Vaikom

{{About|a Municipality in Kottayam district|the constituency|Vaikom (State Assembly constituency)|the temple|Vaikom Temple}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Vaikom

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| other_name =

| settlement_type = Municipality{{Cite web | url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | title=Grama Panchayaths | website=lsgkerala.gov.in}}

| image_skyline = Vaikom Temple.JPG

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

| nickname =

| image_map =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India

| pushpin_label_position = right

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India

| coordinates = {{coord|9|45|00|N|76|23|34|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = India

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Kerala

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Kottayam

| subdivision_type3 = Taluk

| subdivision_name3 = Vaikom

| established_title =

| established_date =

| founder =

| named_for =

| government_type = Municipal Council

| leader_title = Chairperson

| leader_name = Renuka Ratheesh (INC)

| leader_title1 = Municipal Council

| leader_name1 = Vaikom Municipal Council

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 8.73

| area_rank =

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| population_footnotes = {{Cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=677767 |title=Census of India: Search Details |access-date=12 May 2014 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518133640/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=677767 |url-status=dead }}

| population_total = 23,234

| population_as_of = 2011

| population_rank =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym =

| demographics_type1 = Languages

| demographics1_title1 = Official

| demographics1_info1 = Malayalam, English

| timezone1 = IST

| utc_offset1 = +5:30

| postal_code_type = PIN

| postal_code = 686141

| area_code_type = Telephone code

| area_code = 04829

| registration_plate = KL-36, KL-67

| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city

| blank1_info_sec1 = Kottayam, Kochi

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Vaikom ({{IPA|ml|ʋɐjkʲːɐm|IPA}}) is a municipality in the Kottayam district of Kerala. It is located {{convert|33|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the district headquarters in Kottayam and about {{convert|152|km|1|abbr=on}} north of the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Vaikom has a population of 23,234 people, and a population density of {{convert|2661|/sqkm|abbr=on}}.

Location

File:Vaikom and Vembanadu Kayal.jpg

Vaikom is situated at the northwestern end of the Kottayam district, close to the border with the Ernakulam district. 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 {{cvt|60|km|mi}} from Kochi International Airport.

Vaikom Temple

File:Vaikkom Mahadeva Temple (2).jpg

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,{{Cite web|url=http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/ml/history|title=ചരിത്രം {{!}} Vaikom Municipality|website=www.vaikommunicipality.in|access-date=2016-08-17|archive-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218185651/http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/ml/history|url-status=dead}}

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). The Vaikom assembly constituency is part of the Kottayam parliamentary constituency.{{cite web

| url = http://eci.nic.in/delim/Final_Publications/KERALA/Final_Order_Kerala.pdf

| title = Delimitation Commission of India - Kerala and Order No.55

| access-date = 2010-08-29

| work = Kerala

| publisher = Election Commission of India }}

History

File:Gandhi at vaikom satyagraha-2.jpg at Vaikom Satyagraha]]

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.{{cite web

| url = http://lsgkerala.in/vaikomblock/history/

| title = Vaikom, General Information

| access-date = 2013-06-16

| work = Kerala

| publisher = Government of Kerala

| archive-date = 4 March 2016

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023539/http://lsgkerala.in/vaikomblock/history/

| url-status = dead

}}

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

Economy

File:Vaikom Anchal Petty with new PostBox.jpg

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. {{cn|date=May 2024}}

Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated in Velloor near Vaikom.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Demographics

As per the 2001 census,{{cite web

| url = http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/about

| title = Vaikom, General Information

| access-date = 2013-06-16

| work = Kerala

| publisher = Government of Kerala

| archive-date = 17 December 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121217132413/http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/about

| url-status = dead

}} 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,{{cite web

| url = http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/803295-vaikom-kerala.html| title = Vaikom, census2011 information

| access-date = 2015-09-24

| work = Kerala

}} 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%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/803295-vaikom-kerala.html|title=Vaikom Municipality City Population Census 2011-2019 {{!}} Kerala|website=www.census2011.co.in|access-date=2019-08-01}}