Kottayam, India

Capital City

Kottayam boasts a literacy rate of 95.9%, the highest in Kerala, but the bureaucracy is a persistent headache. With a population of 136,812 and a density of 2,470/km2, this "City of Letters" is crowded and humid, the tropical monsoon climate providing little seasonal relief. Yet Kottayam remains a publishing powerhouse, home to some of India's largest Malayalam newspapers and book publishers. Those drawn to its literary legacy may find this midland town a good fit, but the relentless bureaucracy is a turnoff for many.