Vaikom is located on the banks of the
Vembanad Lake in
Kottayam District. It is 35 km south of
Ernakulam and 40 km north of
Kottayam.
The Vaikom Mahadevar Temple, one of the most sacred Shiva temples in south India, is located here and the Ashtami festival of the temple is very famous. The historic
satyagraha for the admission of
Harijans into temples began at Vaikom in 1925. The satyagraha culminated in the famous Temple Entry Proclamation.
Kshethrakalapeedhom, a school attached to the Vaikom Mahadevar Temple, teaches temple arts.
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport.
Vaikom Road Railway Station is on the Ernakulam-Kottayam rail route.
