Kottayam is known as the district surrounded by districts, “Kottayam” literally means 'inside the fort', kotta (fort) + Akam (inside), it is the district which was once the main center for trade, the Kottayam town which is the administrative capital of Kottayam district is still leading in the trade of spices and crops. Rubber is one of the most important commercial crop in Kottayam, the climate of this place is apt for the growth of rubber and many other commercial and cash crops.

The Kottayam city is also known as “Akshara Nagari” which means city (nagari) of words (Akshara), kottyam district is the only district in India which has gained 100% literacy. There are lots of famous colleges in Kottayam, some of them are CMS college, BCM college, Baselius college, SB college, among which CMS is the first college in Kerala and the second college established by the British. MG university, one of the main universities in Kerala is located in the Kottayam district. Old seminary of the malankara Orthodox church at chungam was the first institution to start English as the main medium for education in South India.

Kottayam is one of the most important and unavoidable tourists destination of tourists who come to visit Kerala. Kottayam is enriched with natural beauty, it is abundant with lakes, rivers, backwaters, hill stations and meadows adding to the scenic beauty. Vembanad lake is interconnected with the backwaters of Kerala, it is the longest lake in Kerala which is 84 km long and 14 km wide making it one of the favorite place of the tourists to cruise in the house boat. Kumarakam is a small and beautifull village located in the coasts of vembanad river, the famous bird sanctuary is located here it is the habitat for many migrating birds such as Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal, it as also enriched with common birds such as woodpecker, sky lark, crane and parrot.

Vagamon is the hill station in Kottayam which is blessed with natural and splendid beauty. The streams sandwiched between the meadows and the small waterfalls gives an everlasting refreshment for your mind and body. There are many resorts in vagamon which offer a varitey of packages for tourists. Paragliding is conducted in vagamon every year, adventure-loving people from all around the globe come hare for gliding down the natural beauty gifted by god.

The backwaters of Kottayam come alive during the snake boat race (vallom kali) in the onam season. It has lots of fans all over the world. Vallom Kali is a boat race in which there are about 50 boats taking part in the race, the common boats used in race are Chundan, Churulan, Iruttukuthi(ody) veppu, and canoes. Some of them are designed especially for racing purpose. The boat race add to color and joy of onam.

Religion in Kottayam are alike to the rest of the parts of Kerala in which the majority include Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Kottaym has many temples, churches and mosques aging back to the ancient times. The siva temple at thirunakkara, The cheriya pally at chungam and The thazhathgangady mosque at kummanam are some examples of them. Kottayam has a rich tradition in the religious and cultural section.

Kottayam gets rain from the south west and the north east monsoon and also from the Pre-monsoon rains during march to may. The climate is like the rest of Kerala, which experiences a tropical climate. Rainfall in the district is on an average of 3600mm per year.

The main towns and villages in Kottayam district include:

A

Amparanirappel, Anchery, Arpookara, Athirampuzha, Ayamkudy, Aymanam, Ayarkunnam, Ammayanoor

C

Cheruvally, Chungam, Changanassery, Cherpunkal, Chingavanam

E

Ettumanoor, Edakkunnam, Erumely, Erattupetta

K

Kaipuzha, Kallara, Kanjirappally, Kangazha, Karukachal,Kodungoor, Koottickal, Kanakkary, Kothanalloor,Kudamaloor, Kumarakom, Kumaranalloor, Kurupanthara, Kidangoor, Kadappoor, Kalikave, Kuravilangad, Kaduthuruthy, Kurichithanam,Kothala

M

Malloossery, Manarkadu, Mundakkayam,Mutholy, Marangattupilly, Muttuchira

N

Neendoor,Neericadu

P

Palai, Pallickathode, Pampady, Ponkunnam, Poovarany, Poonjar, Puthuppally, Puthuvely, Parampuzha, Peruva

T

Thiruvanchoor

U

Uzhavoor

V

Vaikom, Vakathanam