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Tourist Attractions in Ernakulam |
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Tourist Attractions in Ernakulam |
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The main tourist attractions in Ernakulam are Hill Palace
Museum, Madhavan Nayar Foundation, Kaladi, Kodanad,
Chendamangalam, Malayatoor, Bhoothathankettu and Thattekkad Bird
Sanctuary. |
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Hill Palace Museum |
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The Hill Palace was
the official residence of the royal family of Kochi and built in
1865. This palace is located on the Ernakulam-Chottanikkara
route, about 10 km from Ernakulam. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings built in the
traditional Kerala style of architecture and surrounded by 52
acres of terraced land with a deer park and facilities for horse
riding. A full-fledged Ethno-archaeological Museum and the
Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum are the main attraction of
the palace. The Hill Palace museum is the largest museum of
archaeological remain in Kerala. Rare coins, manuscripts,
sculptures of stone and plaster of Paris, oil paintings, 19th
century paintings, murals and inscriptions of the royal Kochi
family can be seen in this museum. |
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Madhavan Nayar Foundation
Madhavan nayar
Foundation is only 8 km from Ernakulam, at Edappally. The
Foundation houses the Museum of Kerala History and its Makers.
The museum showcases the historical episodes from the neolithic
to the modern era through life size figures. There is also a
gallery of paintings and sculptures, that displays over 200
original works by contemporary Indian artists. The centre for
visual arts has a collection of the authentic reproduction of
selected world masters and larger than life mural reproductions
of Indian art.
Kaladi
Kaladi is the
birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, the great Advaita philosopher
of the 8th century. The temples dedicated to Sri Sankara, Sarada
Devi, Sri Krishna and Sri Ramkrishna are also located here. A
place called Crocodile Ghat is also situated here where Sri
Sankara took his vows of renunciation. According to the legend,
a crocodile caught hold of him and refused to release him until
Sankara's mother Aryamba permitted him to accept Sanyas
(renunciation).
Fort Kochi Area
The city’s rich historical legacy is well exhibited at
Fort
Kochi, which still retains the
ambience of the colonial past. It is the main attraction for tourist’s visiting
Kochi. |
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Kodanad
Kodanad is situated in the high
ranges on the southern bank of the Periyar, and one of the
largest elephant training centres in south India. There is also
a mini zoo for wild animals here.
Chendamangalam
Chendamangalam is a rare geographical combination of three
rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and vast expanses of green
plains. The Paliam Palace, abode of the Paliath Achans,
hereditary Prime Ministers to the erstwhile Maharajas of Kochi,
represents the architectural splendour of Kerala. The Palace
houses a collection of historic documents and relics. The
hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakom presents the unusual sight of a
temple, a church, a mosque and the remains of a Jewish
synagogue, all situated next to each other.
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Malayatoor
Malayatoor is famous for the Catholic Church built on the 609 m
high Malayatoor hill. This hill is dedicated to St. Thomas.
Thousands of devotees visit this shrine to participate in the
annual festival of Malayatoor Perunnal, in the month of March.
St. Thomas is believed to have prayed at this shrine.
Bhoothathankettu
Bhoothathankettu is a picturesque place situated in a vast
virgin forest. This mythologically popular picnic spot lies
close to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekkadu. Two of the
main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district - the Periyar
Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar Irrigation Project
are also located nearby. Trekking to the old Bhoothathankettu
provides excitement to adventure lovers. |
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Thattekkad
Bird Sanctuary
The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is nestled in the evergreen
forests in the Devikulam Taluk district of Ernakulam. This sanctuary was discovered by the renowned
ornithologist of India, Dr. Salim Ali and thus named after him.
About 167 birds were identified by Dr. Salim Ali and 207 birds
by his student, Dr. Sugathan. The Bombay Natural History Society
has identified about 253 species of birds. The sanctuary is
known for the various indigenous birds like the Malabar
grey-hornbill, woodpecker, rose-ringed and blue-winged parakeet,
Indian rollers, cuckoos, common
snipes, crow pheasants, jungle nightjars, kites, grey drongos,
Malabar trongs, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jungle
fowls, Indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers, sunbirds and
darters. etc. Rare birds
like the Ceylon frog-moth, Rose-billed roller,
Crimson-throated
barbets, bee-eaters, shrikes, fairly bluebirds, grey-headed
fishing eagles, black winged kites, night herons, grey hornbills
and Malabar hornbills
can also be seen here. Various migratory birds migrate here
during winter. |
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