Pothanikkad or Pothanicad is a village in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala.

[1] It's also

the first village to achieve 100% literacy in India.

[2]The name derives from the Malayalam words poth, meaning buffalo, anaa,
meaning elephant, and kaddu, meaning forest, as it was originally a forest
with wild buffalos and elephants. Now, this small village has developed
into one of the most educated and culturally advanced villages in Kerala.
St. Mary's High School is the oldest high school in Pothanicad, where very
prominent people in the society and many local politicians have been
educated. St. John's Higher Secondary school Pulinthanam is a pioneering
educational institution in the village. A government Lower Primary school
and two other private Senior Secondary High schools, following CBSE
curriculum, also provides better educational opportunities for the young
community.

Pothanikkad is 16 km away from Thommankuthu water falls [1], the nearest tourist location and
approximately 22 km from well known Thattekad Bird Sanctuary near Kothamangalam. It is also
known for churches like Pothanicad St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Pothanicad Ummanikkunnu
St. Mary's Orthodox syrian

Church and St Xavier's Catholic Church.The village contains one and only
temple Thrikkeppadi sri Mahadev temple which is famous for the festivel
'ilaneerattam'.

Demographics[edit]
As of 2001 India census, Pothanikkad had a population of 17563 with 8764 males and 8799 females