With its historic monuments belonging to different eras, the free-flowing water bodies and the lush green forests, Ernakulam, situated in the heart of Kerala, is a major financial and commercial hub of the state.
With the Arabian Sea bordering the city on the west, the Chinese, Dutch, Arabs, Portugese and British seafarers followed this route into this city, leaving behind their indelible marks. The name of the city is derived from the Tamil word ‘Erayanarkulam’, which means the residence of Lord Shiva. Being one of the best natural harbors, the city is termed as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. The city also has many tourist spots that are religious, historical and cultural in nature, attracting visitors from all over.
The best time to visit Ernakulam is between October and March.
Owing to its devotion to Lord Shiva, the city has two temples called Pavakkulam Mahadev temple and Ernakulam Mahadeva temple, which have great significance as per the Hindu mythology and are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The city also has Paliam Dutch Palace and the Hill Palace Museum which are great architectural marvels. The Bhoothathankettu Dam and reserve forest along with the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary gather a lot of visitors who are on a lookout to enjoy nature’s beauty.
The clean beaches and the Chinese fishing nets are major tourist attractions as are the beach sports and beach buggies that a visit to the Puthuvype beach promises. The lighthouse situated close to the beach offers a magnificent view from the top. Ernakulam also has a few churches, which have religious significance from way back in time. A visit to these churches is sure to give you a peaceful time and will leave you feeling positive.
Shopaholics will love this city as well with its range of textiles, jewelry, readymade garments, handicrafts, antiques and authentic spices. Some of the places to buy these products in Enakulam are MG Road, Bazaar Road, Broadway and Jew Town. Don’t forget to bargain for good deals.
The Tourism Week Celebration that takes place in this city in the month of December should not be missed. It brings the various different cultures of city like the food festival, water festival, Gajamela, music concerts and many more.
Ernakulam offers everything from temples and beaches to forests, monuments and churches, to great festivals and shopping spots, giving tourists all they want on a single platter.
The city is well connected and it is easy to commute around the place. Buses run all around the city and make it possible to get from one end to another, auto-rickshaws help to get to those places that buses don’t go to. Auto-rickshaws are much more convenient that buses. Ferries can be used to reach the various destinations and enjoy a ride in and around the city. Prepaid taxi service and rented cars are also available.
On a daily basis there are approximately 165 flights that operate at Cochin International Airport.Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
By road Ernakulam is surrounded by Methala, Cherthala, Thodupuzha which are 19.13 km, 20.19 km, 27.92 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.