Kottayam

Kottayam, in central Kerala, has a history closely tied to inland trade, education, and the growth of modern social movements. Located near the Vembanad backwaters and connected by rivers and routes through the Western Ghats, the region developed as an important link between Kerala’s highland produce (like spices) and coastal markets. Traditionally, Kottayam was part of the old Kingdom of Thekkumkur, and later came under the influence of Travancore as political boundaries shifted across Kerala.

From the 19th century onward, Kottayam gained a distinctive reputation as a center of learning and publishing. Missionary and local initiatives helped expand modern education, printing, and literature, contributing to the strong reading culture the district is known for today. The growth of schools, colleges, and newspapers in and around Kottayam played a major role in shaping public debate and social reform in Kerala.

Kottayam also became associated with Kerala’s powerful reform currents—encouraging literacy, community upliftment, and progressive ideas that influenced society across caste and class lines. Alongside these changes, agriculture remained central, especially rubber cultivation in the wider region, which later transformed the local economy.

Today, Kottayam is known for its educational institutions, publishing legacy, religious harmony, and its beautiful landscapes—where backwaters, hills, and a modern intellectual tradition come together.