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.
Economy
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 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 8KM far from Mundakayam.
On 19 July 2017, the Kerala Government announced the construction of the 5th International Airport in Kerala, Sabarigiri International Airport at Cheruvally Estate of Harrisons Plantations at Erumely, situated at the Border of Kottayam District and Pathanamthitta district to facilitate the travel of Sabarimala pilgrims.. The proposed project site Cheruvally Estate is just 15 km from Mundakayam.
Entertainment
Even though there are no shopping malls in Mundakayam, the town has a lot of shopping complexes. Athiyalil Plaza at the town centre being the biggest. Thannimoottil building,CSI Shopping Complex, CVM Arcade, Arafa Shopping Complex, Vismaya Hypermarket are some others. Mundakayam have 2 Film Theatres and a Multiplex. RD Cinemas started play in 3 screen on 10-5-2018 in Mattathil building Pinagana. The multiplex has one 4K and two 2K screens. The multiplex is owned by Film maker B Unnikrishnan.
