Mundakayam

Mundakayam, is a town in Kanjirappally Taluk in the Kottayam District of Kerala. It is the doorway to the high ranges of southern Kerala, and is at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts. The next nearest town, Kanjirappally, is & Erumely is 12 km from Mundakayam. Mundakayam has rubber plantations, and greenery. The Manimala River runs through Mundakayam. It is located 48 km east of the district headquarters at Kottayam and 148 km from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. The name Mundakayam is said to be derived from the Mundi cranes that used to be seen along the Manimala River banks. Mundakayam is a land of coffee, pepper, cocoa and natural rubber. The rubber plantations in India had originated from Mundakayam, which was introduced by J.J. Murphy around 1910. An All India Agricultural & Industrial Exhibition was held here in 1967 which was inaugurated by Hindi film maker Sunil Dutt. Mundakayam is part of Poonjar Constituency for Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections and part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency) for Indian General Elections. Sebastian Kulathunkal (LDF, Kerala Congress) is the sitting MLA. Anto Antony of INC is the MP representing Mundakayam. Mundakayam is well connected to places like Kottayam, Changanacherry, Ernakulam, Kumily, Peerumedu, Kuttikkanam, Kattappana, Erumely, Panchalimedu, Parathanam and Koottikkal. N.H 183 from Kollam to Theni passes through Mundakayam. Both private and state-owned buses operate here from dawn to dusk. Mundakayam's private bus station at the heart of the city is one of the biggest bus stations in Central Kerala. A new KSRTC bus station at Puthenchantha is awaiting inauguration. Mundakayam is connected to major cities Kochi and Trivandrum by KURTC's AC Low Floor Services. Daily buses go from Mundakayam to Chennai and Bangalore. Volvo Multi Axle Services of Kallada, Green line, Atlas, Kerala lines to Chennai & Banglore are also available. A new bypass road is opened to free the town from traffic block. Parathanam is a small village and it is 8 km from Mundakayam.