About
A city in south-central Kerala,
Kottayam is a significant trading centre for spices and commercial crops (especially rubber). It has the distinction of becoming Indias first city to achieve 100 per cent literacy, way back in 1989. As an honor to its contribution to print media and literature, it is often referred to as Akshara Nagari (a city of letters), besides being known as the Land of letters, lakes, and latex.
City infrastructure
Kottayam enjoys a strategic location on NH-183, which connects the cities of
Kollam and
Theni. State highways SH-1, SH-9, SH-11, SH-13, SH-14, SH-15 and SH-32 pass through this city. It is well connected to other parts of Kerala through bus services, both privately operated and those run by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.
In the heart of the town is the
Kottayam railway station, which falls under the administration of the Southern Railway. It is served by numerous long-distance trains connecting most prominent cities of India.
An indoor stadium is under construction in Nagambadam; once completed, it will be the largest indoor stadium in the state, with a huge parking facility. Ferries, a key mode of transport here, connect to the tourist destinations of
Kumarakom and
Alappuzha.
Real estate
Areas like
Kumaranalloor,
Kalathipady,
Nagampadam, and
Vaikom are witnessing a number of new properties being built. The prices vary on the basis of the kind of construction and amenities being offered. The real estate market thrives here, largely because of the non-resident Indians from the city who work in the Gulf and are keen to own plush residential units in the city. Kanjirapally,
Mannanam are other locations where you can find good projects. Kanjikuzhy and Baker Junction are considered the main residential zones of the city.
Lifestyle
Kumarakom is the major backwater tourist destination, situated on the outskirts of the city. It boasts several luxury hotels and resorts. The backwater rides on Vembabad Lake have virtually become the synonym for tourism in Kerala. The places of interest in
Kottayam include Kumily, Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple, Cheriyapally, Bay Island Driftwood Museum,
Vaikom Mahadeva temple, and Thangal Hill, among others.
The city has a large number of schools, colleges, and institutions for higher education. The Mahama Gandhi University, one of the six universities in Kerala, is located here. There also a number of government-aided arts and science colleges, engineering colleges, mass media colleges, etc. One of the premier information technology institutes in the country, the Indian Institute of Information Technology-
Kottayam (IIIT-K), was opened here in 2015.
There also are several hospitals and health care centres in the vicinity. The main stadium here is Nehru Stadium, which hosts many popular basketball tournaments. The town also houses a number of movie halls and theatres, while the Public Library is another popular place that often hosts art exhibitions. The stretch of
Kottayam-Kumily Road (KK Road) that passes through the town is a sough-after spot for shopping. Besides, Sastri Road is another popular shopping place where you can find outlets of many national and international brands.
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