Mundakayam, is a Panchayat 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 14 km (8.7 mi) & 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.

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.

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.

Educational Institutions

SREE SABAREESA COLLEGE, Murikkumvayal, Mundakayam
St. Joseph's Central School and Junior College, Mundakayam
BBM TTI, Mundakayam
Govt. HSS, Murikkumvayal, Mundakayam
St. Antony's High School, Mundakayam
St.Joseph's Girls High School, Mundakayam
CMS High School, Mundakayam
YWCA English Medium School
MES Public School
Kallivayalil Pappan Memorial School
SN Public School, Mundakayam
CMS LP School, 31st Mile Mundakayam
St Luis LP School, Mundakayam
TR&T LP School, Kuppakayam, Mundakayam
CKM higher secondary
Govt higher secondary kuttiplangadu
Govt higher secondary murikumvayal
St.Antonys college Kodikuthi

Government Institutions

Mundakayam Post Office
Mundakayam Police Station
Government General Hospital Mundakayam
PWD Guest House
BSNL Office
Kerala Water Authority Office
KSEB Office
Village Office
Krishi Bhavan
Central Excise Office, Mundakayam
Excise Range Office, Mundakayam
Thiruvithamcoor Devaswam Board Commissioner Office, Mundakayam

Financial Institutions

State Bank of India
Life Insurance Corporation of India
Federal Bank
South Indian Bank
ICICI Bank
Canara Bank
Meenachil East Urban Cooperative Bank
Kottayam District Cooperative Bank
Sahyadari Cooperative Credit Society
North Malabar Gramin Bank
Vijaya Bank
Service Cooperative Bank, Mundakayam
Pulickal Finance
Muthoot mini
Kosamattam finance
KLM Nidhi
Bank of Baroda
Union bank

Major Religious Centres

Temples

Parthasarathy Temple, Mundakkayam
Sree Subhramanya Swami Temple, Boyce estate, 35th mile
Valliyamkavu Devi Temple, Paloorkkavu
Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Amaravathy
Thalumkal Sree Mahadevi Temple, Koottickal
sree cheruvally devi temple punchayayal
chotty sreemahadeva temple
Murikumvayal Sree Maha vishnu temple, Murikumvayal
paschima devi Temple, Paschima

Churches

St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Paingana, Mundakayam
Mor Ignatius Alias III Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Mundakayam
Holy Trinity C.S.I Church, Mundakayam
St Mary's Church, ( Roman Catholic - Latin Rite ) Mundakayam
St Joseph's Church ( Roman Catholic - Syro Malankara Rite ), Mundakayam
Our Lady of Dolours Forane Church, ( Roman Catholic - Syro Malabar Rite ) Mundakayam
Bethel Marthoma Church, Mundakayam
John Paul Centre Church,( Roman Catholic - Syro Malabar Rite ), 31st Mile, Mundakayam
Apostolic Oblates, 31st Mile, Mundakayam
San Pio Capuchin Ashram, Mundakayam

Masjids

Mundakayam Muslim Jama Ath Town Juma Masjid
Masjidul Wafa
Chotty juma Masjid
Varickani Juma Masjid
Masjid As-Salam, Paingana
Salafi Masjid
Source - Wikipedia [Feb 2021]