Vaikom | |
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  Vaikom Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Vaikom Vaikom (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°45′00″N76°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 km2 (3.37 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 23,234 |
| • Density | 2,700/km2 (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 amunicipality[1] in theKottayam district ofKerala,India. It is located 33 km (20.5 mi) north of the district headquarters inKottayam and about 152 km (94.4 mi) north of the state capitalThiruvananthapuram. As per the2011 Indian census, Vaikom has a population of 23,234 people, and a population density of 2,661/km2 (6,890/sq mi).
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Vaikom town is situated at the northwestern end of Kottayam district, close toErnakulam district border. Vaikom is a lakeside town situated in the banks of theVembanad lake similar to other lakeside towns likeKottayam andChanganassery. Its western borders are bound by the Vembanad lake. TheMuvattupuzha river has itsmouth near Vaikom where it empties into the Vembanad lake, manydistributaries of the Muvattupuzha river pass through Vaikom. It is also close to the tourism destinationKumarakom and the city ofKochi. Vaikom is situated on theErnakulam-Alappuzha-Kottayam border area and it is 32 km fromErnakulam, 32 km fromKottayam viaKumarakom, 33 km fromAlappuzha and about 60 km (37 mi) fromKochi International Airport.
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TheVaikom Shiva Temple, known asThekkan Kashi (SouthernKashi), is the centre of the town, and is the site of theVaikom Ashtami celebrations during November. It is notable as the venue of theVaikom 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 toLord Shiva,[3]
Vaikom is administered by a municipality and is the seat of a munsiff's court (among the oldest to be established in theKingdom of Travancore, 100 years old). Vaikom assembly constituency is part ofKottayam parliamentary constituency.[4]
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 ofMuvattupuzha river towards the north east side from Kaduthuruthy, Vaikom,Piravom,Muvattupuzha,Kothamangalam andThodupuzha. There was an important port at Chemmanakary, near Vaikom during the Vadakkumkoor era. Later in 1742, it became part of Travancore when the thenMaharajah of Travancore,Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, annexed Vadakkumkoor to his kingdom.[5]
Vaikom gained its fame on a national level duringVaikom Satyagraha.
The traditional economy has been based oncoconut andrice crops, andfishing; more recently, crops likenutmeg,black pepper, andlatex have been introduced. Tourism and software are pursued as a means to livelihood.[citation needed]
Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated inVelloor near Vaikom.[citation needed]
As per the 2001 census,[6] 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,[7] 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%.[8]
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