Kottayam

Kottayam
Top to bottom, left to right: MC Mathew memorial at Thirunakkara, Aksharashilpam, Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kodimatha Boat Jetty, Kottayam Government Medical College, CMS College Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam (Kerala)
Kottayam
Kottayam (India)
Coordinates: 9°35′29.8″N 76°31′19.9″E / 9.591611°N 76.522194°E / 9.591611; 76.522194
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKottayam
RegionCentral Travancore
Incorporated1921
Official LanguageMalayalam
Native LanguageMalayalam
Government
  TypeMunicipality
  BodyKottayam Municipality
  Municipal ChairpersonBincy Sebastian
Area
  City
108 km2 (42 sq mi)
  Land179.54 km2 (69.32 sq mi)
  Water5.46 km2 (2.11 sq mi)
  Urban
185 km2 (71 sq mi)
  Metro
220 km2 (80 sq mi)
  Rank7th in Kerala
Elevation
47.96 m (157.35 ft)
Population
  City
489,615
  Rank5
  Density4,500/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
  Urban
571,856
  Urban density3,100/km2 (8,000/sq mi)
  Metro
802,419
  Metro density3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
DemonymKottayamkar
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
686001
Telephone code+91 481-XXXXXXX
Vehicle registrationKL-05
Sex ratio1075 female(s)/1000 male(s)/ /
Literacy rate 99.66% Top
HDI 0.831 Very High
Websitewww.kottayammunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in kottayam.nic.in

Kottayam (IPA: [ko:ʈ:ajam]) is a city in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is the district headquarters of the district and is located about 151 km (93.8 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kottayam has a population of 489,615 people, and a population density of 4,533/km2 (11,740/sq mi). The total Kottayam Metropolitan area (the combined area of Kottayam municipality and its adjacent suburbs) has a population of 802,419 people, and a population density of 3,647/km2 (9,450/sq mi).

Kottayam is also referred to as "the City of Letters" as many of the first Malayalam daily newspapers, such as Deepika, Malayala Manorama, and Mangalam, were started and are headquartered in Kottayam, as are a number of publishing houses.