{{About|a Municipality in Kottayam district|the constituency|Vaikom (State Assembly constituency)|the temple|Vaikom Temple}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}} <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities for details -->{{Infobox settlement | name = Vaikom | native_name = വൈക്കം | native_name_lang = mal | other_name = | settlement_type = Municipality<ref name="auto">{{Cite web | url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/system/files/2017-10/localbodies.pdf | title=Grama Panchayaths | website=lsgkerala.gov.in}}</ref> | 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 --> | 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 = <ref>{{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 }}</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, 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 cities | blank1_info_sec1 = Kottayam, Kochi, Alappuzha | website = | footnotes = }} '''Vaikom''' ({{IPA|ml|ʋɐjkʲːɐm|IPA}}) is a municipality<ref name="auto"/> 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|183|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== 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 on the banks of the Vembanad lake similar to other lakeside towns like Kottayam and Changanassery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/responsible-tourism/destination/vaikom/5|title=Vaikom|website=keralatourism.org|publisher=Department of Tourism (Kerala)}}</ref> 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 33 km from Ernakulam, 33 km from Kottayam via Kumarakom, 39 km from Alappuzha and about {{cvt|56|km|mi}} from Kochi International Airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/2023/vaikom-village-life-experience/1326|publisher=Department of Tourism (Kerala)|title=Vaikom Village Life Experience : Showcasing Kerala's Rural Tradition}}</ref> [[File:View from Vaikom Beach.jpg|thumb|The view from the Vaikom beach, overlooking the Vembanad Lake|270x270px|none]]
== History == 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 |title=Vaikom, General Information |url=http://lsgkerala.in/vaikomblock/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023539/http://lsgkerala.in/vaikomblock/history/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=2013-06-16 |work=Kerala |publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref>
Vaikom gained its fame on a national level during the Vaikom Satyagraha. [[File:Gandhi at vaikom satyagraha-2.jpg|thumb|upright|Mahatma Gandhi at Vaikom Satyagraha]]
==Vaikom Temple== {{Main|Vaikom Temple}} 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,<ref>{{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}}</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). The Vaikom assembly constituency is part of the 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>
==Economy== thumb|Old and New post box The traditional economy has been based on coconut, 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}}
The Kerala Paper Products Limited (Previously called Hindustan Newsprint Limited) is situated in Velloor,{{convert|17|km|1|abbr=on}} away from Vaikom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.keralapaper.in|title=Kerala Paper Products Limited Home Page}}</ref> thumb|Mahadheva Temple ==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 | archive-date = 17 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121217132413/http://www.vaikommunicipality.in/about | url-status = dead }}</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.
In 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 had a population of 23,234 of which 11,304 are males while 11,930 were females. The population of children under age 6 was 1807, which was 7.78% of the total population of Vaikom. The female sex ratio in Vaikom municipality is 1055. Vaikom's child sex ratio is almost 960. Vaikom city's literacy rate is 96.84%, higher than the state average of 94.00%. Male literacy is almost 98.30% and 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 |website=www.census2011.co.in|access-date=2019-08-01}}</ref>
==Notable people== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} <!---♦♦♦♦ Add a person to this list only if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦♦---> <!---♦♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦♦---> *Justice K. G. Balakrishnan *Vaikom Muhammad Basheer *Mammootty, actor *P. K. Biju *George Josy *Cherian K. Cherian *V. N. Janaki *Janardhanan, actor *A. J. John *Monce Joseph *M. K. Kamalam *Abraham Kattumana *Kalaikkal Kumaran, actor *Mathew Ulakamthara, poet and literary critic *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 *S. Ramesan, Malayalam language poet and orator <!---♦♦♦♦ Ramesh pisharody♦♦♦♦---> <!---♦♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦♦---> {{Div col end}}
800px|center|thumb|Vembanadu lake, boat jetty, KTDC restaurant, riverside park, and playground.
==See also== *Vallakam *Chempu
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Vaikom}} {{Geographic Location | title = '''Places around Vaikom''' | Northwest = Perumbalam | North = Udayamperoor | Northeast = Piravom | West = 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