Vaikom
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Vaikom വൈക്കം വ്യാഘ്രപാദപുരം |
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| Municipality | |
Vaikom boat jetty
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 Vaikom
 Vaikom
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| Coordinates: 9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°ECoordinates: 9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°E | |
| Country |
 India
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| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam |
| Taluk | Vaikom |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Chairman | Anil Biswas (CPI(M)) |
| • Municipal Council | Vaikom Municipal Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.73 km2 (3.37 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 23,234 |
| • Density | 2,700/km2 (6,900/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 686141 |
| Telephone code | 04829 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-36, KL-67 |
| Nearest city | Kottayam, Kochi |
Vaikom is 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, a civil rights movement aimed at securing freedom of movement for all sections of society through the public roads leading to Vaikom Temple
Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam district, and among the oldest in South India. Vaikom is also very close to the popular tourism destination Kumarakom. It is 37 from Ernakulam and 32 km from Kottayam and about 60 km (37 mi) from Kochi International Airport.
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 temple was built in 1594.
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). Vaikom assembly constituency is reserved for Dalits and is part of Kottayam parliamentary constituency.
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. Later in 1742, it became part of Travancore when the then Maharajah of Travancore, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, annexed Vadakkumkoor to his kingdom.
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Wikipedia