Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2 and is the administrative capital of Kottayam district. Kottayam is located in south-central Kerala and has a population of 172,878 according to the 2001 census. The city is approximately 150 km (93.2 mi) from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The city is an important trading center of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber. Major Kerala print media such as Malayala Manorama, Deepika and Mangalam are headquartered in the town. Also a pioneering center of modern education in Kerala, the city became India's first city to achieve 100% literacy in 1989 and the district became the first tobacco free district in India on September 28, 2008. The city of Kottayam is also known as Akshara Nagari (അക്ഷര നഗരി) (City of Alphabets) in honor of its contributions to print media and literature.
The educational heritage of Kottayam is synchronized with the services of C.M.S. Missionaries. They have started schools and colleges besides their churches for all classes of people.After Independence of India C.M.S. in India in known as C.S.I.(Church Of South India) and C.N.I.(Church of North India)
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