Kottayam

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Kottayam ( Malayalam കോട്ടയം Kottayam [ ko ː ʈ ː əjʌm ] ) is a city in the state of Kerala in southwest India. As an important trading center and publishing center is the city council seat of District Kottayam.

  • 4.1 Education
  • 4.2 hospitals
  • 5.1 traffic
  • 5.2 Economics
  • 5.3 Service sector and non-governmental organizations

Geography

Kottayam is an average of 3 meters above the sea level. The geographical coordinates are 9:58 ° north latitude and 76.52 degrees east longitude.

The city is bordered by the rivers Meenachil and Kodoor and the Vembanad Lake.

The climate is moderated by the situation in the interior comparatively. The annual average temperature is 27.5 degrees Celsius. The main rainy season lasts from May to August as the southwest monsoon, it also brings the northeast monsoon from September to December rather heavy rainfall. The rest of the year, the weather remains dry.

History

The name Kottayam is derived from Malayalam " Kotta Akam ", meaning " inside the fort ."

Seems certain that Kottayam in the 1100s belonged to the Kingdom of Vempolinad, under the rule of Kulasekhara Dynasty ( 1090-1102 ). After the kingdom was divided into Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur. In the course of the 16th century, the Dutch and the Portuguese established the first trading posts on the Malabar Coast and brought the lucrative spice trade under their control.

When in the middle of the 16th century Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier came to India with the searching for new trade routes Portuguese, he found to his great surprise Christian communities. Although the Portuguese were very pleased to be welcomed by probably already in the 4th century came to Kerala Thomas Christians as fellow believers, a centuries -long period of foreign rule began and the Latinization of worship and rites. In consequence of which the Indian Church split into several groups, and as a center of Kottayam Syrian Orthodox Christians of Kerala has remained.

The Rajas of Thekkumkur, an independent little kingdom, which belonged to the region, ruled by her seat Thazhathangadi. Between 1749 and 1754 annexed Raj Marthanda Varma ( 1706-1758 ) Thekkumkur, along with the other regions of present-day district of Kottayam, making the area came under British rule.

The citizens of Kottayam played an important role in the broad social movement in Kerala in the 19th century. The protest movement that emerged in 1891, was called " Malayali Memorial agitation " and tried the number of employees from the former kingdom to increase Travancore in the civil service - you can be considered as one of the first modern social movements in Kerala that of the broader population was born. Also worth mentioning is Kottayams active role in the " Nivarthana " movement of the 1930s, for the legal equality of Hindus from lower castes with the Christians and Muslims.

After Indian independence Kottayam capital of the district of the same name was.

Population and Culture

Population

With the most recent census of India in 2001, the town had 60 725 inhabitants Kottayam. City and district Kottayam recorded as one of the few regions of India in the years 1991 to 2001, a negative population growth.

Press and Communication

Benjamin Bailey, a British missionary, founded 1829, the CMS Press, and hence Kerala's first printing press in Kottayam. The city takes up today in Kerals newspaper and publishing a leading role. Malayala Manorama, the main daily newspaper in Malayalam, was founded in 1888, and received especially from leftist circles nicknamed " Granny Of Newspapers ". Deepika, another Malayalamzeitung, was also in 1888 for the first time published. Among the well-known Malayalam dailies include Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Deshabhimani, Deepika and Kerala Kaumudi and some evening papers.

The founding of the publishing house SPCA - "Literary Workers Co - operative Society in Malayalam " - goes back to a group of writers in 1945, a unique cooperative, which was a leader in publishing. Kottayam is the headquarters of some other book and newspaper publishers in Malayalamsprachen, such as DC Books, Labour India Publications Ltd, Manorajyam, Mathrubhumi, Mangalam Publications ( India) Private Limited and Madhyamam Daily.

Leisure, shopping and entertainment

Continued popularity as a recreational area is the municipal park enjoys in the city center. Also sporting activities that are organized in a myriad of clubs and representative of the the nationally known Nehru Stadium is taking place in the many sports events. Basketball is the preferred sport at younger and will be held in the Marion Trophy ( Marian Junior College), Girideepam Trophy ( Girideepam School), Lourdes Trophy (Lourdes School), in Virginia Memorial Tournament (Mount Carmes School) and that of the Baselius College '. Kalaripayattu ( Malayalam: "Battle Course Practice ") is an ancient Indian martial arts, which originated in Kerala and is still used in South India. Important centers are located between the cities of Calicut and Kottayam. The sake of completeness it should be mentioned the cricket inherited from the British colonial masters.

Nationally known are the five cinemas in which premieres of Malayalam, English, Tamil and Hindi movies in Kerala speakers are shown.

Kottayam is one of the most important business centers in Kerala. Most shops are located in Kottayam - Kumily (KK ), in recent years, Baker Junction and the town center three kilometers away Kanjikuzhy have won as preferred neighborhoods for commercial and residential buildings in importance.

Tourism - related services can be found mostly in Kumarakom, one of the better-known tourist destinations in Kerala, about 14 kilometers from the city center, as well as hotels and guest farms.

Attractions

The cultural diversity of Kerala reflective and formative influence on the cityscape are Hindu temples, such as the Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, the Thazhathangadi Mosque ( Juma Masjid ) and two Christian churches, known as Cheriya Palli and Palli Valiya.

Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple, in the heart of the city, is a temple dedicated to Shiva, built in the typical Kerala temple architecture, pose with portraits on the interior walls, the themes from the Hindu Epien. It was built in the early 16th century by the Raja of Thekkumkur. The annual temple festival, which ends with the ceremony of Aaraattu, attracting a large number of creditors and onlookers to Kottayam. Ettumanoor Mahadeva, Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva, Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and Mahadeva Thiruvayamkudy are other known temples dedicated to Shiva in and around Kottayam.

Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, situated on the banks of Meenachil, is one of the oldest mosques in India, probably from the late 10th century. It is famous for its architectural elegance and of the richness of woodcarvings. The interior is made ​​entirely of wood, with interesting carvings. It was built by a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed during his first trip to Kerala, two kilometers from the city center today, on the road to the tourist destination Kumarakom.

Kottayam is mentioned as a center of the Thomas Christians in Kerala. The Church of St. Mary's, Valia Palli (the big church ) was built by the Syrian Orthodox Knananiten, who immigrated from West Asia to India in 1550 and is considered the first Christian church in Kottayam. Valia Palli is known for its Persian inscriptions and their stone cross. Another church named St. Mary's, Cheria Palli ( the Little Church ), belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and was built in 1579 by the Raj of Thekkumkur for his Christian subjects and similar to the St. Mary's Church in Kudamalloor, built by Raja of Chempakassery. Both churches have influences from Indian temples; but the wall paintings depict biblical themes represents the St. Mary's Church in Manarcaud turn belongs to the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, about eight kilometers from the city center, and is an important pilgrimage site. Other notable churches are Lurdes Forane Church, Good Shepherd Church, the Cathedral Vimalagiri, Christhuraja Cathedral and St. Mary's Church in the 10 km distant Athirampuzha. St. Mary's Church in Kuravilangad is expected to decline even in the year 355.

Worth mentioning is also the Kurisumala Ashram.

Education and health

Education

In Kottayam there is a disproportionately high number of educational institutions, which are among the best in India, and who can look back on a partial two hundred years of history. Already in the 19th century Kerala has taken with its relatively high level of education a special position in the British Empire. Official sources have in 1989, the first time ever called for an Indian district, a literacy rate of 100%.

The Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was the first with an English education in South India. The formerly CMS High School ( Church Missionary Society College High School) was founded by the British missionary, Benjamin Bailey. 1817 was followed by the CMS College, the first high school in Kerala, perhaps even India. The Baker Memorial Girls High School ( 1820) by Amalia Dorothea Baker is one of the oldest girls' schools in India and is located on a hill in the city center.

The leading institution for higher education in Kerala is founded in 1983, Mahatma Gandhi University, one of six universities in the state of Kerala. The Government Medical College Kottayam (1962 ) is a State Medical University and also includes a dental and nursing college.

There are also some art and scientific schools, the Baselius College, located in the city center as well as some schools for engineers and a polytechnic, in and around the city: CMS College High School, MD Seminary High School and MT seminary high school, where renowned doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists, lawyers and managers have completed their studies. Among the newer schools are further Mount Carmel School, Pallikoodam High School (formerly Corpus Christi ), Girideepam School, Marian School and Don Bosco.

Kottayam is considered due to the large number of above-average educational institutions as the academic center of south India.

Hospitals

  • Caritas Hospital of the Syro - Malabar diocese
  • Matha Hospital, Thellakom
  • SH Medical Center
  • District Hospital
  • Little Lourdes Mission hospital, Kidangoor
  • Indo- American Hospital
  • Bharath Hospital
  • Mandiram Hospital Manganam
  • Karipal Hospital, Kalathilpady
  • Sukhodaya Ayurveda Hospital, Kanjikuzhy
  • State Dentistry cal Faculty of Medicine Institute, Gandhinagar

Transport and the economy

Traffic

Local public transport is largely in the hands of numerous, mostly private operators auto rickshaws. The public bus network Kerala State Road Transport Corporation ( KSRTC ) provides regular links to the towns and villages in the district and state. There are also many private bus companies links to the surrounding villages and towns. In contrast to the state-owned KSRTC private entrepreneurs do not provide long-haul routes, but focus mainly on the urban traffic. Trains to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital city to the south, and the port city of Kochi in the north are ensured with its railway station, one of the most important of Kerala and stop for almost all express and long distance trains to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai etc. The nearest international airport 76 miles away in Kochi respectively of the Thiruvananthapuram, about 150 kilometers outside Kottayams.

Of great importance as transport routes, the backwaters, after Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam. The backwaters are a branched network of waterways in the hinterland of the Malabar Coast. They extend from Kochi in the north to Kollam in the south on a total area of ​​1900 km ². From Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam from more hour boat rides and in some villages for visitors Kathakali performances are held.

Economy

The extensive cultivation of rubber trees in Kerala, especially in Kottayam District in plantations, but also in small private plantations and even family gardens, Kottayam has made a major trading center of natural rubber in India. According to this fact, the relevant state authority is located to promote the rubber industry in Kottayam. Some small and medium-sized companies have settled in Kottayam in the processing of raw rubber ( latex) and the further processing of the product.

Another important sector is trading with built in Kerala and neighboring states cereals - the federal authority cultivation also has its headquarters at Kottayam.

Service sector and non-governmental organizations

Represented in the district is an increasing number of companies whose principal activities include rural development, social services, reducing poverty, promoting the role of women and environmental concerns.

The thriving areas training and research are increasingly located in the urban area, including Founded in 1990 Centre for Rural Management ( CRM), which specializes in research, project management, training, consulting and social interaction and is considered one of the leading independent research organizations.

Personalities

  • Benjamin Bailey ( * 1791 in Dewsbury, † April 3, 1871 ), English missionary and founder of a mission station in Kottayam. He introduced in 1821 the printing press in Kerala a translated the Bible into Malayalam as the first and printed them, as in 1846 the first English- Malayalam.
  • Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares ( born April 29, 1836 † September 23, 1923 ), Archbishop - Metropolitan of the ( Latin ) Archdiocese of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Goa and India within the Syriac Orthodox Church.
  • Mathias Kappil (* January 21, 1928, † 24 February 2007 Kottayam ), to 2005 Bishop of Kollam.
  • UR Ananthamurthy ( born December 21, 1932), Indian writer and former Vice Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam.
  • Jacob Angadiath ( born October 26, 1945), bishop of the Catholic Syro - Malabar Diocese of St. Thomas in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Julius Hanna (John ) Aydin ( born April 2, 1947) was Bishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Germany, located in the Syrian Orthodox St. Jacob of Sarug monastery in Warburg. 2002 Hanna Aydin was supported by the St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute in Kottayam Dr. phil. doctorate.
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