Kothamangalam (Malayalam: ) is a town located in eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala situated 45km north east of Kochi City. It is located around 12km north east to the town of Muvattupuzha. The town is situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. It is also known as The Gateway to the High Ranges. The highway NH-49 Ernakulam - Madurai- Rameswaram passes through this town. 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 Christian churches. According to the available 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,...
