Pothanicad

Pothanicad is a village near Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, South India.

Pothanicad is known for its diversity and unity of people from various religions. Its also the first village to achieve 100% literacy in India. The name derives from the Malayalam words "poth", meaning buffalo, "anaa", meaning elephant, and "kaddu", meaning forest, as it was originally a forest with wild buffalos and elephants. Now, this small village has developed into the one of the most educated and culturally advanced villages in Kerala. It is the first panchayath in kerala that achieved 100% literacy according to state literacy programme. St. Mary's High School is the oldest high school in Pothanicad, where very prominent people in the society and local politics have been educated.