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kottayam
 

Climate

Kottayam has a tropical climate like that of the rest of Kerala, hence there are no distinct seasons in the area. Humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the rainy season. Kottayam gets rain from two monsoon seasons, the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon. The average rainfall is around 3600 mm per year. The south-west monsoon starts in June and ends in September. The north-east monsoon season is from October to November. Pre-monsoon rains during March to May is accompanied by thunder and lightening ; the highest rainfall during this period in Kerala is received in Kottayam. December, January and February are cooler, while March, April and May are warmer. The highest temperature recorded here was 38.5 °C (6 April 1998) and the lowest was 15 °C (13 December 2000).[4] Kottayam district experienced the most intense red rainfall, heavy downpours occurred in 2001 during which the rain was colored red, Yellow, green, and black.
[edit] Tourism

Kottayam has a vast network of rivers, backwaters, ancient religious places, and hillstations. Some of the noted tourist places here are:

Vembanad Lake has a great expanse of water which is a part of the interconnected Kerala Backwaters that run virtually the length one third of the state. Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams are modified into luxurious cruise boats and house boats. These boats gracefully move around the back waters, providing facilities to tourist to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace.
House Boat in Kumarakam

Pathiramanal (the midnight sands) is located in the Vembanad Lake is a small beautiful island. This island is accessible only by boat.

Kumarakom, located on the coast of Vembanad Lake, is a beautiful village stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields, gushing waters snaking through the dense forests. Kumarakom bird sanctuary, is home to migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl and water hen and other common varieties like the woodpecker, sky lark, crane and parrot can also be spotted here. Ninety-one species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here. The best time to watch local birds is June–August and the best time for migratory birds is November–February. House Boats and motorboats are available on hire for bird watching cruises in the Lake. Vagamon is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki district.
During the months of August and September, the rivers in and near Kottayam are turned into festival centres. The serene backwaters come alive during Onam with a spectacular water regatta -the snake boat races. Oarsmen, at least a hundred in each boat, slice their way through the waters to the fast rhythm of their own full-throated singing. Thazhathangadi boat race in Kummanam is over a century old. Boat races are conducted at Kavanar and Kottathodu rivers in Kumarakom. These vallam kali have about 50 boats participating, including Chundan, Churulan, Iruttukuthi(ody) Veppu, and canoes.

Other nearby tourist destinations:

* Thekkady Periyar Tiger Reserve - 110 kilometers away, in the Idukki District.
* Peerumed, about 70 km located in Idukki district
* Munnar hill station, about 150 km away
* Vaikom, about 32 km away
* Kottayam is also a gateway to the pilgrim centres like Sabarimala, Mannanam, Vaikom, Ettumanoor Siva temple, Thirunakkara, Bharananganam, Erumeli and famous puthuppallychurch[puthuppallypally] and famous Manarcaud church. Kottayam town is linked by rail to other prominent cities in Kerala and also linked to the waterways for scenic travel. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 88 kilometers away. Kottayam is the first town in India selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to be transformed as an Eco City.[1]

Agriculture

Kottayam has a mountainous terrain as well as low lying areas very close to sea level. Depending on the location different varieties of food crops as well as cash crops are cultivated. The most important food crop cultivated in low lying areas is rice. Though its the staple food of the people, unfortunately the area under cultivation is dwindling due to more lucrative cash crops like rubber plantations for which Kottayam significantly contributes to the overall rubber production in India. Rubber trees provide a stable income for the farmers and climate is ideal for rubber plantations. Though highlands are more suitable, the cultivation has spread to almost every where. Apart from these, other crops cultivated are tapioca, coconut, pepper, vegetables etc. In order to enhance the rubber productivity, government of India has set up Rubber board and Rubber research institute in Kottayam.[5][6]













                              Quiz


1.  The number of west flowing rivers of Kerala?
 
Ans : 41
 
2.  "Who is the author of ""Kannuneerthulli"" ?"
 
Ans : Nalappattu Narayana Menon
 
 3.  Edakkal Caves are in
 
Ans: Wayanad District
 
4.  The place in Kerala where Naval Academy is being built is
 
Ans : Ezhimala
 
 5.  Bakal Fort is in which District ?
 
Ans : Kasargode
 
 6. First computerised Panchayath in Kerala
 
Ans : Vellanad
 
 7. Information Kerala Mission started in
 
Ans : 1999
 
 8. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) is in
 
Ans :Trissur
 
9. Smallest Grama Panchayath in Kerala is
 
Ans : Valapattanam
 
 10. Who was the first education minister of Kerala State ?
 
Ans : Joseph Mundassery
 
11. Whose autobiography is called ''Ormayude Arakal ''?
 
Ans : Cherukad
 
12. The State Institute of Rural Development [SIRD] is located in
 
Ans : Kottarakkara
 
 13. Smallest Taluk in Kerala
 
Ans : Kochi
 
 14. The region of Kerala where evergreen forests are seen
 
Ans : Silent Valley
 
 
15. Which ids the biggest Taluk in Kerala State ?
 
Ans : Eranad
 
 16. The name of the river that flows through the Silent Valley in Kerala ?
 
Ans : Kunthippuzha
 
 17. The maximum number of Wards in a Grama Panchyath
 
Ans : 20
 
18. The winner of the first Ezhuthachan Puraskar ?
 
Ans : Dr.Sooranad Kunjan Pillai
 
19. Samadhi of Sri. Narayana Guru is at
 
Ans : Sivagiri
 
20. The Parauram Express runs between
 
Ans : Thiruvananthapuram & Mangalore