Aymanam is a village in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. It is about 4 km from the railway station in Kottayam along the road to Parippu, and 85 km from the Cochin International Airport. Aymanam is the setting for Arundhati Roy's 1997 novel The God of Small Things.

Aymanam
Ayemenem
Village
Aymanam is located in Kerala
Aymanam
Aymanam
Location in Kerala, India
Aymanam is located in India
Aymanam
Aymanam
Aymanam (India)
Coordinates: 9°37′29″N 76°29′06″E / 9.6246600°N 76.4851070°E / 9.6246600; 76.4851070
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKottayam
Area
 • Total30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population
 • Total35,562
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
686017
Vehicle registrationKL-05
Climatetropical (Köppen)

Demographics

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As of 2001 India census, Aimanam had a population of 34,985 with 17,268 males and 17,717 females.[1]

Etymology

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Ay means "five" in and Vanam means "forest" in Malayalam. Hence, Aymanam means "five forests", which, according to tradition, were Vattakkadu, Thuruthikkadu, Vallyakadu, Moolakkadu and Mekkadu. They survive today only as "snake groves", where fertility idols, in the form of snakes, were worshiped under the trees. Families depute Brahmin once a year for ritualistic offering.

Geography

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Lake Vembanad lies to the west of the village, near Kumarakom, with the Meenachil River providing its water supply, which often floods from June to August due to regular monsoons. Consequently, two-thirds of the village are paddy fields.

The borders of the village are mostly delineated by rivers or canals, and include the villages of Arpookara, Kumara Nallooru, Thiruvarpu and Kumarakom, and the municipality of Kottayam.

Notable residents

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References

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  1. ^ "Census of India : Villages with population 5000 & above". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.