Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields highlands, extensive rubber plantations and a totally literate people have given this district the enviable title, ‘Land of letters, Latex and Lakes’.  Bordered by the lofty Western Ghats on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics.  This land also boasts the first Malayalam printing press, which was established by Benjamin Bailey a Christian missionary in 1820 AD

Kottayam is the ideal take-off point for visits to Peermede, Munnar, Idukki, Thekkady, Ernakulam and the temple city of Madurai

Kottayam is a compound word – ‘kotta’ + ‘akam’ which means ‘interior of a fort’.  The rulers of Munhanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Thazhathangadi in the present Kottayam town.  Marthanda Varma of Travancore attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the Palace and the Thliyil Fort, though the remnants of these are still seen

Other places of interests include Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Ilaveezhapoonchira, Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Poonjar Palace, Siva Temple at Thalikkotta, St. Mary’s Church at Cheripalli, Thangalppara, Vazhikkadavu, Kurisumala, Vayaskara and Chirattamon Ayurvedic rejuvenation centres, Anchuvilakku, Pathiramanal, Reservoirs at Nattakom and Panachikad, Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls, Karimbukayam-Meloram, Erumeli, Kayyoor at Bharananganam, illickal Mala, Mankallu Mudikal, Marmala Stream, Kannadipara

Kottayam occupied a pre eminent position in the cultural life of the Travancore princely court, the main reason being the migration of Ramapurathu Warrier, the famous poet of Vadakkumkur to Thiruvananthapuram, following the annexation of Kottayam by Marthanda Varma

Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern tines.  The “Malayali Memorial” agitation is said to have had its origin in Kottayam.  The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service as against outsiders.  The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Mulam Thirunal(1891) was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library

It was here that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha, (1924-25) an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability, took place.  Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied entry not only into temples, but also access to temple roads.  Vaikom, not only the seat of celebrated Siva Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha.  It is of immense historic significance that national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, C Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V Ramaswami Nayker, were associated with this struggle.  The ‘Nivarthana’ agitation of the early thirties to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindu, Christians and Muslims in the State Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district

The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the State Congress for responsible Government in the erstwhile state of Travancore.  The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir. C.P. Ramaswami Iyer,n the  Dewan of Travancore

Kottayam has a humid tropical climate with an oppressive hot season in the plains and plenty of rainfall throughout the year