Kothamangalam

Kothamangalam is a Municipality in the eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is around 14 km northeast of the town of Muvattupuzha and 35 km Northeast of Kochi city. The town is in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. The highway NH-85 Ernakulam – Madurai – Rameswaram passes through Kothamangalam.The town serves as the headquarters of a taluk and a municipality of the same name. Kothamangalam is known as a trading center for spices and forest products. It is also famous for its ancient Syrian Christian churches.HistoryAccording to the historical evidence, Kothamangalam was a place of prominence during the rule of the First Chera Dynasty, the dynasty that ruled Kothamangalam from around 300 BC to the first millennium. Cheras were also known as Kothai. The capital of Chera Kingdom was Karur. This has led some historians like Professor Joseph Mundasseri etc. to claim that Thrikkariyoor, a village 3 km north of Kothamangalam could have been the ancient Karur, the capital of Cheras. This claim has not found wide support. Several historians believe Karur (or 'Vanchi' or 'Muziris') was near the present-day Pattanam (North Paravur).