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Ernakulam
- Kerala
General
Information
| Area: |
87.341
sq.kms. |
|
Comprising of
mainland Ernakulam, Old Cochin, including Mattancherry, Fort
Kochi, Palluruthy, and Thoppumpady, Willingdon Island, the
suburbs of Edappally and the exurbia of
Kalamassery,Thrikkakara and Kakkanad to the northeast, and
Tripunithura to the southeast. |
| Population: |
16.6
lakhs, Greater Cochin (1991 census) |
|
Location: |
Latitude, 9
degree 15 E, The city lies between 'Itripunithura, the seat of
the eastwhile royalty to its southeast and the
Eloor-Kalamassery industrial belt to its north. To the west
lies is the Arabian sea. |
|
Language: |
Malayalam,
the youngest in the Dravidian family. It is the official
language of the State of Kerala.English is widely used in
business circles. |
|
Religion: |
Hindus
account for the largest comrnunity followed by Christians and
Muslims. Cochin has also a small population of Jains, Jews,
and Sikhs. |
| Time: |
(Indian
standard Time + 5.30 hours GMT). |
| Altitude: |
Sea
level. |
|
Climate: |
The warm
tropical climate recommends light cotton clothes,
waterproofing is essential during monsoons. |
|
Water: |
Drink only
bottled mineral water. Drink boiled water, particularly during
the monsoons. |
| Electricity: |
220
volts. You'll require plug adapters. |
| Radio: |
Cochin
FM 102.3 MHz. (Timings: 1658 hrs to 300 hrs (all days) |
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Banking
Hours: |
(Week days)
10 am -2 pm; (Sat) 10 am- 12 noon.
Some banks have evening counters.
Banks remain closed on Sundays (with a few exceptions), and
specified bank holidays .
Certain banks also provide 24- hour ATM service. |
Places
To Visit
The
Cochin Club: The club, with its impressive library and
collection of sporting trophies, is housed in a beautifully
landscaped park. In the early 1900s, when the club had just become
operational, admission was restricted to the British and to men
only. Today, though the club retains its traditional English
ambience, its rules are more liberal and the membership of 250
includes women as well. Strangely enough, alcohol is not served on
the premises.
Mattancherry
Palace: (Dutch Palace) (Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on
Fridays): Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja
Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the palace was renovated in 1663 by the
Dutch. On display here are beautiful murals depicting scenes from
the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, and some of the Puranic Hindu
legends. The palace also houses Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal
palanquins, coronation robes of former maharajas of Kochi as well as
period furniture.
Cherai
Beach: This lovely beach bordering Vypeen island is ideal
for swimming. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. A typical Kerala
village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added
attraction.
Bolghatty
Island: This island is famous for its palace of the same
name. The Bolghatty Palace was built in 1744 by the Dutch and later
taken over by the British. Today it is a hotel run by the Kerala
Tourism Development Corporation, with a small golf course and
special honeymoon cottages.
Willingdon
Island: Named after Lord Willingdon, a former British
Viceroy of India, this man-made island is surrounded by beautiful
backwaters. The island is the site of the city's best hotels and
trading centres, the Port Trust and the headquarters of the southern
naval command.
Chinese
Fishing Nets/Vasco da Gama Square: These huge
cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first
visitors to the Malabar Coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 AD
by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, these nets are set up on
teak wood and bamboo poles. The best place to watch the nets being
lowered into the sea and catch being brought in is the Vasco da Gama
Square, a narrow promenade that runs along the beach. The Square is
an ideal place to idle, with stalls serving fresh delicious seafood,
tender coconut etc.
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