about cochin - ernakulam

Ernakulam is situated within the coastline of the Arabian Sea on the west, Kottayam and Alapuzha districts in the south, Idukki district in the east and Thrissur in the north. The commercial part of Cochin city, Ernakulam stands for the future of Kerala. Many large and small industrial units like the Cochin Shipyard, FACT, Cochin Refinery and HMT are located in and around Ernakulam. The Law College and more than half a dozen first grade Arts & Science colleges and high-schools make Ernakulam an important educational centre. The Govt. General Hospital, a number of well-equipped and reputed private hospitals and nursing homes, good hotels with all modern facilities, airline offices, recreational clubs, cultural and arts centres - all these and more make Ernakulam a very interesting place.

m g road

The M G (Mahatma Gandhi) Road, starting from Thevara junction cuts through Ernakulam to meet Banerjee Road at the other end. The main centre of commercial activity, M G Road is a lively shopping centre where one can buy almost anything, from traditional handicrafts and jewelry to the latest in hi-tech computers and sophisticated electronic equipment. International clothing and footwear brands, Kanchipuram saree showrooms, hotels, ice-cream joints, movie-theatres, handicraft shops, book shops and the like are located here.

marine drive & broadway
One of the most beautiful parts of Ernakulam, the Marine Drive has luxury apartments, office buildings and hotels on either side. At its northern end is the seat of the Kerala High Court, the Ram Mohan Palace. The GCDA Complex and Pioneer Towers, along the waterfront, feature numerous shops, fast-food cafes and business enterprises. The Marine Drive walkway and the Rainbow Bridge are among the main hangouts of the local people.
Broadway, despite its name, is a narrow street that runs parallel to the Marine Drive. It is among the city's oldest and busiest shopping streets. Many kinds of industries like spices, clothing and jewelry thrive here.

market
At the northern end of Broadway is the market area, which is extremely crowded. There is a canal running through the market which was used in the olden days for transporting goods in a cheap and easy way. Kettu Vallams (thatched-roof house boats) are still in use even long after trucks have become the popular mode of transport.

park avenue

This well shaded, tree-lined stretch of the city has three small parks overlooking the backwaters and provide a good place to relax and watch the ships pass by. The main boat jetty, Cochin Corporation office, Law College, old government buildings and the Shiva temple are sited here. The Esplanade shopping complex is also located here, which houses international brands like Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Lacoste under one roof. The Kerala Lalitha Kala Acadamy Gallery of Contemporary Art is of interest along the Durbar Hall Road which branches eastwards from the southern end of Park Avenue.

kadavanthara

Kadavanthara is around half a kilometre east of downtown Cochin. The GCDA building (Greater Cochin Development Authority), Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, and Indira Gandhi Hospital are to be found here, besides several shops and supermarkets. Residential areas like Panampilly Nagar, Giri Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Jawahar Nagar are close-by. Malayala Manorama, Kerala's foremost publishing house, the Passport Office, Telecommunications office and other important buildings are situated in Panampilly Nagar.

ernakulam north

This part of the city comprises mainly of residential areas. The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is located in Kaloor, which is about 2 kilometres away from the city center. The offices of leading dailies like the Indian Express, Mathrubhumi and Deshabhimani are also to be found here. Further north are Palarivattom and Edapally. To the east of Edapally is Kakkanad, where the Collectorate is located. The Cochin University of Science And Technology (CUSAT) is sited at nearby Thrikkakkara.

Disclaimer: All efforts have been made to make the information as accurate as possible. No responsibility shall be owned by the author for the authenticity of the same or for any decision taken based on the information given.