Misplaced Pages

Vaikom
Municipality
Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
VaikomLocation in Kerala, IndiaShow map of KeralaVaikomVaikom (India)Show map of India
Coordinates: 9°45′00″N 76°23′34″E / 9.75000°N 76.39278°E / 9.75000; 76.39278
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Taluk	Vaikom
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
• Chairperson	Renuka Ratheesh (INC)
• Municipal Council	Vaikom Municipal Council
Area
• Total	8.73 km (3.37 sq mi)
Population
• Total	23,234
• Density	2,700/km (6,900/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	686141
Telephone code	04829
Vehicle registration	KL-36, KL-67
Nearest city	Kottayam, Kochi

Vaikom (IPA: [ʋɐjkʲːɐm]) is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is located 33 km (20.5 mi) north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about 152 km (94.4 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Vaikom has a population of 23,234 people, and a population density of 2,661/km (6,890/sq mi).

Location

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Vaikom" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Vaikom town is situated at the northwestern end of Kottayam district, close to Ernakulam district border. Vaikom is a lakeside town situated in the banks of the Vembanad lake similar to other lakeside towns like Kottayam and Changanassery. Its western borders are bound by the Vembanad lake. The Muvattupuzha river has its mouth near Vaikom where it empties into the Vembanad lake, many distributaries of the Muvattupuzha river pass through Vaikom. It is also close to the tourism destination Kumarakom and the city of Kochi. Vaikom is situated on the Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kottayam border area and it is 32 km from Ernakulam, 32 km from Kottayam via Kumarakom, 33 km from Alappuzha and about 60 km (37 mi) from Kochi International Airport.

Vaikom Temple

The Vaikom Shiva Temple, known as Thekkan Kashi (Southern Kashi), is the centre of the town, and is the site of the Vaikom Ashtami celebrations during November. It is notable as the venue of the Vaikom Agitation for achieving for the lower castes the right to walk on the roads surrounding the temple. One of the most popular temples in Kerala dedicated to Lord Shiva,

Administration

Vaikom is administered by a municipality and is the seat of a munsiff's court (among the oldest to be established in the Kingdom of Travancore, 100 years old). Vaikom assembly constituency is part of Kottayam parliamentary constituency.

History

Vaikom was believed to be a part of a kingdom called Venmalanadu in the past. When Venmalanadu was split into Vadakkumkoor and Thekkumkoor, it became part of Vadakkumkoor dynasty. Vadakkumkoor kingdom spread along the path of Muvattupuzha river towards the north east side from Kaduthuruthy, Vaikom, Piravom, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Thodupuzha. There was an important port at Chemmanakary, near Vaikom during the Vadakkumkoor era. Later in 1742, it became part of Travancore when the then Maharajah of Travancore, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, annexed Vadakkumkoor to his kingdom.

Vaikom gained its fame on a national level during Vaikom Satyagraha.

Economy

The traditional economy has been based on coconut and rice crops, and fishing; more recently, crops like nutmeg, black pepper, and latex have been introduced. Tourism and software are pursued as a means to livelihood.

Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated in Velloor near Vaikom.

Demographics

As per the 2001 census, Vaikom has a population of about 22637 (male: 10955; female: 11682). This region has a literacy rate of 92% (male: 97%; female: 90%). Population density of the region is 2496 per square km.

As per the 2011 census, The Vaikom municipality has a population of 23,234 of which 11,304 are males while 11,930 are females. The population of children under age 6 is 1807, which is 7.78% of the total population of Vaikom (M). In Vaikom municipality, the female sex ratio is of 1055 against the state average of 1084. The male child sex ratio in Vaikom is around 960, compared to the Kerala state average of 964. The literacy rate of Vaikom city is 96.84%, higher than the state average of 94.00%. In Vaikom, male literacy is around 98.30% while female literacy rate is 95.47%.

Hindus are the largest religious community in Vaikom, accounting for 85% of the population. Christians represent 12%, and Muslims 3%.

Notable people

• Mar Sebastian Adayantharath
• Chempil Arayan - Admiral of the fleet of the Kingdom of Travancore
• Chembil Ashokan - Actor
• Justice K. G. Balakrishnan
• Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
• P. K. Biju
• Cherian K. Cherian
• V. N. Janaki
• Janardhanan - Actor
• A. J. John
• Monce Joseph
• M. K. Kamalam
• Abraham Kattumana
• Kalaikkal Kumaran - Actor
• Mammootty - Actor
• Mathew Ulakamthara, Indian Malayalam language poet and literary critic.
• N. Mohanan
• Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair
• N. N. Pillai
• P. Krishna Pillai- Leader of the first communist movement in Kerala
• Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai- Military officer of the Kingdom of Travancore
• Vaikom Ramachandran - Poet
• Thomas Unniyadan
• Vaikom Vijayalakshmi
• Vaikom Viswan
• S. Ramesan, Malayalam language poet and orator

SUBRAMANIYAN AMBADY WRITER 

See also

• Vallakam

References

1. ^ "Grama Panchayaths" (PDF). lsgkerala.gov.in.
2. "Census of India: Search Details". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
3. "ചരിത്രം | Vaikom Municipality". www.vaikommunicipality.in. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
4. "Delimitation Commission of India - Kerala and Order No.55" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
5. "Vaikom, General Information". Kerala. Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
6. "Vaikom, General Information". Kerala. Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
7. "Vaikom, census2011 information". Kerala. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
8. "Vaikom Municipality City Population Census 2011-2019 | Kerala". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
9. "ചെമ്പിലെ താരം" [Star in Copper] (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

External links

v t e Places around Vaikom
Perumbalam Udayamperoor Piravom Pallippuram Vaikom Thalayolaparambu Cherthala Thalayazham Kottayam

v t e State of Kerala
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Districts	Thiruvananthapuram KL-01 Kollam KL-02 Pathanamthitta KL-03 Alappuzha KL-04 Kottayam KL-05 Idukki KL-06 Ernakulam KL-07 Thrissur KL-08 Palakkad KL-09 Malappuram KL-10 Kozhikode KL-11 Wayanad KL-12 Kannur KL-13 Kasaragod KL-14
Topics	Arts Culture Demographics Economy Education Film Geography Roads Ports History Wildlife Government Tourism Sports
Symbols	Bird Great hornbill Animal Indian elephant Tree Coconut Flower Golden rain Fish Karimeen Fruit Jackfruit Insect Papilio buddha
Taluks	Adoor Alathur Aluva Ambalappuzha Chalakudy Changanassery Chavakkad Chengannur Cherthala Chirayinkeezhu Chittur Devikulam Eranad Hosdurg Idukki Iritty Kanayannur Kanjirappally Kannur Karthikappally Karunagappalli Kasaragod Kattakada Kochi Kodungallur Kollam Kondotty Konni Kothamangalam Kottarakkara Kottayam Koyilandy Kozhencherry Kozhikode Kunnamkulam Kunnathunad Kunnathur Kuttanad Mallapally Mananthavady Manjeshwaram Mannarkkad Mavelikkara Meenachil Mukundapuram Muvattupuzha Nedumangad Neyyattinkara Nilambur North Paravur Ottapalam Palakkad Pathanapuram Pattambi Payyanur Peermade Perinthalmanna Ponnani Punalur Ranni Sultan Bathery Taliparamba Thalapilly Thalassery Thamarassery Thiruvalla Thiruvananthapuram Thodupuzha Thrissur Tirur Tirurangadi Udumbanchola Vaikom Varkala Vatakara Vellarikundu Vythiri
Municipal corporations	Thiruvananthapuram Kozhikode Kochi Kollam Thrissur Kannur
Municipalities	Adoor Anthoor Alappuzha Aluva Angamaly Attingal Chalakudy Changanassery Chavakkad Chengannur Cherthala Chittur-Thathamangalam Eloor Guruvayur Irinjalakuda Iritty Kalamassery Kalpetta Kanhangad Karunagappalli Kasaragod Kattappana Kayamkulam Kodungallur Kondotty Kuthuparamba Kothamangalam, Kerala Kottakkal Kottarakkara Kottayam Koyilandy Kunnamkulam Malappuram Manjeri Maradu Mattanur Mavelikkara Muvattupuzha Nedumangad Neyyattinkara Nilambur Nileshwaram North Paravur Ottapalam Pala Palakkad Panoor Parappanangadi Paravur Pathanamthitta Payyanur Perinthalmanna Perumbavoor Ponnani Punalur Shoranur Sreekandapuram Tanur Thalassery Taliparamba Thiruvalla Thodupuzha Thrikkakkara Thrippunithura Tirur Tirurangadi Valanchery Vatakara Vaikom Varkala
Other towns	North Edappal Thavanur Puthanathani Kottakkal Angadipuram Mankada Kuttippuram Karipur Areekode Wandoor Vengara Vallikkunnu Olavanna Kunnamangalam Thamarassery Thiruvambady Kodencheri Balussery Perambra Nadapuram Kuttiady Lakkidi Vythiri Chundale Meppadi Kottappadi Part Muttil Padinharethara Meenangadi Panamaram Pulpally Peravoor Dharmadom Anjarakkandy Muzhappilangad Azhikode Cherukunnu Pappinisseri Kalliasseri Irikkur Alakode Thrikaripur Cheruvathur Bekal Udma Vellarikundu Parappa Karadka Kumbla Mangalpady Uppala Manjeshwar Central Peermade Vandiperiyar Kumily Rajakkad Munnar Devikulam Adimali Kolenchery Puthencruz Kunnathunad Kalady Malayattoor Chottanikkara Udayamperoor Varappuzha Sreemoolanagaram Nedumbassery Mala Kodakara Puthukkad Manaloor Pavaratty Chelakkara Vadakkencherry Alathur Nemmara Puthunagaram Malampuzha Sreekrishnapuram Lakkidi-Perur Thrithala South Parassala Balaramapuram Kattakada Chirayinkeezhu Kilimanoor Parippally Chathannoor Kottiyam Kundara Neendakara Chavara Oachira Sasthamkotta Kunnathur Anchal Kadakkal Pathanapuram Thenmala Kulathupuzha Kozhencherry Konni Ranni Mallapally Kumbanad Aranmula Kulanada Omallur Vadasserikara Parumala Mannar Charummoodu Ambalappuzha Mararikulam Aroor Kanjirappally Erumely Mundakayam Vazhoor Karukachal Pampady Puthuppally Kuravilangad Uzhavoor Thalayolaparambu Kaduthuruthy
Historical regions	Kolathunadu (Kingdom of Cannanore) Zamorin Malabar North Malabar South Malabar Cochin Venad (kingdom) Travancore Travancore–Cochin
India portal

v t e Travancore region
Districts	Kanyakumari (Part) Thiruvananthapuram Kollam Pathanamthitta Alappuzha Kottayam Idukki Ernakulam (Part)
Towns and cities	Nagarcoil Kanyakumari Thovala Suchindram Manavalakurichy Kaliyakkavilai Mandaikadu Marthandam Neyyoor Thiruvithancode Kolachal Thiruvananthapuram Parassala Neyyattinkara Nedumangadu Venjaramoodu Aryanad Vembayam Chirayinkeezhu Attingal Varkala Avanavancherry Kallambalam Kilimanoor Kottarakkara Neduvathoor Ayoor Anchal Edamulackal Chadayamangalam Chathannoor Kalluvathukkal Kottiyam Kollam Paravur Parippally Munroethuruth Mayyanad Punalur Pathanapuram Manchalloor Pidavoor Adoor Konni Pathanamthitta Kozhencherry Aranmula Kumbanad Ranni Vadasserikkara Mallapally Tiruvalla Parumala Mannar Edathua Chengannur Mavelikkara Padanilam Nilakkal Chettikulangara Kayamkulam Haripad Ambalappuzha Alappuzha Mankombu Mararikulam Cherthala Aroor Changanacherry Vazhoor Karukachal Kottayam Kumarakam Pambadi Ettumanoor Vaikom Kaduthuruthy Thalayolaparambu Kuravilangad Palai Uzhavoor Poonjar Erattupetta Kanjirappally Ponkunnam Erumely Mundakayam Vagamon Peermade Kumily Kattappana Adimali Vechoor North Paravur Alengad Angamaly Kalady Aluva Perumbavoor Muvattupuzha Kothamangalam Arakuzha Koothattukulam Piravom Kolenchery Kizhakkambalam Idukki Thodupuzha Painavu Munnar Devikulam Kannan Devan Hills Marayur Adimali Udumbanchola Nedumkandam Kattappana Rajakkad

• Vaikom
• Cities and towns in Kottayam district
• Kingdom of Travancore