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Kottayam () is a city in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is the district headquarters of the district and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kottayam has a population of 136,812 people, and a population density of . Kottayam is also referred to as "the City of Letters" as many of the first Malayalam daily newspapers, such as Deepika, Malayala Manorama, and Mangalam, were started and are headquartered in Kottayam, as are a number of publishing houses.
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.
The Portuguese India and the Dutch India 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.
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 as the first Western-style college in Kerala. It was welcomed by the Travancore government to provide administrators for the public bureaucracy.
According to the division of places in Kerala based on altitudes, Kottayam is classified as a midland area. The general soil type is alluvium soil. The vegetation is mainly tropical evergreen and moist deciduous. The district features a mix of hills, back waters and paddy fields.
The area under Kottayam Municiplaity is 55.40 square kilometers. Kottayam town, the headquarters of Kottayam district is situated in the central part of Kerala, in the Central Travancore region. It is situated in between 9°29' 46" N and 9º 37' 59" North latitude and 76°29' 22" E and 76°34' 24" East longitudes.
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 and northeast.
India [[census]], Kottayam 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. 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).
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 6.73% and 0.31% of the total population in Kottayam respectively.
The Government Medical College, Kottayam, is one of the most prominent medical colleges in Kerala. Also, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, is based out of Kottayam. Kottayam boasts several other colleges and universities. It is also home to one of the world's most renowned institutes for Syriac studies: St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute.
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, an institute of national importance is also located around from Kottayam, near to Pala town. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has one of its regional centres near Pampady, Kottayam.
Newspaper Malayala Manorama, published from Kottayam, is one of the largest circulating dailies in India. 2019 Highest Circulated Dailies, Weeklies & Magazines amongst Member Publications (across languages) Audit Bureau 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, 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. In 1945, a group of writers set up Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (English: Literary Workers' Co-operative Society) in Malayalam.
Kottayam city is the part of the Kottayam legislative assembly constituency and the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency. The legislative assembly election is conducted every four years, last in May 2016.
Many administrative and district offices of Kottayam including the District Court is situated within the collectorate premises.
The district court at Kottayam was established in 1910 during the period of Moolam Thirunal. The court celebrated its centenary in 2010.
The District Headquarters of the judiciary is set up at Kottayam city 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.
The current municipal chairperson is PR Sona. United Democratic Front (Kerala) (UDFK) 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. He has been of the member of legislative assembly of Kerala representing Kottayam town constituency since 2011.
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