District Profile
Kottayam district was formed in July 1949. The district name literally means the interior of a fort (Kotta-Akam). The district is flanked by Western Ghats on the east and Vembanad lake and Alappuzha district on the west.
Demographic Details
| Description | Census 2011 |
| Population | 1979384 |
| Male | 970140 |
| Female | 1009244 |
| Density | 885 persons per sq. km |
Administrative Units
Kottayam district consists of two revenue divisions, Kottayam and Pala. Kottayam, Changanacherry, Vaikom, Kanjirapally and Meenachil are the five taluks in Kottayam district. The district has 89 Local Self Government Institutions which include 71 Grama Panchayats, 11 Block Panchayats, 6 Municipalities, and a District Panchayat.
Geography
Located in the south to Central Kerala, Kottayam is bounded by Ernakulam district in the north, Idukki district in the east, on the south by Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. The district has as area of 2203 sq. km. The district is overlooking Vembanad lake on the western side Kottayam lies between latitude 9°15and10°21 and longitude 76°22 and 77°25. Kanjirapally and Meenachil taluk have laterite soil and Vaikom taluk, and various parts of Changanacherry and Kottayam taluk have alluvial soil. River Meenachil Manimala and Moovattupuzha are flowing through the district.
Brief History
The district has a unique place in the history of Kerala. Kottayam is the first town in India to achieve full literacy in 1989. English education started at old seminary in 1813, the first printing press in Kerala, the CMS press was established by Rev. Benjamin Baily in1821 and the first college of Kerala – CMS college was started in 1840. The only co-operative society of literary workers for book publication – Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam began in 1945 and the first printed Malayalam – English Dictionary was published in 1846. The first Keralite President of India – Sri K R Narayanan, hails from Kottayam.
Details of Members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament
| Sl.No. | Name | Constituency (MLA) |
| 1 | Sri Mani C Kappan MLA | Pala |
| 2 | Adv Mons Joseph MLA | Kaduthuruthy |
| 3 | Smt CK Asha MLA | Vaikom |
| 4 | Sri Suresh Kurup MLA | Ettumanoor |
| 5 | Sri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan MLA | Kottayam |
| 6 | Sri Oommen Chandy MLA | Puthuppally |
| 7 | Sri C F Thomas MLA | Changanacherry |
| 8 | Prof N Jayaraj MLA | Kanjirappally |
| 9 | Sri P C George MLA | Poonjar |
| Sl No. | Name | Constituency (MP) |
| 1 | Sri Thomas Chazhikadan MP | Kottayam |
Agricultural Details
The important agriculture produce are paddy, tapioca, rubber, coconut, pepper, plantains, pineapple, ginger, tubers, vegetables, and perennial crops like mango, jackfruit. Krishi Bhavan is functioning in all Grama Panchayats and Municipalities. The District Agricultural Farm and Regional Agricultural Training Centre, State Seed Farm (Kozha) Soil Testing Laboratory (Ettumannoor) are important institutions. Kottayam has prominent institutions like Rubber Board, Oilpalm India Ltd. (Kodimatha), and Rubber Research Institute of India.
Basic Details
| Sl.No. | Item | Area (in hectares) |
| 1 | Total Area | 219550 |
| 2 | Forest | 8141 |
| 3 | Cultivation Area | 184666 |
| 4 | Cultivable Land | 187712 |
| 5 | Uncultivable Land | 25893 |
| 6 | Land for Non agriculture use | 1469 |
| 7 | Grassy Land | 0 |
| 8 | Cultivable Waste Land | 4890 |
| 9 | Fallow Land | 5808 |
| 10 | Net Area sown | 164451 |
| 11 | Area Sown More than once | 268556.46 |
| 12 | Total Cropped Area | 191307 |
Source: District Plan
Educational Institutions
Kottayam has been emerged as an educational hub of the State. Important Educational Institutions in the district:
- Mahatma Gandhi University (1983), P D Hills, Athirampuzha
- Medical College (December30, 1962) – Gandhinagar
- Indian Institute of Mass communication and Journalism (2012)-Pampady
- Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (2012)-Mutholy
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of technology (1991)-Pampady
- IHRD Engineering College at Poonjar, Erattupetta
- CAPE Engineering College – Kidangoor
- School for Blind – Olesha
- Deaf and Dump School – Neerpara, Thalayolaparambu
- Polytechnic Colleges – Nattakam, Pala, Erattupetta, Thekkumthala
- Government College – Nattakom
- K R Narayana Institute of Visual and Arts – Mattakkara
- School of Indian Legal Thought – Sooryakaladi Hills, S.H.Mount
Major Industrial Institutions
- Hindustan News Print, Velloor
- Travancore Cements, Nattakom
- Cochin Cements, Mevelloor
- MRF Limited, Vadavathoor, Kottayam
- Canara Paper Mills, Vazhappally, Changanacherry
