOfIndia.com]

{{Kottayam|state= expanded}}
{{Kerala|state= expanded}}
{{Municipalities of Kerala}}
{{Kottayam district}}
{{Central Travancore}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kottayam| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Kerala]]

Kottayam - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 01:08, 22 July 2023