Kottayam

Important commercial centre of Kerala

Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India, thanks to its strength as a producer of cash crops. Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam, also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary commodities board.

The physical quality of life in Kottayam is much higher when compared to other districts of Kerala. This is due to high literacy rate and better medical facilities. Kottayam is one of the least polluted areas in India.

Kottayam, among the state's more mountainous districts, provides some of Kerala's finest natural scenes sandwiched as it is between serene palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western ghats on the east.

Kottayam came into limelight when it was declared the first fully literate municipal town of India, an event that triggered a mass movement to make Kerala the country’s only state to achieve total literacy.Kottayam is equally known for its cultural heritage. It was the first town in India to attain cent percent literacy, an event which triggered a mass movement to make Kerala the country’s first cent percent literate state.

Kottayam is also the "Town of Letters" wherefrom dozens of Malayalam newspapers and magazines, including the state’s earliest, The Deepika (founded in 1887) and the country’s largest selling daily and weekly from the Malayala Manorama group.

Kottayam is also the birthplace of a unique institution, the Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, perhaps the first-ever co-operative of writers venturing into publishing.

Kumarakom
Kumarakom is an breathtakingly beautiful paradise stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense forests and the magnificent delicate fluttering blossoms.

The place is located on the Vembanad Lake. This illustrious land is recognized for its traditional country crafts. There are exquisite boats and canoes that take you on a cruise round the lake.  Fantastic resorts are available nearby that offer leisurely Accommodation with an ever increasing line of facilities provided like Ayurvedic massage, yoga, meditation, boating, fishing, angling and swimming. 

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