Kottayam District came into existence on 1st July, 1949 at the time of the integration of the states of Travancore and Cochin. The district is divided into two Revenue Divisions, five Taluks and 95 villages. Revenue Division Pala comprising of Meenachil and Vaikom taluks and Kottayam Revenue Division consisting of Kottayam, Kanjirappally and Changanassery Taluks.
Kottayam District is situated a little south to the Central Kerala boarded on the north by Ernakulam District, East Idukki District, South by Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta Districts and on the eastern boundary Vembanad Lake. The district lies. north latitudes 9O 151 and 10 O 211 and the east longitudes 76O 221 and 77 O 251.
The district has an area of 2208 square kilometres. The district can be divided into three natural divisions – high land, midland and low land. The main rivers of the district are Meenachil river, the Muvattupuzha river and the Manimala rivers.The soil found in the district is mainly laterate.Clay soil also present in many part the district.Laterate soil is suitable for rubber plantations and clay soil suitsble for the seasonal crops like paddy,banana,ptantains ,tapioca etc.
Kottayam literally means the interior of a fort – Kotta + Akam. Kottayam is known as “Akshara Nagari” (city of Alphabets, the land of letters Lakes and Latex as the Mural city.