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Kottayam, Keralam, India: boats Map of South Asia highlighting the location of Kottayam in southern India. Neighboring countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are labeled, with Kottayam marked by a black dot on the southwestern coast of India. A small inset globe in the upper right shows the regional context within Asia.
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Kottayam, Keralam, India: boats
Kottayam, Keralam, India: boats Racing boats on Vembanad Lake, near Kottayam, Keralam, India.

Kottayam

India
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Kottayam, town, southern Keralam (formerly Kerala) state, southwestern India. It is situated near Vembanad Lake at the mouth of the Minachil River, south-southeast of Kochi (Cochin).

Map of South Asia highlighting the location of Kottayam in southern India. Neighboring countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are labeled, with Kottayam marked by a black dot on the southwestern coast of India. A small inset globe in the upper right shows the regional context within Asia.
Kottayam, India

The town is a center of the Syrian Christian community, which traces its origin to the apostle St. Thomas, who is believed to have visited Kerala in 53 ce and to have established seven churches on the Malabar Coast. Kottayam developed into an important market center in the early 20th century after tea and rubber plantations were established in the nearby Anaimalai Hills. It is also an educational and cultural center, with several schools, including three Christian colleges (two of which are for women) and several professional colleges, all affiliated with the University of Kerala. Vembanad Lake is a popular recreation locale and is the site of a series of races each August and September between teams rowing long, narrow boats. Pop. (2001) town, 60,728; urban agglom., 172,878; (2011) town, 55,374; urban agglom., 357,302.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Gitanjali Roy.
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