- Vaikom
Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Vaikom | type = city | latd = 9.46| longd = 76.24
state_name = Kerala
district = Kottayam
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 22,637| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
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sex_ratio =
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footnotes =Vaikom is a
taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam inKerala ,India . Its western border is bounded by the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies betweenErnakulam andKottayam . Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam, and among the oldest in South India.Vaikom is populated by people from all communities, including
Ambalavasi s,Arayan s,Christian s,Dhewar s,Ezhava s,Iyer s,Muslim s,Nair s,Namboodiri s, andVarma s.As of 2001 Indiacensus [GR|India] , Vaikom had a population of 22,637. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Vaikom has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 84%. In Vaikom, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.The Vaikom Shiva Temple, known as "Thekkan Kashi" [Southern Kashi] , is the heart of the town, and is remarkable for 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.
The traditional economy has been based on
coconut andrice crops, andfishing ; more recently, crops likenutmeg ,black pepper , andlatex have also been introduced. Tourism and software are also pursued as means to livelihood.Vaikom is administered by a Municipality; P. K. Hari Kumar of the CPI(M) is the current chairman of the municipal administration. Vaikom is the seat of a Munsiff's court (among the oldest to be established in the
Kingdom of Travancore ).velloor is one of the panchayat in Vaikom Taluk, where Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated
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