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Ernakulam
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Ernakulam- With Thrissur to the North and the Arabian Ocean to the West; Iddukki to the East and Alappuzha and Kottayam to the South; the district of Eranakulam has the port of Eranakulam as its district headquarters. This district boasts of a number of islands. Kochi a magnificent natural harbor stands on one such island.Majority of islands in Kerala are in Ernakulam district which was from different parts of old Cochin-Travancore-Malabar area.The main islands of this district all man-made Willington Island,World's most populated Vypeen Island, Cheriya Kadamakkudi, Valiya Kadamakkudi,Ramanthuruthu, Ponjikkara, Vallarpadam, Kumbalam, Panangad, Cheppanam, Nettoor, Pizhala, Kankattuthuruthu,Korampadam, Cheranelloor, Chathanadu, Chendamangalam. All these islands are populated areas. All these islands are believed to have formed from the soil accumulated due to soil erosion of highlands.
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Ernakulam district of Kerala occupies an area of 2407 sq. km. It is located in the 9o57' North latitude and 76 o15' East longitude. This district came into existence in 1958.Ernakulam has a total population of 31,05,798 according to the census of 2001.The Kochi fort is situated in the main town of Kochi. Kochi demonstrates Portuguese, Dutch and British influences and thus most of the structures portray the Indo European architectural style Kochi is one of the interesting sites for any person visiting South India.This capital city of Kerala has been capturing attention for a long time being a major centre of commerce and trade. The Queen of the Arabian Sea as Kochi is widely called is worth visiting for the vast set of forts and temples. Among all the tourist sites of Kochi, Kochi fort has historical significance. Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin is a fusion of traditions and modernity reflecting cosmopolitan society of Kerala.
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The places of interest are:
| Bastion Bunglow |
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Bastion Bungalow of Kerala is a famous tourist site in the fort of Kochi. At present the Bastion Bungalow serves as the official seat of the Sub-Collector. This bungalow is an example of Indo-European style architecture mainly following the Dutch style. The Bungalow was established in the year 1667. The bungalow is known Bastion as it is situated on the site of Stromsburg Bastion of the Dutch fort. The structure of the Bastion Bungalow is spherical in type and has tiled roof. The first floor verandah gives a unique view with a wooden portion in the front.The Bastion Bungalow of the fort Kochi was the camp office and residence of RDO. Now the monument falls under the protected site as declared by the State Archeological Department years back. The bungalow also remained favorite film location for long .The Bastion Bungalow is believed to have secret tunnels underneath but they are yet to be discovered.
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| Bolghatty |
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Built by the Dutch in India, Bolgatty Palace is located in the scenic island popularly known as Bolgatty island in Kochi, Kerala. One of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, this quaint mansion, built in 1744, by Dutch traders, was later extended and lush green gardens were landscaped around it. The building was then the Governor's palace for the Dutch and later in 1909 was leased to the British. It served as the home of the British Governors, the seat of the British Resident of Cochin during the British regime. In 1947, when India got her independence, the palace became the property of the state and later converted into a heritage hotel resort.The bolgatty island only in 6 km .in the midile of the island place is called Mulavukad. There is in a temple that's lord Shiva temple. This is the first lord Shiva's temple in Kerala.
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| Chottanikkara Temple |
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The Chottanikkara (corruption of Jyotiannakkara) Temple is a famous temple of the Hindu mother goddess Bhagawati. The temple is located near Ernakulam in the southern Indian state of Kerala and is one of the most popular temples in the state, along with Sabarimala. Bhagawati is one of the most popular deities in the area, and she is worshipped at the temple, along with Lord Vishnu, in three different forms: as Saraswati in the morning, draped in white; as Lakshmi at noon, draped in crimson; and as Durga in the evening, decked in blue.People suffering from mental illnesses commonly visit the temple, as Bhagawati is thought to cure her devotees.On the way to the Chottanikkara Temple is the Poornathrayeesa temple at Tripunithura.Chottanikkara Bhagavathi temple is about 9 km from the Poornathrayeesa temple at Tripunithura
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| Iringole Forest Temple |
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This temple is located in the village 'Pattal' 35 kilometers away from Cochin, Kerala, India.Kamsan imprisoned Devaki and Vasudevan due to the fear that their eighth son Sreekrishna who is to be born soon would be his terminator from the earth. In fear and fury Kamsan decided to kill their all sons. Vasudevan planned to save his eighth son from the danger at any cost. The parents shifted baby Sreekrishna to Dhwaraka soon after he was born and placed another girl baby (an incarnation of the goddess Yoga-Nidra or Maya) in the cradle. Kamsan decided to kill the girl baby too, yet realising she was not the eight son of Vasudevan. He lifted the baby furiously above his head, but miraculously the baby became a supernatuaral power and remained in the atmosphere as 'IRRINNOLE'. Later this area was named as IRINGOLE. It is believed that the gods and godessess surrounded the power in the forms of trees and plants. And later it is developed into a beautiful thick forest.
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| Santa Cruz Bascillica |
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The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church in Kochi, Kerala built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and Bishop João Gomes Ferreira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984. This magnificent church is a must see destination for tourists who come to Kochi.Santa Cruz Basilica, a Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the finest and impressive churches in Kerala. It is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur and colours of the gothic style. Located close to St. Francis Church it is the 'capital church' of the diocese of Cochin.
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| Hill Palace,Tripunithura |
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Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala, near Tripunithura, Kochi,It was the administrative office of Kochi Rajas. Built in 1865, the Palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style, spreading across in 54 acres. The complex has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children’s park . The land surrounding the Hill Palace has rare Medicinal Plants.Presently the palace has been converted into a museum and is open to public all days except Mondays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The palace is about 12 km from Ernakulam mainland and approachable by road.The museum displays 14 categories of exhibits including murals, paintings, sculptures in stone and plaster of paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, carvings etc.
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| Kerala Dutch Palace |
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The Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, in Mattancherry, Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala features Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.Mattancherry Palace with its medieval charm is situated at Palace Road, Mattancherry, Kochi. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma (1537-65), Raja of Kochi, in 1555 AD. The Dutch carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called Dutch Palace. The rajas also made more improvements to it.Today, it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best traditions of Hindu temple art. The palace was built to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby.
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| Thattekad-Bird-Sanctuary |
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The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, covering an area of hardly 25 km², and located about 60 km north-east of Cochin (Kerala state, India), is one of the important bird sanctuaries of India. Dr. Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologist has described this sanctuary as “the richest bird habitat on peninsular India”. The literal meaning of Thattekad is flat forest, the region is an evergreen low-land forest and is located between the branches of Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala.The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary has a rich and varied birdlife.The sanctuary is a habitat for different varieties of Cuckoos and a region of the sanctuary popularly called Cuckoo Paradise is home to them, and they include the following:
Drongo Cuckoo, which may be easily mistaken for Drongo
Indian Hawk Cuckoo, which is highly vocal
Large Hawk Cuckoo, which looks relatively massive compared to other types of cuckoos, and is characterized by a dark grey and heavily streaked throat.
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| Kodanad |
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Kodanad is a beautiful rural riverside village and a popular picnic spot and tourist destination in the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala in southern India. Elephant rescue and care centre for central and southern forest region of Kerala is located in Kodanad. Kodanad is situated on the south bank of river Periyar, about 42 kilometers east of Kochi (Cochin).In 1950-60s, Kodanad used to be the largest of several elephant training centres for captured Elephants from the adjoining forest regions. They were trained using Mahouts, specially skilled people also known as Paappaan in Malayalam language. In 1970s, there was a ban to elephant capture by Government of India and from then on, Kodanad is primarily used as a rescue training centre.
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| Kerala Travel Informations |
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