Kothamangalam

Kothamangalam is a municipality in the eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The town is in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. The highway NH-85 Ernakulam – Madurai – Rameswaram passes through Kothamangalam. Kothamangalam is known as the Gateway of Highrange. Kothamangalam is a part of Idukki Lok Sabha constituency.

Kothamangalam
Town
Kothamangalam
Inchathotty Hanging Bridge (ഇഞ്ചത്തൊട്ടി തൂക്കുപാലം)
Kothamangalam
Location in Kerala, India
Kothamangalam
Kothamangalam (India)
Coordinates: 10°4′48″N 76°37′12″E
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictErnakulam
Government
 • Member of Legislative AssemblyAntony John(LDF/CPI(M))
 • Chairperson, Kothamangalam MunicipalityManju Siju (Indian National Congress)
Area
 • Town37.45 km2 (14.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Density3,015/km2 (7,810/sq mi)
 • Metro
114,574

(Urban Agglomerations of 2,011 Census)

(Kothamangalam + Muvattupuzha + Velloorkunnam + Eramalloor)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
686691
Telephone code0485
Vehicle registrationKL-44
Sex ratio1019 ♂/♀
Websitekothamangalammunicipality.in

The town serves as the headquarters of a taluk and a municipality of the same name.

Geography

Kothamangalam is situated in the eastern part of the Ernakulam district. Kothamangalam is known as the Gateway of Highrange. According to the division of the geographical regions of Kerala, i.e. High-lands, Mid-lands and Low-lands, Kothamangalam is in a Mid-land region.[1] The general topography is hilly. The Munnar hill station is around 85 kilometres from Kothamangalam.

The river Periyar, the largest river in Kerala, flows through the taluk. The dams built across Periyar at Edamalayar, Lower Periyar (near Neriamangalam) and Bhoothathankettu for hydroelectricity generation and irrigation purposes are located in the Kothamangalam taluk. Present Kothamangalam region was historically known as Malakhachira (മാലാഖച്ചിറ).[2][3] Kothamangalamar, a small river which flows through the town goes to join Kaliyar and Thodupuzhayar to form the Muvattupuzhayar which is the second largest river in Ernakulam district.

Neighbouring cities & towns

Demographics

Kothamangalam urban agglomeration has a total population of 114,574 according to the 2011 census,[4] 56,753 being males and 57,821 females. There are 30,067 households in the Kothamangalam municipality.[5] The literacy rate of Kothamangalam Agglomeration is 95.24%. In comparison, the National Urban average literacy in India is 85%. Literacy rate of males and females stood at 97.04% and 93.48% respectively. Total literates in Kothamangalam Urban Agglomeration were 98,398, of which 49,412 were males and remaining 48,986 were females.

Administration

Kothamangalam municipality was formed in 1978 and is the headquarters of the Kothamangalam Taluk. The municipality has an area of 37.45 km2 and is divided into 31 electoral wards. Elections to the local self bodies are held once every five years. From the elected Municipal Councilors, a chairman and vice-chairman are elected.

Kothamangalam is part of the Idukki Lok Sabha constituency.[6] Till 2009, it was part of Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency. Kothamangalam is also represented in the Kerala Legislative Assembly as a constituency. The panchayats in Kothamangalam Taluk are Nellikuzhi, Kottapady, Pindimana, Varapetty, Pallarimangalam, Kavalangad, Keerampara, Kuttampuzha. The block panchayat is also Kothamangalam.

Education
Main article: Educational institutions in Kothamangalam

Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (MACE) established in 1961 is one of the finest Engineering College in Kerala. Mar Athanasius College (founded in 1955), Mar Basil Group of Institutions(Since 1936), Nangelil Ayurveda Medical College, Indira Gandhi College of Arts and Science and Yeldo Mar Baselios Arts & Science College are the other notable institutions in the town. Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, St. George School, St Augustine's girls higher secondary school and Govt. Vocational Higher Secondary School, Mathirappilly . schools in kothamangalam are known for their excellent performances in Kerala School Athletic Championships and academic performance. Govt Vocational higher secondary school is by topping the medal tally consistently for last few years.[7]

Transport

Air

The air gateway to Kothamangalam is the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) located at Nedumbassery, which is about 32 km and handles both domestic and international flights.[8] It is the first international airport in India to be built without Central Government funds [9] and is the world's first fully solar energy powered airport.

Road

National Highway 85 passes through the centre of Kothamangalam.

Railway

The nearest railway Station is Aluva Railway Station.

References
  1. Eranakulam. Kerala Government Statistics
  2. Journal of South Indian History. Publication Division, University of Calicut. 2005. pp. 84–85.
  3. In Quest of Kerala: Geography, places of interest, political history, social history, literature. Accent Publications. 1974. p. 57.
  4. Kothamangalam Metropolitan Urban Region Population 2011 Census. Census2011.co.in. Retrieved on 2015-04-19.
  5. Kothamangalam Block. Ernakulam.nic.in. Retrieved on 2015-04-19.
  6. "Assembly Constituencies – Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  7. St. George's, Kothamangalam pips Mar Basil by half-a-point. The Hindu. 22 December 2010.
  8. "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Cochin-airport.in. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  9. "A novel venture in the history of Indian Aviation". Cochin International Airport. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
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