114-563: Kottayam ( IPA: [koːʈːɐjɐm] ) is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala . Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: Kottayam , Changanassery , Pala , Erattupetta , Ettumanoor , and Vaikom . It is the only district in Kerala that does not border either the Arabian Sea or another Indian state. The district is bordered by hills in the east, and
228-461: A Rubber Board as well as a rubber research institute in Kottayam. List of districts of Kerala The Indian state of Kerala is divided into 14 districts. Districts are the major administrative units of a state which are further sub-divided into revenue divisions and taluks . Idukki district is the largest district in Kerala with a total land area of 4,61,223.14 hectares. When
342-647: A decade of lyrics; but of these two have not till now been discovered. Kannanar also lauds the Chera for conquering enemies from Kumari to the Himalayas (and carving the Chera bow emblem on the Himalayas). Nedum Cheral Athan, famous for his hospitality, gifted Kannanar with a part of Umbar Kattu. The greatest of his enemies were the Kadambus (possibly Kadambas ) whom he defeated in battles. Nedum Cheral Athan
456-472: A little later. The reverse side of both coins are blank. The impure silver coins bearing Brahmi legends "Kollippurai", "Kollipporai", "Kol-Irumporai" and "Sa Irumporai" were also discovered from Karur . The portrait coins are generally considered as imitation of Roman coins. All legends, assumed to be the names of the Chera rulers, were in Tamil-Brahmi characters on the obverse. Reverse often contained
570-415: A mayor, oversees the municipal affairs. The other administrative subdivision is " blocks ", which is co-terminus with the block panchayats area. Th CD blocks are established for the purpose of rural development , aligning with the boundaries of the block panchayat . Each CD Block encompasses several gram panchayats within its limit. A block is administered by a Block Development Officer (BDO), appointed by
684-546: A number of punch marked coins discovered from Amaravati riverbed. The square coins of copper and its alloys or silver have also been discovered. Most of these early square coins show a bow and arrow, the traditional emblem of the Cheras on the obverse, with or without any legend. Silver-punch marked coins, an imitation of the Maurya coins, and with a Chera bow on the reverse, have been reported. Hundreds of copper coins, attributed to
798-504: A person wearing a Roman-type bristled-crown helmet was also discovered from Amaravati riverbed in Karur. Reverse side of the coin depicts a bow and arrow, the traditional symbol of the Chera family. A large body of Tamil works collectively known as the Sangam (Academy) texts ( c. 2nd century BCE - 3rd century CE) describes a number of Chera, Pandya and Chola rulers. Among them,
912-560: A region called Kuzhamur at Kuttanad in the ancient Tamilakam and were sometimes known as the Kuttuvans . The Chera dynasty is mentioned as Keralaputras in the inscriptions of the emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 184 BCE). The province Kuttanad of the ancient kingdom of Keralaputras included the modern-day districts of Kottayam , Ernakulam , Idukki , and parts of Alappuzha , which can be defined as
1026-617: A strong case of identification with the location. Roman coins have over a period of time been discovered in large numbers from central Kerala and the Coimbatore-Karur region (from locations such as Kottayam-Kannur, Valluvally, Iyyal, Vellalur and Kattankanni). A number of coins, assumed to be of the Cheras, mostly found in the Amaravati riverbed in Tamil Nadu, are a major source of early Chera historiography. This includes
1140-461: A temple ( virakkallu ) for the goddess Pattini (Kannaki) at Vanchi . A certain king called Gajabahu, often identified with Gajabahu , king of Sri Lanka (2nd century CE), was present at the Pattini festival at Vanchi. In this context, Chenguttuvan can be dated to either the first or last quarter of the 2nd century CE. as per akananuru Kaluvul was a velir chieftain of Kamur who fought against
1254-508: A work which belongs to the Malayalam literature written during early decades of the 14th century CE, contains a short geographical and political description of the regions and the medieval feudal states that lied between Kaduthuruthy and Thiruvananthapuram . It contains details about the medieval kingdoms of Thekkumkur (1102–1749) and Vadakkumkur (1102–1750) those together constitute the modern district of Kottayam . The writings and
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#17327654833431368-717: Is administered by a District Collector , who is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of Kerala cadre, and is appointed by the State Government of Kerala . The headquarters of the district administration is known as the Collectorate . The District Collector serves as the head of revenue administration in the district and also functions as the District Magistrate responsible for maintaining law and order within
1482-467: Is assisted by an additional district magistrate and deputy collectors. The districts are divided into revenue divisions which comprises several taluks under its jurisdiction. Taluks comprises several revenue villages . A revenue division is headed by a Revenue Divisional Officer / Sub Collector , and taluk is headed by a Tehsildar . The Tahsildar is assisted in each revenue village by village officers and village assistants. Village offices functions as
1596-572: Is culturally distinct from the rest of Kerala, entirely lies in the districts of Northern Kerala . North Malabar region includes Kasargod , Kannur , Wayanad , and the northern region of Kozhikode district, south Malabar region includes south-central part of Kozhikode district , Malappuram , parts except Chittoor taluk of Palakkad district , Kunnamkulam and Chavakkad region of Thrissur district. The regions of South Malabar and Kingdom of Cochin , both of which share many historical, geographical, and cultural similarities, together constitute
1710-425: Is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate five Taluks within them. Kottayam district is divided into 100 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration. They are further incorporated into 5 taluks as eludicated below. The major towns of the district include: Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low-lying areas very close to sea level. Depending on
1824-570: Is famous for Ambal fest. Kottayam is linked by major roads and rail to other prominent cities in Kerala , and also by waterways allowing for waterborne travel. The Kottayam Kumali, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam, Kottayam-Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla-Kidangoor Central Kerala Bypass, and MC road are the major roads in the district. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport . SWTD operates ferry services from different parts of
1938-570: Is known about Cheras during this period. Cheras of Kongu country ( Karur ) initially appear as the rulers of western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala . There was a domination of present-day Kerala regions of the ancient Chera country by the Kongu Cheras/Keralas (probably via some form of viceregal rule). The family claimed that they were descended from the Cheras who flourished in pre- Pallava (early historic) south India. There are clear attestations of repeated Pandya conquests of
2052-623: Is noted for its small area, while Malappuram district stands out as the most populous in Kerala. Wayanad , Idukki , and Kasargod are the least populated districts in the state. Ernakulam district stands out as the most urbanized in Kerala, housing a municipal corporation and 11 municipalities, with 68.07% of its population residing in urban areas. Thiruvananthapuram has the highest population density at 1509 persons per sq.km, followed closely by Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts. Chera dynasty Kongu Cheras Chera Perumals The Chera dynasty ( or Cēra , IPA: [t͡ʃeːɾɐr] ),
2166-537: Is received in Kottayam. December, January, and February are cooler, while March, April, and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded in Kottayam was 38.5 °C on 6 April 1998, and the lowest was 15 °C on 13 December 2000. The Kottayam district experienced intense red rainfall in 2001, during which the rain was colored red, yellow, green, and black. Kottayam has a network of rivers, backwaters , ancient religious places, and hill stations. Local tourist places include: Malarikkal and Panachikkad in Kottayam
2280-628: Is said to have conquered an island, which had the kadambu tree as its guardian, by crossing the ocean. Poet Mamular also sings of his conquest of Mantai. He also punished and extracted ransom from the Yavanas. Chola Neytalankanal Ilam Set Chenni captured Pamalur, which belonged to the Chera Kudakko Nedum Cheral Athan. The Chera fought the Cholas at Por (and both combatants died in the battle) Kauthamanar Headquarters
2394-456: Is used by some historians to date the events described in the early Tamil texts to c. 1st - 2nd century CE. Despite its dependency on numerous conjectures, the method is considered as the sheet anchor for the purpose of dating the events in the early Tamil texts. Ilango Adigal author of the legendary Tamil epic poem Chilapathikaram describes Chenguttuvan as his elder brother. He also mentions Chenguttuvan's decision to propitiate
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#17327654833432508-772: The CMS College Kottayam in 1815 as the first Western style institute of higher education in India. The region progressed much in its literacy rate by the end of the 19th century CE. It became one of the most literate regions in the British Indian Empire by 1860. Due to its remarkable progress in the fields of literacy, education, and printing, many early newspapers and magazines in Malayalam such as Deepika (1887) and Malayala Manorama (1888) were established in Kottayam . The same period also saw
2622-577: The Chera Perumal kingdom and Kongu Chera kingdom (c. 9th–12th century CE). The exact nature of the relationships between the various branches of Chera rulers are unclear. After this, the present day parts of Kerala and Kongunadu became autonomous. Some of the major dynasties of medieval south India - Chalukya, Pallava, Pandya, Rashtrakuta, and Chola - seem to have conquered the Kongu Chera country. Kongu Cheras appear to have been absorbed into
2736-516: The Chera dynasty began to expand towards the northern and the eastern regions of Kuttanad by conquering the provinces of Kudanadu and Kongu Nadu . Afterwards the dynasty got split into three branches and fixed their capitals at Muziris , Tyndis , and Caroura , respectively, as seen in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues as well as the Old Tamil literary works of the Sangam period . During
2850-622: The Cholas and the Pandyas . The kingdom was attacked, and eventually forced into submission, by the Cholas in the early 11th century CE (in order to break the monopoly of trade with the Middle East). When the Perumal kingdom was eventually dissolved in the 12th century most of its autonomous chiefdoms became independent. The extent and nature of state formation of the Chera kingdoms, from
2964-545: The Divan Peshkars gave way to district collectors , paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam district on 1 July 1949. The erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin was reorganized into Thrissur district and Taluks of North Paravur and Kunnathunad were transferred to that district. Similarly the Cherthala Taluk was transferred into the newly formed Kollam district on 1 July 1949. The High Range division of
3078-519: The Graeco-Roman trade map Periplus Maris Erythraei refers to the Cheras as Keprobotras . All these Graeco-Roman names are evidently corruptions of "Kedala Puto/Kerala Putra" probably received through relations with northern India . The term Chera , derived from Dravidian words Cheran (meaning island), is a Classical Tamil name of Sri Lanka that takes root from the term "Chera". Recent studies on ancient south Indian history suggest that
3192-553: The Indian Orthodox Church . The name Kottayam is a combination of the words "kotta" and "akam" in the local language of Malayalam , meaning "interior of a fort". A substantial portion of Kottayam district may have been under the Arabian Sea during prehistoric times. Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery , thus supporting the hypothesis. However, there are archaeological evidences of
3306-544: The Medieval Cholas throughout the 11th century CE. The Vazhappally copper plate (c. 882/83 CE) is a copper plate inscription written in Old Malayalam language that dates back to the 9th century CE found at Vazhappally in Kottayam district. Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 CE. The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of
3420-613: The Old Malayalam language in Vatteluttu script with some Grantha characters . The contents of the plate are incomplete. The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near Changanassery . The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madom , Thiruvalla . The record is dated to the twelfth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Rama Rajasekhara (882/83 CE). Inscriptions related to Rama Kulasekhara (1089–1123 CE) of Chera Perumal dynasty can be found at Perunna near Changanassery . The Perunna inscription dates back to
3534-638: The Taluks of North Paravur , Kunnathunad , Muvattupuzha , Thodupuzha , Meenachil , Changanassery , Kottayam , Vaikom , and Cherthala in 1931. At the time of the integration of the state of Travancore and Cochin into the state of Travancore-Cochin in 1949 following the integration of the British Princely states of Travancore and Cochin into the Dominion of India , the erstwhile revenue divisions were reorganised into districts and
Kottayam district - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-634: The Travancore civil service irrespective of their caste and religion. Vaikom Satyagraha , a protest against caste discrimination , took place in Kottayam district in 1924. The district also participated in the protests for responsible government in Travancore, which ended with the overthrow of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer , who was the Divan of the British princely state of Travancore in 1947. During
3762-790: The Travancorean administration, the British princely state of Travancore was divided into four revenue divisions- the Northern division headquartered at Kottayam , the Central division headquartered at Kollam , the Southern division headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram , and the High Range division with its headquarters at Devikulam . Kottayam was the headquarters of the northernmost revenue division in Travancore which included
3876-532: The Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. The area's geographic features include paddy fields, highlands, and hills. As of the 2011 census, 28.6% of the district's residents live in urban areas, and it reports a 97.2% literacy rate . In 2008, the district became the first tobacco-free district in India. Kottayam registered the lowest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of zero among all districts of India, indicating no deprivation as per
3990-680: The Western Ghats and sought political asylum in Kerala . Manavikrama purchased a vast tract of land bordering the Pandyan territories, from the ruler of Thekkumkur which comprised the Meenachil taluk the regions of Poonjar , Erattupeta, Pala, Patthanamthitta, Thodupuzha, etc. along with the High Range region of modern-day Idukki district in 1160 CE, which originally belonged to the Thekkumkur Rajas. This incident commenced
4104-537: The 16th century CE. The Dutch Malabar who became an influential power in the territory of Vadakkumkur during the 17th century CE and the first half of the 18th century CE had a trade centre at Vechoor (in Vaikom taluk ) in Vadakkumkur. The Kingdom of Kizhmalanadu (1102–1600), which had included the modern-day Taluks of Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha with its headquarters at Karikode near Thodupuzha, merged with
4218-538: The 1st century CE, in the Periplus of the 1st century CE, and by Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE. There are brief references in the present forms of the works by author and commentator Katyayana (c. 3rd - 4th century BCE), author and philosopher Patanjali (c. 5th century BCE) and Maurya statesman and philosopher Kautilya (Chanakya) ( c. 3rd - 4th century BCE ) [though Sanskrit grammarian Panini (c. 6th - 5th century BCE) does not mention either
4332-461: The Cheras, have been discovered from Pattanam in central Kerala. Bronze dyes for minting punch marked coins were discovered from a riverbed in Karur. Other discoveries include a coin with a portrait and the Brahmi legend "Mak-kotai" above it and another one with a portrait and the legend " Kuttuvan Kotai " above it. Both impure silver coins are tentatively dated to c. 1st century CE or
4446-617: The Fire and Rescue Department, Divisional Forest Officer for the Forest Department, etc. Each department's district-level offices oversee their respective areas of administration. At the time of formation, Kerala had only five districts: Malabar , Thrissur , Kottayam , Kollam , and Thiruvananthapuram . On 1 January 1957, the Malabar district was trifurcated to form new districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , and Palakkad , bringing
4560-462: The Himalayas to sculpt the idol of goddess Pattini. Controlled the port of Naravu. He married the sister of the wife of Nedum Cheral Athan. Selva Kadumko defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas and the Cholas . Father of Perum Cheral Irumporai. Died at Chikkar Palli. Identified with Mantharan Poraiyan Kadumko. Pasum Put-Poraiyan and Perumput-Poraiyan. He is sometimes identified as
4674-613: The Indian Ocean coast ( Kerala ) and Kongunadu . They governed the area of Malabar Coast between Alappuzha in the south to Kasaragod in the north. The region around Coimbatore was ruled by the Cheras during the Sangam period between c. 1st and the 4th centuries CE and it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap , the principal trade route between the Malabar Coast and Tamil Nadu . However
Kottayam district - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-686: The Kadamba warriors took shelter was stormed. Later the Kadambas (helped by the Yavanas) attacked Kuttuvan by sea, but the Chera ruler destroyed their fleet. Kuttuvan is said to have defeated the Kongu people and a warrior called Mogur Mannan (one of the Chera's allies was Arugai, an enemy of the Mogurs). According to Chilapathikaram , Chenguttuvan led his army to north India to get the sacred stone from
4902-582: The Kannan Devan plantation (125000 acres)leased to John Monroe, and subsequently transferred to Tata Finlay, and finally to Tata Tea was not relinquished by the Poonjar royal family. This was established by a court challenge to the status, which was resolved by a Kerala High Court order in the early 1990s. The order was in favor of the Poonjar royal family establishing ownership.The lease terms are currently being fulfilled with regards to lease payments as per
5016-614: The Kerala or Chera country in the 7th and 8th centuries CE. While the Pallava and Pandya rulers in Tamil Nadu emerged into established kingship by c. 5th - 6th centuries CE, the formation of the monarchical polity in Kerala took place not before c. 9th century CE. The Chera Perumals are known to have ruled what is now Kerala between c. 9th and 12th century CE. Scholars tend to identify Alvar saint Kulasekhara and Nayanar saint Cherman Perumal (literally "the Chera king") with some of
5130-547: The Kingdom of Odanad ( Kayamkulam ) against the military invasions of the kingdom of Travancore into its northern kingdoms that occurred during the 1740s. As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma , the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed the kingdom of Thekkumkur into Travancore in 1749 during the Battle of Changanassery , after his annexation of Kayamkulam in 1746. The Thekkumkur king took refuge in
5244-561: The Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai mentioned in the Aranattar-malai inscription of Pugalur ( c. 2nd century CE ). Described as the descendant of Nedum Cheral Athan . The following Cheras are knowns from Purananuru collection (some of the names are re-duplications) . After the 5th century CE, the Chera family's political prestige and influence declined considerably. Comparatively little
5358-791: The Kottayam district. The ferry service from Vaikom to Thavanakkadavu in the Alappuzha district is the longest. India's first solar ferry service boat, 'Adhithya', operates from Vaikom. Kottayam city is the administrative headquarters of the Kottayam district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions- Kottayam and Pala. There are 6 municipal towns in the district. They are: There are three Lok Sabha constituencies in Kottayam district: Kottayam (6 assembly constituencies), Pathanamthitta (2 assembly constituencies, i.e., Kanjirappally and Poonjar) and Mavelikara (1 assembly constituency, i.e., Changanassery). There are nine Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Kottayam district. The district
5472-633: The Malabar and Kerala parts became autonomous of Karur. The Perumal kingdom derived most of its wealth from maritime trade relations (the spice trade) with the Middle East. The port of Kollam , in the kingdom, was a major point in overseas India trade to the West and the East Asia. Political units known as "nadus", controlled by powerful hereditary chiefs or by households, occupied central importance in
5586-649: The Northern Kerala districts of Kasaragod , Kannur , Wayanad , Kozhikode , Malappuram ; the Central Kerala districts of Palakkad , Thrissur , Ernakulam , Idukki ; and the Southern Kerala districts of Kottayam , Alappuzha , Pathanamthitta , Kollam , and Thiruvananthapuram . Such a regional division occurred being part of historical regions of Cochin , North Malabar , South Malabar , and Travancore . The North Malabar region, which
5700-400: The Pandya political system by 10th/11th century CE. Even after the dissolution of the Perumal kingdom, royal inscriptions and temple grants, especially from outside Kerala proper, continued to refer the country and the people as the "Cheras or Keralas". The rulers of Venad (the Venad Cheras or the "Kulasekharas"), based out of the port of Kollam in south Kerala, claimed their ancestry from
5814-496: The Perumals. Cheranad was also the name of an erstwhile province in the kingdom of Zamorin of Calicut , which had included parts of present-day Tirurangadi and Tirur Taluks of Malappuram district in it. Later it became a Taluk of Malabar District , when Malabar came under the British Raj . The headquarters of Cheranad Taluk was the town of Tirurangadi . Later the Taluk was merged with Eranad Taluk. The term Chera — and its variant form "Keralaputas" — stands for
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#17327654833435928-448: The Sangam epic poem Cilappatikaram . After the end of the early historical period, around the 3rd-5th century CE, there seems to be a period where the Cheras' power declined considerably. Cheras of the Kongu country are known to have controlled eastern Kerala and only a few kilometres of current western Tamil Nadu in the early medieval period. Present-day central Kerala and Kongu Cheras detached around 8th–9th century CE to form
6042-438: The Sangam texts (and the possible hero of the lost first decade of Pathitrupattu ). Uthiyan Cheral was also known as "Vanavaramban" ( Purananuru ) . His headquarters were at Kuzhumur near Kuttanad ( Akananuru ). He is described as the Chera ruler who prepared food ("the Perum Chotru") for Pandavas and the Kauravas at the Kurukshetra War ( Purananuru and Akananuru ). He Married Nallini, daughter of Veliyan Venman, and
6156-447: The beginning of the Poonjar dynasty . They were a sovereign state. Though disputed, the territory of Poonjar was claimed by the Kingdom of Travancore in 1899 AD. Travancore claimed that the sovereignty reverted to them following the annexation of the principalities of Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur in 1749–1750. The land ownership was not disputed. The Kannan Devan Hills on the High Range region were given on lease on 11 July 1877 by
6270-400: The bow and arrow symbol. An alliance between the Cholas is evident from a joint coin bearing the Chola tiger on the obverse and the Chera bow and arrow on the reverse. Lakshmi-type coins of possible Sri Lankan origin have also been discovered from Karur. The macro analysis of the Mak-kotai coin shows close similarities with the contemporary Roman silver coin. A silver coin with the portrait of
6384-413: The bow and arrow, Roman amphorae and Roman coins. An ancient route, from the harbours in Kerala (such as Muchiri or Thondi) through the Palghat Gap to Karur in interior Tamil Nadu can be traced with the help of archaeological evidence. Historians have yet to precisely locate Muziris, known in Tamil as "Muchiri", a base of the Chera rulers. Archaeological excavations at Pattanam (near Cochin ) suggest
6498-444: The case of rural areas, by a Sub-Inspector of Police designated as the Station House Officer (SHO). The Kerala High Court has the jurisdiction of the state of Kerala. Each of the districts has a District & Sessions Court . Each state government department has a district office at the district level, headed by district-level officials, such as the District Medical Officer for the health department, District Fire Officer for
6612-405: The chera supremacy. Perum chera irumporai along with fourteen chieftains attacked kamur but perum chera irumporai was impressed with Kaluvuls resistance in battle field and let him rule kamur and accepted friendship from him. .Some of the velirs under Kaluvul joined the chera after the defeat. Uthiyan Cheral Athan is generally considered as the earliest known ruler of the Chera family from
6726-444: The commencement of Kerala reformation movement with an aim to eradicate the Untouchability , inequality, and the irrational practices existed in the Kerala society for many centuries which ultimately led to the movements like the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924). Kottayam has been involved in a number of political movements, including the 'Malayali Memorial' movement. The goal of the movement was to seek more representation for Malayalis in
6840-456: The conquest of the Maldive Islands, the Malabar Coast, and northern Sri Lanka, all of which were essential to the Chola control over trade with Southeast Asia and with Arabia and eastern Africa. These were the transit areas, ports of call for the Arab traders and ships to Southeast Asia and China, which were the source of the valuable spices sold at a high profit to Europe." The Chera Perumal kingdom had alternating friendly or hostile relations with
6954-414: The decline of Buddhism and Jainism , which were once prominent in the region, along with the growth of Hinduism characterised by a large-scale migration of the Nambudiri Brahmins into the region. The territory of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram disintegrated into several small feudal states by early 12th century CE as a result of the continuous war that occurred between the Chera Perumals and
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#17327654833437068-413: The district, which later led to a transformation in the social structure of the region after the 10th century CE. The ancient prominent religions in the district like Buddhism began to vanish after the 10th century CE. Sri Mulavasam was a prominent centre of Buddhism in the Indian peninsula until the early medieval period, prior to the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE. The regions included in
7182-434: The district. These districts are further divided into police sub-divisions. A subdivision comprises several police stations under its jurisdiction, each headed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) designated as the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO). The police station is the basic unit of police administration at the district level, each headed by an Inspector of Police, or in
7296-444: The district. The Collector serves as both the agent of the state Government and also as the representative of the people in the district. District administration is performed by the various Departments of the State Government, each of which has its own office at the district level. The District Officers of the various Departments in the district render technical advice to the collector in the discharge of his duties. The district collector
7410-510: The districts of Central Kerala . The Travancore region is incorporated in the districts of South Kerala . The Travancore region was again divided into three zones as Northern Travancore (Hill Range) ( Idukki District , Kottayam district and eastern portion of Ernakulam district), Central Travancore (Central Range) ( Kollam district , Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha district) and Southern Travancore (Southern Range) ( Thiruvananthapuram ). The districts in Kerala are often named after
7524-482: The earliest Perumals. The exact nature of the relation between the Cheras of Kongu and the Chera Perumals remains obscure. The Later arrived Nambutiris from Northern land asked for a regent of the Chera king from Karur in Coimbatore and were granted lands from Tamil kings hailing from Pundurai . Hence the Tamil kings lost their power to Newly arrived Namboothris who created Zamorin and started to call themselves title 'Punthurakkon' (King from Punthura). After this,
7638-421: The early human inhabitation period of this district, including ancient fossils, stone inscriptions and monuments, in the archeological sites like the excavation sites, the caves, the temples, etc. The literary works of the Sangam period also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district. Early members of the Chera dynasty (first few centuries of the Common Era ) had their original headquarters in
7752-423: The early years of his rule, the Kuttuvan successfully intervened in a succession dispute in the Chola territory and established his relative Nalam Killi on the Chola throne. The rivals of Killi were defeated in the battle of Nerivayil, Uraiyur. The Kadambas are described as the arch enemies of the Chera ruler. Kuttuvan was able to defeat them in the battle of Idumbil, Valayur (Viyalur). The "fort" of Kodukur in which
7866-437: The entire Pathanamthitta taluk and nine villages of Kunnathur taluk from Kollam district, entire Thiruvalla taluk and part of Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks from Alapphuzha district and parts of Idukki district. Kasaragod district was formed on 24 May 1984 as the 14th district by carving out a major portion of the erstwhile Kannur district. Idukki district is the largest district in Kerala by area. Alappuzha district
7980-414: The erstwhile Travancore was merged with the remaining Taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam division to form the Kottayam district as a part of the inauguration of the new Indian state of Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949. The new district of Kottayam at that time contained eight Taluks – Changanassery, Kottayam, Vaikom, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Devikulam, and Peerumede. As a part of the formation of
8094-404: The governance of the urban areas in the district. These urban local bodies are governed by elected municipal councils, headed by mayor /chairperson and deputy mayor /vice chairperson respectively. A municipality, which consists of urban areas, is administered by a municipal council headed by a Municipal Chairperson. In cities, a municipal corporation, administered by a corporation council headed by
8208-569: The government, who also functions as the ex-officio secretary of the Block Panchayat. A taluk consists of urban units such as statutory towns and census towns and rural units called gram panchayats (for revenue purposes). The Local Self-Governments Department (LSGD), Government of Kerala, coordinates and supervises the administrative affairs of these local bodies and has district-level offices. There are 20 police districts in total, and among these, 8 police districts are coterminous with
8322-486: The grandson of Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai. Arunattarmalai, Velayudhampalayam A short Brahmi inscription, containing the word Chera ("Kadummi Pudha Chera") was found at Edakkal in the Western Ghats. Recent archaeological discoveries increasingly confirm Karur as a political, economic and cultural centre of ancient south India. Excavations at Karur yielded huge quantities of copper coins with Chera symbols such as
8436-485: The grandson of Ko Athan Cheral of the Irumporai clan. Inscribed portrait coins with Brahmi legends give a number of Chera names, with the Chera symbols of the bow and the arrow depicted in the reverse. The anthologies of early Sangham texts are a major source of information about the early Cheras. Cenguttuvan , or the good Chera, is famous for the traditions surrounding Kannaki , the principal female character of
8550-600: The grassroot of the revenue administration. For the purpose of local governance, there are local-self government institutions, which includes 941 Gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 6 corporations and 87 municipalities. The panchayati raj institutions ( gram panchayats , block panchayats , district panchayats ) look after the governance of the rural areas in the district. These panchayats are governed by elected councils, headed by presidents and vice presidents respectively. The urban local bodies ( municipalities and municipal corporations ) look after
8664-502: The independent India merged smaller states together, Travancore and Cochin states were integrated to form Travancore-Cochin state on 1 July 1949. However, North Malabar and South Malabar remained under the Madras state . The States Reorganisation Act of 1 November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood through the unification of Malayalam -speaking territories in the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. The state comprises three parts –
8778-429: The kingdom of Vadakkumkur around 1600 CE. Vadakkumkur Raja was also a part of the combined military alliance formed by the kingdoms of Odanad (Kayamkulam), Thekkumkur , and Cochin against the expansion of Travancore into the northern territories. As a result, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma , the architect of the modern Travancore, attacked and annexed Vadakkumkur in 1750. The Vadakkumkur Raja sought asylum in
8892-585: The kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut following his defeat in the battle. Vadakkumkur was the northern branch of the erstwhile province of Vempolinadu which attained political autonomy in 1102 CE after the collapse of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram. The rulers of this dynasty were also known by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the contemporary Sanskrit works just like their Thekkumkur counterparts. The kingdom of Vadakkumkur included
9006-551: The kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut. Later he returned back into Travancore. In 1157 CE , Kulothunga Chola , who belonged to the lineage of the Medieval Cholas , entered into a war with Manavikrama Kulasekhara Perumal, who belonged to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai . Upon the failure in the battle, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreevallabha as the monarch of the Pandya dynasty and left Madurai with his family and some of his trusted servants. Manavikrama crossed
9120-648: The largest town or city in the district. Some of the districts were renamed in 1990 from the anglicised names to their local names. The 14 districts are further divided into 27 revenue divisions , 77 taluks , and 1664 revenue villages . For local governance, Kerala has 6 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities overseeing urban areas. Additionally, there are 941 Gram Panchayats , 152 Block Panchayats , and 14 District Panchayats responsible for rural governance. Kerala State has been divided into 14 districts, 27 revenue divisions , 78 taluks, 152 community development blocks , and 1664 revenue villages . A district
9234-480: The location, different varieties of food and cash crops are cultivated. Rice is the principal crop extensively cultivated in low-lying regions like Vaikom and Upper Kuttanad . The district occupies third place in the production of rice in Kerala behind Palakkad and Alappuzha . Although it is the staple food of the people, the area under cultivation is dwindling due to more lucrative cash crops such as rubber plantations for which Kottayam significantly contributes to
9348-520: The modern-day Taluks of Changanassery , Kanjirappally , Kottayam , and Thiruvalla . The kings of the Thekkumkur dynasty are described by the titles Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas in the Sanskrit literary works. Vennimala and Manikandapuram were the early headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty. Later it was transferred to Thazhathangady near the town of Kottayam . Thazhathangady is one of
9462-623: The modern-day Taluks of Ettumanoor and Vaikom along with a portion of the Meenachil Taluk. Kaduthuruthy was the earlier headquarters of the Vadakkumkur dynasty which was later transferred into Vaikom . Vadakkumkur was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Cochin until 1750. The Portuguese explorers described Vadakkumkur as "The Pepper country" due to the availability and high scale production of good quality pepper there during
9576-472: The modern-day district of Kottayam is described well in the medieval Kerala literature which includes works written in both Malayalam and Sanskrit . The 14th century Sanskrit work Sukasandesam describes about Kaduthuruthy . Similarly the 17th century Sanskrit work Bhramara Sandesam contains details about Kumaranalloor and Vaikom . The 18th century Sanskrit literary work Chathaka Sandesam also contains references to Vaikom . Unnuneeli Sandesam ,
9690-683: The most important sources for the Cheras are the Pathitrupattu , the Akananuru , and the Purananuru . The Pathitrupattu , the fourth book in the Ettuthokai anthology, mentions a number of rulers and heirs-apparent of the Chera family. Each ruler is praised in ten songs sung by a court poet. However, the book is not worked into connected history and settled chronology so far. A method known as Gajabahu-Chenguttuvan synchronism ,
9804-495: The new Indian state of Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 , many jurisdictional changes were done in the district. Two new Taluks, namely Kanjirappally (from Changanassery and Thiruvalla) and Udumbanchola (from Devikulam and Peerumede) were carved out on 1 October 1956. After a month, a new Taluk called Kuttanad was carved out from Changanassery and Ambalappuzha . The Kuttanad Taluk
9918-479: The original deed. Entire portion of the modern-day district of Kottayam became part of the erstwhile British princely state of Travancore by 1750 CE. This era marked considerable progress and social reformation in all spheres. The Church Mission Society press at Kottayam was established in 1821 by Rev. Benjamin Baily , a British missionary, as the first printing press in Kerala . They had also established
10032-411: The overall rubber production in India. Kottayam is India's largest rubber producer. Rubber trees provide a stable income for farmers and the climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though the highlands are more suitable, cultivation has spread to almost all regions. Other crops cultivated include tapiocas, coconuts, peppers, and vegetables. To enhance rubber productivity, the government of India has set up
10146-497: The people or the land]. Archaeologists have found epigraphic and numismatic evidence of the Early Cheras. Two almost identical inscriptions discovered from Pugalur (near Karur ) dated to c. 1st - 2nd century CE, describe three generations of Chera rulers of the Irumporai lineage. They record the construction of a rock shelter for Jains on the occasion of the investiture of Ilam Kadungo, son of Perum Kadungo , and
10260-647: The period of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram (800–1102 CE ) for nearly three centuries. The region around the city of Kottayam was known as Munjunadu , while the Vaikom - Meenachil region, which lies to the north of Munjunadu was included in a province called Vempolinadu (known as Bimbali Desam in Sanskrit). The third province was the Nantuzhainadu which constitutes the modern-day Taluks of Changanassery and Thiruvalla . This period saw
10374-477: The places in Kerala where a church, a mosque, and a Hindu temple co-exist together, which points out the religious harmony that existed under the Thekkumkur Rajas . At times, the town of Changanassery acted as headquarters of the Thekkumkur dynasty. The Thekkumkur Rajas were vassals to the Kingdom of Cochin until the mid-18th century CE. Thekkumkur Rajas also allied with the Kingdom of Cochin and
10488-449: The present day northern-central Kerala and Kongu region western Tamil Nadu. The rest of Kerala was under Ay dynasty (southern tip of Kerala) and Mushika dynasty (northern tip of Kerala).The political structure of the chiefdom was based on communal holding of resources and kinship-based production. The authority was determined by "the range of redistributive social relationships sustained through predatory accumulation of resources". There
10602-544: The rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon, and accumulates an average rainfall of around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September, and the north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains from March to May are accompanied by thunder and lightning; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala
10716-660: The records of the Portuguese as well as the Dutch , who visited and interfered in the political affairs of the district after the Age of Discovery (1498 CE), such as the Hortus Malabaricus , contain significant information about the geographical and the political conditions of the region during the late medieval period. The area included in the modern-day district of Kottayam was part of three Nadus (provinces) during
10830-468: The region between the rivers Periyar and Pamba . It was bounded by the Ay kingdom to the south, which included the regions between Pamba River and Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), and the province of Kudanad , which lies between the rivers Periyar and Chaliyar (modern-day districts of Thrissur , Palakkad , and Malappuram ), to the north. It was during the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan (105–130 CE) that
10944-648: The reign of Narmudi Cheral , the regions included in the Kingdom of Ezhimala was also added to the Chera empire. The ancient Chera empire collapsed due to the continuous invasions carried out by the Kalabhras , the Pallavas , the Chalukyas , the Pandyas , and the Rashtrakutas during the period between 500 CE and 800 CE for nearly three centuries. This era marked the migration of Nambudiri Brahmins into
11058-507: The report published by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP for districts across India. The district's headquarters are based in the city of Kottayam. Hindustan Newsprint Limited and Rubber Board are two central government organizations located in the district. The headquarters of two religious communities in Kerala are also in the Kottayam District: Nair Service Society and
11172-460: The respective revenue districts, while the remaining 12 police districts are constituted by bifurcating the revenue district into "city" and "rural" areas. Each police district is headed by a "District Police Chief" (DPC), an IPS officer typically holding the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) or above. The District Police Chief is responsible for maintaining law and order, conducting criminal investigations, and overseeing police administration in
11286-696: The ruler of the Poonjar dynasty to John Daniel Munroe from London and for tea plantations . The land and the plantations were later resumed by the Government of Kerala through the Kannan Devan Hills (Resumption Of Lands) Act, 1971. However, the act only addressed the issue of sovereignty which was taken over by the State of Kerala with the accession of Travancore to the Union of India. The ownership of
11400-544: The ruling lineage and the country associated with them. The etymology of "Chera" is still a matter of considerable speculation among historians. One approach proposes that the word is derived from Cheral , a corruption of Charal meaning "declivity of a mountain" in Tamil , suggesting a connection with the mountainous geography of Kerala . Another theory argues that the "Cheralam" is derived from "cher" (sand) and "alam" (region), literally meaning, "the slushy land". Apart from
11514-493: The southern region of the present-day Kerala state (The coastal belt between Thiruvananthapuram and southern Alappuzha ) was under Ay dynasty , who was more related to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai . The early historic pre-Pallava polities are often described as a "kinship-based redistributive economies" largely shaped by "pastoral-cum-agrarian subsistence" and "predatory politics". Old Tamil Brahmi cave label inscriptions, describe Ilam Kadungo, son of Perum Kadungo , and
11628-525: The speculations mentioned, a number of other theories do appear in historical studies. In ancient non-Tamil sources, the Cheras are referred to by various names. The Cheras are referred as Kedalaputo (Sanskrit: "Kerala Putra") in the Emperor Ashoka 's Pali edicts (3rd century BCE). While Pliny the Elder and Claudius Ptolemy refer to the Cheras as Kaelobotros and Kerobottros respectively,
11742-469: The structuring of the Chera Perumal state. The rulers of the nadus usually acted with the help of a Tamil military retinue. The prominent nadus continued to exist even after the end of the Chera rule during the beginning of the 12th century. Nambudiri-Brahmin settlements of agriculturally rich areas (fertile wet land) were another major source of support to the kingdom. "A naval campaign led to
11856-591: The three major rulers – the Pandya , the Chera and the Chola – based originally in Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Vanchi , present day Karur , in Tamilnadu and Uraiyur ( Tiruchirappalli ) in Tamil Nadu, respectively. They had established outlets on the Indian Ocean namely Korkai , Muchiri (Muziris), and Kaveripattinam respectively. Territory of the Chera chiefdom of the early historical period (pre-Pallava ) consisted of
11970-508: The total to seven districts. Alappuzha district was carved out of erstwhile Kottayam and Kollam districts on 17 August 1957, to form the 8th district. Ernakulam district was formed on 1 April 1958 as the 9th district, carved out of parts of erstwhile Thrissur and Kottayam districts. Malappuram district was formed on 16 June 1969 as the 10th district, with Ernad and Tirur taluks of the erstwhile Kozhikode district and Perinthalmanna and Ponnani taluks of Palakkad district. Idukki district
12084-498: The year 1099 CE (the 10th regional year of Rama Kulasekhara). The province Vempolinadu ( Bimbali Desam ) of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram attained political autonomy in 1102 CE following the Chera-Chola wars of the 11th century CE. The Vempolinadu royal family got evolved into two independent branches by the 12th century CE – the southern branch among them later came to be known as the kingdom of Thekkumkur . It included
12198-498: Was a Sangam age Tamil dynasty which unified various regions of the western coast and western ghats in southern India to form the early Chera empire. The dynasty, known as one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam alongside the Chola and Pandya , has been documented as early as the 4th to 3rd centuries BCE. Their governance extended over diverse territories until the 12th century CE. The Chera country
12312-518: Was declared as the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy in 1989. The Multidimensional Poverty Index prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kottayam as the first Indian district to achieve zero multidimensional poverty rate. There are no distinct seasons in Kottayam, as it has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during
12426-427: Was formed on 26 January 1972 as the 11th district, with Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermedu taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk of the erstwhile Ernakulam district. Wayanad district was formed on 1 November 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Pathanamthitta district was formed on 1 November 1982 as the 13th district by carving out
12540-456: Was geographically well placed to profit from maritime trade via the extensive Indian Ocean networks . Exchange of spices, especially black pepper , with Middle Eastern and Graeco-Roman merchants are attested in several sources. The Cheras of the early historical period (c. second century BCE – c. third century CE ) are known to have had their original centre at Kuttanad in Kerala, and harbours at Muchiri (Muziris) and Thondi (Tyndis) on
12654-400: Was located on the mouth river Periyar. Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan is often identified with the legendary "Chenguttuvan Chera", the most illustrious ruler of the Early Cheras. Under his reign, the Chera territory extended from Kollimalai (near Karur Vanchi) in the east to Thondi and Mantai (Kerala) on the western coast. The wife of Chenguttuvan was Illango Venmal (the daughter of a Velir chief). In
12768-407: Was more than one branch of the Chera family ruling at the same time and contenting for leadership (one in central Kerala and the other one in western Tamil Nadu). The Cheras are referred to as Kedalaputo (Sanskrit: "Kerala Putra") in the Emperor Ashoka 's Pali edicts (3rd century BCE, Rock Edicts II and XII). The earliest Graeco-Roman accounts referring to the Cheras are by Pliny the Elder in
12882-641: Was the father of Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan ( Pathitrupattu (II) ). Uthiyan Cheral Athan is probably identical with the Perum Cheral Athan who fought against the Chola Karikala at the battle of Venni. In the battle of Venni, the Chera was wounded on the back by the Chola ruler Karikala . Unable to bear the disgrace, the Chera committed suicide by slow starvation. As the name Pathitrupattu indicates, they were ten texts, each consisting
12996-578: Was transferred into the newly formed Alappuzha district on 17 August 1957. The Taluks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha were transferred into the newly formed Ernakulam district on 1 April 1958. On 26 January 1972, the three High Range Taluks, namely Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumede, were separated from Kottayam district to form a new district called Idukki . The district of Kottayam took its current shape on 26 January 1972. Now it contains five Taluks- Changanassery , Kottayam , Vaikom , Meenachil , and Kanjirappally . The municipality of Kottayam
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