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Kottayam is located in southern Kerala and is also the administrative capital of the Kottayam district.The town is an important trading center of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber.It is believed that the name kottayam originated from the Malayalam words "kotta" meaning fort and "akam" meaning inside, giving the word the meaning of "the interior of the fort". The old town of Kottayam was originally founded on the hilltop now known as Kunnumpuram. This fortress was called Thaliyil Kotta and was founded by the local chieftain or RAJA known as the Thekkumcoor RAJA. The small hamlet developed within the walls of the fort and thus was derived the present name from the words "Kottackk Akam" which literally means "Inside the Fortress". It is commonly believed that down the ages this gradually assumed its present form, Kottayam. Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India, thanks to its strength as a producer of cash crops. Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam, also home to the Rubber Board, One of the country's primary commodities board. Kottayam, among the state's more mountainous districts, provides some of Kerala's finest natural scenes sandwiched as it is between serene palm-fringed backwaters on the west and the Western ghats on the east.

Kottayam is a city situated in south-central Kerala and is the administrative capital of Kottayam district. It is spread over an area of 55.40 sq km and is around 151 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Kottayam is situated near the Meenachil River and the Vembanad backwaters. The scenic backwaters offer amazing opportunities to enjoy nature at its best. The city really enchants those who visit here.