Mdfaisalahmed121: correct layout based on references and fixed typos

2026-03-13T13:26:22Z

correct layout based on references and fixed typos

imported>Arjayay: /* Notable people */ Rm additions without articles = No inclusion - as it clearly states

2021-07-13T18:13:16Z

Notable people: Rm additions without articles = No inclusion - as it clearly states

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{{About|a Municipality in Kottayam district|the Temple|Vaikom Temple}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vaikom
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ml
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Municipality]]
| image_skyline = Vaikom Temple.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Vaikom Temple|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|46|0|N|76|24|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Taluks of Kerala|Taluk]]
| subdivision_name3 = Vaikom
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Council]]
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name = Renuka Ratheesh ([[Indian National Congress|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 = <ref>http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=677767</ref>
| 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 language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 686141
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 04829
| registration_plate = [[List of RTO districts in India#KL.E2.80.94Kerala|KL]]-36, [[List of RTO districts in India#KL.E2.80.94Kerala|KL]]-67
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kottayam]], [[Kochi]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Vaikom''', {{IPA-ml|ʋɐjkːɐm|IPA}}, is a municipal town and a capital town of Vaikom [[Taluk]], situated in the northwest of [[Kottayam district]] in the state of [[Kerala]], India. The town is also noted for its role in the [[Indian independence movement]] for being the venue of [[Vaikom Satyagraha|Vaikom Satyagraham]], a civil rights movement aimed at securing freedom of movement for all sections of society through the public roads leading to [[Vaikom Temple|the famous Vaikom Shiva temple]] situated here.

==Location==
[[File:Vaikom and Vembanadu Kayal.jpg|thumb|left|Boat jetty and KTDC restaurant along Vembanadu Lake]]
Vaikom town is situated at the northwestern end of Kottayam district, close to [[Ernakulam district]] border. Vaikom is a lakeside town situated in the banks of the [[Vembanad|Vembanad lake]] similar to other lakeside towns like [[Kottayam]] and [[Changanassery]]. It's western borders are bound by the Vembanad lake. The [[Muvattupuzha|Muvattupuzha river]] has it's [[River mouth|mouth]] near Vaikom where it empties into the Vembanad lake, many [[Distributary|distributaries]] of the Muvattupuzha river pass through Vaikom. Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam district, and among the oldest in South India.{{Citation needed|date = January 2016}} It is also very close to the popular tourism destination [[Kumarakom]] and the city of [[Kochi]]. Vaikom is 32 km from [[Ernakulam]], 32 km from [[Kottayam]] via kumarakom, 33 km from [[Alappuzha]] and about {{cvt|60|km|mi}} from [[Cochin International Airport|Kochi International Airport]].

==Vaikom Temple==
{{Main|Vaikom Temple}}
[[File:Vaikkom Mahadeva Temple (2).jpg|thumb|Mahadheva Temple]]
The [[Vaikom Temple|Vaikom Shiva Temple]], known as ''Thekkan Kashi'' (Southern [[Varanasi|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 Satyagraha|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 [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]], it was built in 1594.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/ml/history|title=ചരിത്രം {{!}} Vaikom Municipality|website=www.vaikommunicipality.in|access-date=2016-08-17}}</ref>

==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). Vaikom assembly constituency is part of [[Kottayam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kottayam parliamentary constituency]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Gandhi at vaikom satyagraha-2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Gandhiji]] 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.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://lsgkerala.in/vaikomblock/history/
| title = Vaikom, General Information
| access-date = 2013-06-16
| work = Kerala
| publisher = Government of Kerala }}</ref>

Vaikom gained its fame on a national level during [[Vaikom Satyagraha]].

==Economy==
[[File:Vaikom Anchal Petty with new PostBox.jpg|thumb|Old and New post box]]

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 also pursued as a means to livelihood. Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated in [[Velloor]] near Vaikom.

==Demographics==
As per the 2001 census,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/about
| title = Vaikom, General Information
| access-date = 2013-06-16
| work = Kerala
| publisher = Government of Kerala }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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
}}</ref> 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%.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}


*[[Mar Sebastian Adayantharath]]
*[[Chempil Arayan]] - Admiral of the fleet of the Kingdom of [[Travancore]]
*[[Chembil Ashokan]] - actor<ref>http://beta.mangalam.com/women/personality/287480</ref>
*Justice [[K. G. Balakrishnan]]
*[[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]]
*[[P. K. Biju]]
*[[Cherian K. Cherian]]
*[[V. N. Janaki]]
*[[Janardhanan (actor)|Janardhanan]] - actor
*[[A. J. John]]
*[[Monce Joseph]]
*[[M. K. Kamalam]]
*[[Abraham Kattumana]]
*[[Kalaikkal Kumaran]] - actor
*[[Mammootty]] - actor
*[[N. Mohanan]]
*[[Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair]]
*[[N. N. Pillai]]
*[[P. Krishna Pillai]]- leader of the first communist movement in [[Kerala]]
*[[Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai]]- Military officer of the Kingdom of [[Travancore]]
*[[Vaikom Ramachandran]] - poet
*[[Thomas Unniyadan]]
*[[Vaikom Vijayalakshmi]]
*[[Vaikom Viswan]]


{{Div col end}}

[[File:Vaikom Beach Panorama.jpg|800px|center|thumb|Vembanadu lake, Boat jetty, KTDC restaurant, Riverside park, Playground.]]

==See also==
*[[Vallakam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Vaikom}}
{{Geographic Location
| title = '''Places around Vaikom'''
| Northwest = [[Perumbalam]]
| North = [[Udayamperoor]]
| Northeast = [[Piravom]]
| West = [[Pallippuram, Alappuzha|Pallippuram]]
| Centre = Vaikom
| East = [[Thalayolaparambu]]
| Southwest = [[Cherthala]]
| South = [[Thalayazham]]
| Southeast = [[Kottayam]]
}}
{{Kerala}}
{{Municipalities of Kerala}}
{{Kottayam district}}
{{Central Travancore}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vaikom| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Travancore]]

Vaikom - Revision history

Mdfaisalahmed121: correct layout based on references and fixed typos

imported>Arjayay: /* Notable people */ Rm additions without articles = No inclusion - as it clearly states