Kottayam (koʊttɑːjəm) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala covering an area of 55.40 square kilometres (21.39 sq mi). It is the administrative capital of Kottayam district and is located in south-central Kerala with a city population of 129,894 and UA population of 357,533 according to the 2011 census.

The city is an important trading centre for spices and commercial crops, especially rubber. Major Kerala print media publications such as Malayala Manorama, Deepika and Mangalam are headquartered in this town. Also a pioneering centre of modern education in Kerala, Kottayam became India's first city to achieve 100% literacy in 1989 while the district became the first tobacco free district in India on September 28, 2008. The city is also widely known as Akshara Nagari (അക്ഷര നഗരി) (City of Alphabets) in honour of its contributions to print media and literature. It is known as the "Land of Letters, Lakes and Latex" on account of the upsurge in literacy, the presence of a vast network of rivers and canals, which empty into the great expanse of the Vembanad lake, and the sizable volume of natural rubber produced here.

Kottayam (Cotiote) is a former Hindu vassal feudal city-state in the erstwhile province of Malabar in present-day Kerala, in the Indian subcontinent. Kottayam (Cotiote) is famed for Pazhassi Raja (Pyche Rajah), one of principal leaders of Wynaad Insurrection (Kotiote Palassi rebellion or Cotiote War).

Geography

The Kingdom of Kottayam covered what is today Talassery Taluk (1000 km²) of Kannur District and Wynad District (2000 km²). Headquarters of this kingdom was located in Kottayam, a small town not far from Tellicherry. The royal dynasty of princely state of Kottayam was called Purannatt Swarupam. The Padinjare Kovilakam or Western Branch of this royal dynasty was located at Pazhassi and is famous for its heroic royal rebel, Pazhassi Raja.

Cradle of Kathakali

The institution of Kathakali gained in progress and richness during the time of the Raja of Kottayam between 1665 AD and 1725 AD. The then Raja of Kottayam who was a brilliant actor-dancer structured several compositions to complete the transition of Kathakali from its earlier form Ramanattam developed by Kottarakkara Thampuran. Many dedicated artists like Chathu Panicker also endeavoured towards laying the foundations for what is known as Kathakali now. Their efforts were concentrated on the rituals, classical details and scriptural perfection. Even now Kathakali has not changed from this format considerabley in basic details. Bakavadham, Kirmeeravadham, Kalyana saugandhikam and Nivathakayacha kalakeyavadham are the four perfect Kottayam works After this the most important changes in Kathakali were brought about through the effors of a single person namely, Kaplingad Narayanan Nambudiri. After basic instructions in various faculties of the art in Vettathu Kalari of North Malabar, he shifted to Travancore and there in its capital and many other centres he found many willing to co-operate with him in bringing about these reformations.

Kottayam is a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.

Assembly segments

Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:

Members of Parliament