Centuries ago, Venmalinad (Vembalanad), which included Kottayam, was under the rule of the Kulasekhara emperors. Historical records show that Nandrainad, which was part of the Chera Empire that existed from 800-1102 AD, had a 300-member assembly called "Munnuttuvar". As a vassal state of the Chera Empire, Munna Kottayam disintegrated into several small kingdoms in the 11th century, and the area including Kottayam came to be known as Manjunadu. In the 14th century, after the Thekkumkur kings conquered Venmalinadu and Manjunadu, they shifted their capital from Changanassery to Kottayam for security reasons. The capital of the Thekkumkur king, who became the ruler of the area including Kottayam, was known as Kottakkam. Historians suggest that the name Kottayam was derived from the abbreviation "Kottaykakam". Then in 1750, Marthanda Varma attacked and conquered Kottayam. In ancient times, pepper, which was grown in Pala and other places, was exported to Western countries through the port in Kottayam. As part of his visit here, a traveler named 'Ptolemy' has recorded in his travel notes that "Korayooru" was a port here in ancient times. Kottayam had trade relations with countries such as Greece, Rome, China, and Indonesia since ancient times. Teak, wood, sandalwood, ivory, and pepper were exported from here. There are many Christian Churches and Temples here that are centuries old. The Kottayam "Valiyapalli" was established in 1550 and the Persian cross in the Valiya Palli is famous for its history. The Cheriya Palli was established in 1580 and the seminary in 1830. Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple and Talikotta Temple are centuries old places of worship. It has an English medium school established by Christian seminarians around 1813.

The present CMS College was established here in 1871-10. The first grammar school was established here in 1882. Pandit Narayana Dev, who participated in the freedom struggle and worked with Gandhiji at many centers, is a great person who born in this country. In 1936, Mahatma Gandhi's speech at the Women's Conference organized at the Nair Samajam School at Thirunakkara Maidan in Kottayam was an event that instilled the spirit of struggle among the freedom lovers of this country. During the freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi visited this place several times along with the patriot T.K. Madhavan in connection with the legendary Vaikom Satyagraha, which was held as part of the anti-untouchability agitations. In support of the Vaikom Satyagraha, a Savarna Jatha led by Mannath Padmanabhan stopped in Kottayam city. The Malayali Memorial Mass Movement was the first struggle in Travancore for democratic rights. The Nivarthana Movement for Responsible Governance in Travancore, the popular movements of the Travancore State Congress formed in 1933, the struggles against the tyranny of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy, and all these were carried out in Kottayam, and trade unions such as the Beedi Workers' Union and the Municipal Workers' Union, etc., prepared the ground for all these movements in the socio-political field of Kottayam. In the 1870s, many development works were carried out in Thiruvitamkur. The construction of the Punalur Suspension Bridge. The construction of the Varkala Underground Waterway, etc. were some of the prominent construction works. The construction of the Kottayam-Changanassery road completed in 1877, the Kottayam-Aluva road (a part of the present-day M.C. Road) and the Kottayam-Kumily road in 1975-78, and the Kottayam railway line, which came into operation in 1956, are also milestones in the history of transportation here. Known as the city of letters, all the leading newspapers, weeklies and magazines of Kerala are published from Kottayam. Kottayam is also known as the first city in India to achieve 100 percent literacy. Kumarakom is an internationally famous tourist destination. Meenachilar, Kodurar and Vembanad Lakes are also water bodies that attract tourists.