Kottayam is known for rubber and spices. Rubber trees are grown on a large and small scale by every household. Due to the large scale cultivation and marketing of rubber in Kottayam, the Government of India has set up the Rubber Board which is located in Kottayam. Another important plant product that is widely grown in Kottayam is vanilla.
Other spices such as cardamom, cloves and star anise are important commercial spices that are grown and marketed in Kottayam. Kottayam is a small city and some of the important places in Kottayam include the Kottayam-Kumily road, the Sastri Road, Baker Junction and Kanjikuzhy.
The major contributor to economy is tourism. Kottayam is situated very near to the famed backwater tourist destination of Kumarakom. The Vembanad lake also makes its presence felt and provides excellent opportunities for houseboat cruises. There is also a bird sanctuary at Kottayam which attracts hordes of tourists every year.
Although there is presence of Hindus and Muslims in Kottayam, a majority of the population is Syrian Christian community. The food does not differ largely from the rest of Kerala, but some of the specialities of the Kottayam cuisine sets it apart from others.
Kottayam is also known as an important cultural centre. The traditional folk dances such as Margamkali, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi are the special attractions of this place.
Kottayam is situated on the National Highway 220 and is connected to cities within the state and those in neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Local transport is usually through three-wheelers or government and private buses. The nearest railhead is the Kottayam Railway Station and the nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport, which is situated at a distance of 90 km from the city.