Ernakulam, lovingly termed as the center of Kerala is a collections of Islands and narrow peninsulas. This beautiful town is very famous and most commercial place in Kochi in Kerala. This district in Kerala is the highest revenue yielding district, thus this district in Cochin is known as the commercial capital of Kerala. This beautiful town in Cochin is located on the coast of Arabian Sea, beautifully bounded by the amazing destinations like Thrissur, Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha.
About Ernakulam Backwaters in Kerala :
Ernakulam is just about the center of Kerala. It is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas. Ernakulam is the commercial centre and forms the main land. The commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Kochi, in Ernakulam, is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Ernakulam is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea with Kottayam and Alappuzha districts on the south, Idukki on the east and Thrissur on the north. The Backwaters extend east and south of the harbour and contain tiny islands formed naturally over a long time by alluvial deposits from the rivers that empty into them.
Tourist Attractions at Ernakulam Backwaters :
There are several tourist attractions in Ernakulam to that you can see when you travel to Ernakulam Kerala. Pierce Leslie Bungalow is a lovely mansion and was once the office of Pierce Leslie & Co., the coffee merchants. The bungalow features Portuguese, Dutch and local architectural influences. Samuel S. Koder of the Cochin Electric Company built the Koder House in 1808 AD. The building is a perfect specimen of the transition from the Colonial to Indo-European architecture. Santa Cruz Basilica is the historic church built by the Portuguese. Pope Paul IV elevated it to a Cathedral in 1558 AD. The British demolished the church in 1795 AD when they took over Kochi. Bishop Dom Gomez Ferreira ordered the construction of a new building at the same site in 1887 AD. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the church a Basilica in 1984, which you can visit when you travel to Ernakulam Kerala.
Flora & Fauna :
The flora of this district is tropical. The heavy rainfall combined with moderate temperature and fertile soil support a luxuriant vegetation. Many of the common plants are found in the coastal area which forms the low land region. Coconut is extensively cultivated here. The midland region is mainly occupied by coconut palms, paddy, plantain, tapioca, sugarcane, pepper and pulses are also cultivated here.
Population :
The population is 3,098,378. The decadel growth rate was 9.09 (1991-2001). The traditional feudal society of this district has now almost disappeared. A few decades ago the Hindu like Brahmins, the Kshathiriyas and the Nairs held a dominant position in the society. The progress of education, the spread of liberal ideas, the growing political consciousness among the lower classes, their increasing participation in Government service, the introduction of adult franchise, the growth of industrialisation and the dawn of democratic form of Government have contributed to the new social set up.
Fairs & Festivals :
All communities celebrate their festivals generally during the months of February and March the duration of which ranges from one day to ten days.
How to Reach :
By Air: The nearest airport t Ernakulam is at Karipur, Kozhikode at a distance of 93 km.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kannur Railway Station, which is an important railhead of the Southern Railways.
By Road: Ernakulam is well connected with major cities of Kerala and neighboring states by State as well as Private Bus and Taxi services.
Altitude: Sea level
Area: 1414.00 sq. km
Temperature: (Mean Max, Mean Min) Summer 35 deg C Winter 32 deg C, 20 deg C
Rainfall Annual: 299 cm
Best time to visit: August to March
Clothing: Tropical cottons
Languages spoken: Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English
Boundary: Arabian Sea on the west