Sunday, December 20, 2009

Places of Interest Kochi - Places to See Near Cochin -Kochi Attraction

Cochin or Kochi is commonly referred as Queen of Arabian Sea.
Kochi is one of the principal seaports of the India.
Kochi is the commercial hub of Kerala, and one of the fastest growing second-tier metros in India.
A growing center of shipping industries (Cochin Port Trust), international trade, tourism and information technology.
The residents of Kochi are known as Kochiites.

Here is a list of interesting places around Ernakulam districts.The information given below may not be complete and accurate.
Kodanad
Kodanad is 45 km to the north east of the city of Cochin and 12 km to the east of Perumbavoor town.Kodanad is a beautiful rural riverside village and a popular picnic spot and tourist destination in the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala.Elephant rescue and care centre for central and southern forest region of Kerala is located in Kodanad.                             
Chendamangalam
Chendamangalam is about 42 km from Ernakulam town.It is located in Paravur Taluk of the Ernakulam district of Kerala. It has three rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and large expanses of green plain.
This is considered as a geographical wonder.The Paliam Palace, residence of the Paliath Achans, hereditary Prime Ministers to the former Maharajas of Kochi, is one of the architectural splendours of Kerala.The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakom are unique as the site of a Hindu temple, a Christian church, a mosque and the remains of a Jewish synagogue, all within 1 km of each other.Comprising of three rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and green pastures, Chendamangalam is an amazing little town.

Malayatoor- St.Thomas Shrine

Malayatoor is located around 50 kilometers from Cochin.Malayattoor is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. It is famous for the Catholic Church located on the Malayatoor hill and is dedicated to St. Thomas.St. Thomas the Apostle was the one who took initiative to begin a Christian community in Kerala. He also set up the church here which has been designated by the Vatican as an International Shrine. It is believed that St. Thomas held prayer at this church when he landed in Kerala. The hilltop church is located 10 km away from the Kalady town.
St. Thomas is believed to have landed in Kerala at Kodungallur (Cranganore) in AD 52.
Every year, thousands of worshippers embark on a pilgrimage to the shrine to take part in the annual festival of the Church, which falls during the months of April or May.

Bhoothathankettu
Bhoothathankettu is situated in the village of Pindimana, about 10 km away from the town of Kothamangalam and 50 km away from the main city of Ernakulam.This beautiful patch of unexplored land lies near the famous Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.It is connected to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, where visitors can see different varieties of birds and animals. The Idamalayar reservoir is about 12 km distance from the site.

Cheeyappara Waterfalls
Located between Neriamangalam and Adimali, along the national highway linking Cochin and Madurai.The Cheeyappara Waterfall cascades down in seven steps. This is also a great place for trekking.

Kaladi-The Birth Place of the Great Adi Shakaracharya

Kaladi is located around 35 kilometers from Cochin and is the birthplace of the great Adi Shankararcharya, who was a great philosopher in ancient India. It is said that a crocodile caught hold of his leg and left it only when his family agreed to Shankararcharya's decision to become a saint.Adi Shankara was born in Kalady as the only son of Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Namboothiri couple. Shankara's shrine at Kalady, run by the Sringeri Mutt, is a large, partly open structure situated on the northern bank of the river Periyar.
Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam is an eight-story memorial built by Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt.
To the west of the Sringeri Mutt temple complex is a temple dedicated to Sri Krishna. This temple is known as the ancestral deity of Sree Sankara Acharya.

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary - Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkad Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Kerala.
The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar river. Dr. Salim Ali described Thattekad as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas.

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