Rivers
The important rivers of the district are the Meenachil River, the Muvattupuzha River and the Manimala River.

The Meenachil River flows through the taluks of Meenachil, Vaikom and Kottayam. It is formed by several streams originating from the Western Ghats in Idukki district. At Erattupetta, Poonjar River also joins it, takes a sharp turn and flows towards the west. At Kondur, it is joined by the Chittar and at Lalam it receives the payapparathodu and flows in a south-west direction till it reaches Kottayam. Here, it branches into several streams before emptying into the Vembanad Lake.The important towns in the basin are Pala, Poonjar, Ettumanoor and Kottayam.

The Muvattupuzha river originates from Ernakulam district, flows through Vaikom taluk and empties into the Vembanad lake the most important town in the basin is Vaikom the famous pilgrim centre. The Manimala River flows through Kanjirappally and Changanacherry taluks. The Chittar joins it on its course further down the west as it flows to Alapuzha district. The important town in the basin is Mundakayam.

Forests
Forest plays an important role in the economic development of the district by influencing various sectors like Agriculture, Industry, Employment, Climate,.. etc.

There are two groups of forests, viz., the natural forests and the man-made forests.The man-made forests mainly consist of Eucalyptus, Teak, Softwood, Rubber, Cashew and other plantations. Forest Resource Development programmers are carried out by the Forest Development Corporation.

The Kottayam High Range Circle is divided into four Forest Divisions. They are: Kottayam, Munnar, Kothamangalam and Mangulam. The directorate of Tiger Project, established for the protection of Tigers, is at Nattasseri.

Forest plays an important role in the economic development of the district by influencing various sectors like Agriculture, Industry, Employment, Climate,.. etc.

There are two groups of forests, viz., the natural forests and the man-made forests.The man-made forests mainly consist of Eucalyptus, Teak, Softwood, Rubber, Cashew and other plantations. Forest Resource Development programmers are carried out by the Forest Development Corporation.

The Kottayam High Range Circle is divided into four Forest Divisions. They are: Kottayam, Munnar, Kothamangalam and Mangulam. The directorate of Tiger Project, established for the protection of Tigers, is at Nattasseri.

Kottayam district is fairly well networked in the matter of transport. The main transport modes in the district are roads and railways. Inland water transport is negligible. Out of the two main transport modes, road transport caters to a major part of the traffic. A notable fact is that the passenger road transport is mainly in the private sector. However the State-owned K.S.R.T.C. is also expanding its operations in the district by taking over new routes, providing additional schedules and stabilising the existing services.

The Railways, with 49 kms of railway line, runs through Changanacherry, Chingavanam, Kottayam and Vaikom taluks. Meenachil and Kanjirappally taluks are not reached by rail. There are 7 railway stations; Changanacherry, Chingavanam, Kottayam, Ettumanoor, Kuruppanthara, Piravam and Vaikom Road.

A part of the traffic and cargo is formed by the Vembanad lake and the rivers flowing into it. There are also a few navigable canals in Changanassery, Kottayam and Vaikom taluks.

Kottayam town is connected by a canal to the Vembanad lake.

Kottayam District has two Revenue divisions viz., Kottayam and Pala, each under the control of a Revenue Divisional Officer. Vaikom, Kottayam, Changanassery, Meenachil and Kanjirappally are the taluks in the district. 

Collectorate There are four municipalities, 11 development blocks and 73 panchayats. Kottayam, Vaikom, Pala and Changanacherry are the municipalities. Madappally, Pallom, Ettumanoor, Kaduhturthy, Vaikom, Uzhavoor, Lalam, Erattuppeta, Kanjirappally, Vazhoor and Pampady are the development blocks.