Ernakulam district

Thrikkakara Temple-one of the few temples in India and only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Vamana

Chottanikkara Temple

Hindus (45.99) accounts for the largest community, followed by Christians (38.03) and Muslims (15.67). A small population of Jains, Jews and Sikhs are also residing in Kochi.[13] Also, Ernakulam district has the largest Christian population in India. It is also houses the headquarters of Jacobite Syrian Church, at Puthencruz and also Syro Malabar Church, at Kakkanad.

Ernakulam also has a significant Konkani Hindus who escaped from Goa during the Goa Inquisition.[14] There is a small Jain community in Ernakulam district, concentrated mainly in the Kochi city.[15] The Sikh Community in Ernakulam district is also concentrated mainly in Cochin.They are called Cochin Sikhs.There are more than 25 Sikh families in Kochi and there is one Gurdwara[16]

The district is divided into three well-defined parts – lowland, midland and the highland consisting of seaboard, plains and the hills and forests respectively. 20 percent of the total area is low land region. The midland consists mainly of plain land and group of islands having natural facilities of drainage via backwaters and canals. The hilly or eastern portion is formed by a section of Western Ghats. Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks which were initially parts of Kottayam district can be called the highlands. Muvattupuzhayar and Periyar are the main rivers of which the latter flows through Muvattupuzha, Aluva, Kunnathunad and Parur taluks. During rainy season these rivers are full and heavy floods affect the low-lying areas on the banks, but in the summer season they generally go dry and narrow. The Periyar is stretched over a length of 229 km.

The eastern part of the district is primarily agrarian in nature. Rice is the principal crop cultivated in the wet lands. The area under paddy cultivation in the district has been decreasing steadily over the past 3 decades. Ernakulam district is the largest producer of nutmeg and pineapple in the state. The area under nutmeg cultivation is showing an upward trend continuously. More than 55% of the total pineapple produced in the state is cultivated in the district. Pineapple is largely cultivated in Muvattupuzha and Vazhakulam. Rubber is the most cultivated plantation crop in the district and the district is the second largest producer of rubber in the state behind Kottayam. The other important crops cultivated in the district are Tapioca, Black pepper, Arecanut, Coconut, Turmeric, Banana and Plantain.

Cochin Jewish Synagogue

St. Francis Church

Chinese Net Bridge at Marine Drive walkway

The old Dutch cemetery in Kochi

Hill Palace, Tripunithura

High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam

Heritage Building of Ernakulam District Court

The district has the most number of taluks in the state. District is divided by two revenue divisions with 7 taluks.

• Paravur
• Aluva
• Kunnathunad
• Muvattupuzha
• Kochi
• Kanayannur
• Kothamangalam

Kochi

Ernakulam district has the most number of municipalities in the state.

• North Paravur
• Piravom
• Muvattupuzha
• Koothattukulam
• Perumbavoor
• Aluva
• Angamaly
• Thripunithura
• Kalamassery
• Kothamangalam
• Eloor
• Maradu
• Thrikkakara

• Ernakulam Parliamentary Constituency
• Chalakudy Parliamentary Constituency (partially)
• Idukki Parliamentary Constituency (parts of Muvattupuzha taluk and Kothamangalam taluk)
• Kottayam Parliamentary Constituency (parts of Muvattupuzha taluk and Kanayannur taluk)

• Piravom
• Angamaly
• Aluva
• Kalamassery
• North Paravur
• Vypeen
• Kochi
• Ernakulam
• Thrikkakara
• Thripunithura
• Perumbavoor
• Kunnathunad
• Moovattupuzha
• Kothamangalam

Ernakulam district has got the maximum number of vehicles in the state. Ernakulam district has excellent road connectivity. The 3 major national highways passing through Ernakulam District are the Cochin-Mumbai Highway (NH 66), Salem-Kanyakumari (NH 47 part of NSEW corridor) and Cochin-Dhanushkodi highway (NH 49).

Ernakulam district has 17 railway stations. The Ernakulam Junction , Ernakulam Town and Aluva are the major stations. The other stations are Angamaly, Thripunithura, Edapally, Mulamthuruthy, Cochin Harbour Terminus, Karakutty, Chowara, Kalamassery, Nettoor, Kumbalam, Mattancherry H., Chottanikkara road and Piravom road. The railroutes are via Thrissur, Kottayam, Cochin H.T., Alappuzha and Vallarpadam. The Angamaly-Erumely Sabarimala route passes through the district. Kochi Metro urban rail system runs in the city.

Ernakulam district has two airports, Naval airport in W.island(Old Cochin airport) and Cochin International Airport(CIAL). CIAL is the fourth largest airport in the country after Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai having International passengers. Currently flights are operating to the Persian Gulf region, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, Israel and to major cities in India

Ernakulam district lies in the flat delta region of the Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers. Water transport is prominent in the district through rivers and lagoons. The major boat services are in Ernakulam area and other areas having small ferry services. The district boasts of having the largest port in the west coast of the country: the Cochin port, which is also the reason for large scale developments in the district. Now a new International port is completed in Vallarpadam which will boost the developments in the district further.

The famous Aluva Sivarathri festival at the Aluva Mahadeva Temple (situated on the banks of river Periyar) in Aluva attracts people from around the country. There are many old Siva temples in Ernakulam. In Sanskrit "Siva" means kalyan (good wishes, doing good and taking care of all).

Rajadhiraja St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Piravom is believed to be founded in 405 A.D. and was the headquarters of Archdeacon and St Thomas Christian till 18th century.

Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kalady town of the district, which is considered as a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus around the world.

Kallil Kshethram is a famous Jain temple near Perumbavoor.

Puthencruz near is the regional seat of Syriac Orthodox Church in India. The world-famous Christian pilgrim centre at Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor is in this district. The festival here lasts for 10 days in April.

The eight-day lent (Ettunombu) fest at St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally, Thamarachal is a very famous religious event in Ernakulam. It attracts tens of thousands from all over the state. St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church at Kadamattam near Muvattupuzha is very old and was founded by Mar Abo Syrian Metropolitan in the 5th century A.D. He brought a cross from Persia, which is preserved in the church. The festival at the Latin church of Vallarpadam on 24 September attracts people belonging to all religions. The icon of Virgin Mary in this church is credited with many miracles. St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally was founded in 593 A.D. St. Antony’s church at Kannamaly is famous for the Feast of St. Joseph on 19 March where a large number of people are fed.

Celebrating the full moon day has two purposes. For the beginning of field cropping with prayers and some puja. On this day women of India generally having fasting of full day and pray for her brothers, father, husband and Nation.

Three important pilgrim places in Ernakulam are Koonan Kurish St George Orthodox Pilgrim church at Mattancherry, Vadakken Paravoor St Thomas Catholic church Founded By St Thomas in AD56, Malayattoor Pally, Mor Thoman Jacobite Church (Cheriapally) Kothamangalam and Thrikkunnathu St Mary's Seminary Church, Aluva. The relics of Gregorios Abdul Jaleel are preserved at the St. Thomas Jacobite church North Paravur. Thousands of pilgrims from Kerala culminate on 27 April for the Dhukrono of the Saint. Feast of Eldho Mor Baselios is celebrated in the tomb church Mor Thoman Church (Cheriapally) at Kothamangalam with spiritual grandeur every year on 2 and 3 October. Nearly a million pilgrims from Kerala attend the feast. The Feast of Paulose Mar Athanasius on 26 January at Thrikkunnathu St Mary's Seminary Church, Aluva, where he is entombed, also attracts thousands.

Other Famous Churches are St George Jacobite Church at Kadamattom, St Mary's Church at Nadamel near Thripunithura, Karingachira St George Syrian Orthodox Church, St Peter's & St Paul's Jacobite Church, Kolenchery, are the pilgrim centres of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala, also known as Parumala Thirumeni, the first saint of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church from India was born and brought up in Mulanthuruthy .

• Marine Drive, Kochi: Enjoy a scenic view of the sea and the Cochin Port. Shopping can be done at the GCDA shopping centre. Two spectacular bridges have also been built along the shore. Boat rides are available.
• Cochin Jewish Synagogue: Constructed in 1567, oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations
• Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheena Vala): can be seen at Fort Cochin.
• Hill Palace Museum: at Tripunithura. Paintings, epigraphy, furnitures of the royal family etc. are displayed.
• Bolgatty Island: has a palace built by the Dutch in 1744, and a golf course.
• Willingdon Island: Formed from the sand deposited when Cochin Port was deepened, Willingdon Island has a naval base, a railway terminus, a port, and customs offices.
• Dutch Palace: Made in 1568 by the Portuguese. Later re-structured by the Dutch.
• St. Francis Church, Kochi: Originally built in 1503, the oldest European church in India
• Kodanad: Elephant training centre is located here.
• Pareekshit Thampuran Museum, a museum with memories of 19th century.
• Kerala Historical Museum: Located at Edappally, on the Aluva–Ernakulam road.
• Chendamangalam, a village that is the location of the Paliam palace, Vypeenakotta Seminary, and is also remarkable for having a Hindu Temple, Synagogue, Church, and Mosque, all within one kilometre of each other.
• Bhoothathankettu, a scenic dam site with boating facilities is situated in a vast virgin forest.
• St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor: The only international shrine in Asia. Also believed to have been visited by St. Thomas, the apostle.
• Wonder La, Kakkanad: Amusement park located at Pallikkara near Kakkanad
• Cherai Beach.
• Kuzhippilly Beach
• Fort Kochi Beach
• Paniyeli Poru
• Ezhattumugham:

Mangalavanam

Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is located at the centre of the Kochi city.It covers about 2.74 hectares.[19] It supports many species of mangroves and is a nesting ground for a variety of migratory birds.The Managalavanam is called the "green lung of Kochi",[20] considering its role in keeping the city's air pollution.[21]

The Grey hornbill

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary lies on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary is about 25 km² (10 sq mi). The bird sanctuary is the first of its kind in Kerala and is famous for its variety of bird species. The renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali and his efforts are behind the formation of this sanctuary. This sanctuary is 80 km. from Cochin. Important birds found here include falcon, jungle fowl, water hen, hornbill etc. The flora of this area consists mainly of plantations of teak, rosewood, mahogany etc.