Tourist spots in Cochin

1.Vasco House, Fort Kochi

Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. This house features European glass paned windows and verandahs.

2.Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi

The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

3.Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town, Mattancherry

The synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry.

4.Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Mattancherry

The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The palace is located in Mattancherry.

5.Bolghatty Palace, Bolghatty Island

This Dutch palace is situated on Bolghatty island which is just a short boat ride away from the mainland. The palace has been converted to a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). The island has a tiny golf course and the panoramic views of the port and the harbour, makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.

6.Hill Palace, Tripunithura

Built in the 19th century by the Raja of Kochi, this palace served as the seat of the Raja of the Kochi province. The palace has been converted into a museum displaying a fine collection of articles showing the wealth and splendor of the Rajas of Kochi, including the thone and the crown. The museum also houses a large collection of archaeological findings. Hill Palace is located 16km east of Cochin in Tripunithura, a satellite town of Cochin.

7.Palliport (Pallipuram) Fort

It is the oldest surviving European fort in India, built by the Portuguese in 1503. Its situated in Pallipuram on Vypeen island.

8.Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Mangalavanam is a protected bird sanctuary situated right in the heart of Kochi city. It is the home of many exotic and rare varieties of migratory and resident birds. Mangalavanam is located right next to the High Court of Kerala. 

9.Museum of Kerala History, Kalamassery

The museum has on display spectacular audio-visual exhibits depicting the history and culture of Kerala along with many life size statues of many famous personalities and several paintings depicting Kerala history.

10.Parikshith Thampuran Museum

This Rajas of Cochin used to conduct their durbars in this impressive building located within the Durbar Hall grounds. It was later converted to a museum which has a treasure trove of archaeological findings and relics including old coins, sculptures, oil paintings and murals. The building has been taken over by the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy and now houses the Gallery of Contemporary Art. All the exhibits of the museum have been moved to the Hill Palace museum.

11.Cherai Beach

This lovely beach ideal for swimming is located on the north end of Vypeen island, one of the many small islands just off the mainland. The beach is lined by gorgeous coconut groves and paddy fields. Vypeen can be reached by land or by boat.

12.Veega Land 

Veega Land is South India's largest amusement park situated 14kms from Cochin. The park includes a range of attractions including mini castles, water theme park, ferris wheel, rides, slides, shows and fountains. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the fun and activities.

13.Marine Drive

A stroll along the long tree-lined coastal pathway that lines the backwater is well worth the time spent, especially late afternoon or dusk. The bustling backwaters, dotted with fishing boats, speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats, can be observed from this walkway that lines the coast. 

14.Willingdon Island

This man-made island was created in 1933 by sand dredged while deepening the backwaters for the Cochin Port, under the direction of Sir Robert Bristow. A while back the Airport, Sea port and the railway terminus (Cochin Harbour Terminus) were situated on this island. Today, it is the home of the Cochin Port and the headquarters of the Sourthern Naval Command. The airport continues to be the naval air station, while the main airport has been moved to Nedumbassery, 30kms north-east of Cochin. Most of the trains now terminate at Ernakulam Junction instead of Cochin Harbour Terminus.

15.Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor

The Nehru stadium in Kaloor, has a seating capacity of 60,000 in multiple tiers. It is the fourth largest stadium in India and the largest in Kerala. The ground is lit by a set of unique convex pylon floodlights that arch over the ground. The stadium is home to both the Kerala Ranji cricket team as well as FC Kochi football team.

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Tourist spots in Cochin

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi

It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.

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Tourist spots in Cochin

Fort Kochi beach

A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. The coastal stretch has loads of small stalls, which make on demand mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish.

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Tourist spots in Cochin

Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi

The chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.

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Tourist spots in Cochin

Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi. Adjacent to this is Mattancherry. In 1967, these three municipalities, along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Corporation of Cochin

Kochi was a fishing village in the Kingdom of Kochi in the pre-colonial Kerala. The territory that would be later known as Fort Kochi was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi, after the forces of Afonso de Albuquerque helped him fighting the forces of Saamoothiri of Kozhikode. The Rajah also gave them permission to build a fort near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name Fort Kochi comes from this fort, Fort Emmanuel, which was later destroyed by the Dutch. The Portuguese built their settlement behind the fort. They also built a wooden church, which was rebuilt in 1516 as a permanent structure, today known as the St Francis Church. Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession for 160 years. In 1683 the Dutch captured the territory from the Portuguese, destroyed many Portuguese institutions, particularly Catholic including convents. The Dutch held Fort Kochi in their possession for 112 years until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch. Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947 with the Indian independence.

A mix of old houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in these colonial periods line the streets of Fort Kochi. St Francis Church was built in 1503 by the Portuguese as a Catholic church. Vasco da Gama was once buried in this church which now falls under the Church of South India and is one of the national monuments. Santa Cruz Basilica, also built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, was later destroyed by the British and rebuilt near the end of 19th century.[citation needed] The landmark that causes more public and visitor interest is a series of pre-colonial Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront, believed to have been introduced by Chinese traders in the early 14th century.

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Munnar

Munnar (Malayalam: മുന്നാര്‍ ) is one of the most popular hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki district. The name Munnar is believed to be derived from the local words Munu (three) and aaru (river), referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 120 km by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 110 km away.

Most residents of Munnar are employed in the tea industry, or are involved in the tourism business. In 2000, the Government of Kerala declared Munnar as a tourist spot. This has helped in attracting more tourists to this beautiful hill resort. Several protected wildlife areas and the regions attractive climate area attract many tourists who support the many hotels, restaurants and transport businesses in Munnar and constitute an important, if seasonal, mainstay for its economy. Besides hotels, Munnar also has fantastic options for alternative non-hotel stays like homestays, guest houses and independent villas.

Some Tourism places in Munnar 

1.Eravikulam National Park

Located about 12 km from Munnar, The Park holds the largest viable population of the endangered (IUCN) Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius). Spread over an area of 97 km2., this park is also home to several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. A great place for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also the rolling hills caressed by blankets of mists. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes here get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant endemic to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years. The last time it bloomed was in 2006.

2.Anamudi Peak

Situated about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Munnar town, Anamudi (2,695 metres (8,842 ft)) is Kerala's highest mountain and the highest Indian mountain south of the Himalayan range. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam.

3.Mattupetty

Another place of interest, located about 13 km from Munnar Town, is Mattupetty. Lying at a height of 1700 m above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the lake, which offers boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the surrounding hills and landscape. Mattupetty's fame is also attributed to the dairy farm run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, where one would come across different high yielding breeds of cows. Mattupetty with its lush green tea plantations, rolling grasslands and the Shola forests is also ideal for trekking and is home to a variety of birds

4.Pallivasal

Pallivasal, located at about 3 km from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the venue of the first hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot.

5.Chinnakanal

Near the town of Munnar is Chinnakanal and the waterfalls here, popularly known as Power House Waterfalls, cascade down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic view of the Western Ghat ranges.

6.Anayirangal

When you have traveled about seven kilometers from Chinnakanal, you reach Anayirangal. Anayirangal, 22 km from Munnar, is a lush green carpet of tea plants. A trip on the splendid reservoir is an unforgettable experience. The Anayirangal dam is surrounded by tea plantations and evergreen forests.

7.Rajamalai

Rajamala is a wildlife sanctuary located about 15 km from Munnar. It is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, a rare Mountain goat. Half the world population of this rare species is concentrated in this region. The animal is fast becoming extinct. The total number of Nilgiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated at 1317. This sanctuary is part of the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, and visitors are allowed to certain tourism areas in the Rajamala region.

8.Echo Point

Echo Point is another scenic place which is located 15 km from Munnar. It is on the way to Top Station. This place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here.

9.Top Station

Top Station, which is about 27 km from Munnar is at a height of 1900 m above sea level. Travelers to Munnar make it a point to visit Top Station to enjoy the panoramic view surrounding areas. It is one of the spots in Munnar to enjoy the Neelakurunji flowers blooming over a vast area.

10.Tea Museum

Munnar has a legacy of its own when to comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. Taking account of this legacy and to preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects on the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's high ranges, a museum exclusively for tea was opened some years ago by Tata Tea in Munnar. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs and machineries; all of which have a story to tell on the origins and growth of tea plantation in Munnar. The museum is located at the Nallathanni Estate of KDHP Co(P) Ltd in Munnar and is worth a visit.

11.CSI Church

CSI Church built on 1910. Church is made of rock without any plaster during the British rule in India.

12.Flora and fauna

Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east. These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Thar, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant, the Gaur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years).

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Houseboat

Kerala Houseboats (Riceboats) or kettuvallam are country boats that were used in the early days for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages of Kerala Backwater area to the towns like Alleppey, Kollam, Cochin and Kottayam. With the advent of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now these kettuvalloms are back again as a major tourist attraction as a modern moving boat house that is kerala houseboats . kerala houseboats size vary from, about to 95 feet feet in length and a width of around 13 feet to in the middle for one bedroom houseboat and , big houseboats with up 107 feet long and up to 19 feet wide. The materials that go into the making are all local and Eco friendly bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, coir carpets etc. The main wood used is "Anjili".

Kerala house boats have fully furnished single double triple and five bedrooms with sundeck, private balcony with comfortable chairs, kitchen and toilet with WC. In addition there is also separate rest room.

houseboats in Kerala have a three member crew - a chef, driver & cabin assistants. The cuisine is traditional Kerala flavor with the local specialties; delicious local fish. There are single bedroom houseboats for two people and two bedroom houseboats for four people.and 3 bedroom houseboat for 6 , and 5 bedroom houseboat for 10 People.

The spectacular beauty of Kerala's backwaters needs no introduction. A Kerala Houseboats cruise along the palm-fringed waterways of Kerala in luxury houseboats is the most enchanting holiday experience in India today. In this world of simple pleasures, you will skim past ancient Chinese fishing nets, water lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples and coconut groves. A guided tour down the backwaters would provide you with a complete and most enchanting experience on the back waters of Kerala and will also reveal to you some interesting facts about the life of local village people. This month's lens view takes you to the backwater stretch of the Vembanad, where one can go for a leisurely cruise on a multi deck boat, allowing you enjoy the scenic backwater life.

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Dharmadam

Dharmadam beach is on the island with the same name. . Located 17 km from Kannur town, the beach has a five acre stretch of coconut palms and green bushes.Permission is required to enter this privately owned island .

How to reach there

The nearest airport to Kannur is at Karipur in Kozhikode, 95 km away. Kannur railway station is linked to major towns within the state as well as the country as are the roads.

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Muzhuppilangad

Muzhappilangad Beach with its shallow waters makes it ideal for swimmers. Just 15 km from Kannur and 8 km from Thalassery, the beach is bordered by black rocks, which protects it. It is Kerala's only drive in beach where you can drive for a full four km, from Kannur to Tellicherry. The enchanting ambience of the beautiful Muzhappilangad beach invites one to swim, sunbathe, or just laze around. From Muzhappilangad, one can view the Dharmadam Island or the Green Island.

Reaching Muzhappilangad: The nearest airport to Kannur is at Karipur in Kozhikode, 95 km away. Kannur railway station is linked to major towns within the state as well as the country as are the roads.

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Kannur Fort

Kannur also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore(Land of lord Krishna), which is still in fairly common usage. Kannur is the 6th largest city in Kerala, after Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode Thrissur and Kollam. It is the largest city of North Malabar region. Kannur Municipality was established in 1867 and is one of the oldest municipalities in Kerala.

Kannur is one of the Million Plus urban agglomerations in India with a population of 1,642,892 in 2011.[3] Kannur is known as the Land of Looms and Lores, because of the loom industries functioning in the district and ritualistic folk arts held in temples. Kannur is famous for its pristine beaches; Theyyam, its native performing art, and its handloom industry.

Kannur is of great strategic military importance. It houses one of the 62 military cantonments in the country, the Kannur Cantonment, and is the current headquarters of the Defence Security Corps and Territorial Army’s 122 Infantry Battalion(under Madras Regiment). Ezhimala Naval Academy(INS) which is situated 35 km north of Kannur City and 10 km south west of Payyanur, a city in Kannur District. It is the Asia's largest and world's third largest naval academy. An Indian Coast Guard Academy is approved to be built at Kannur. This Coast Guard Academy will be built on the banks of Valapattanam River at Irinave, east of Azhikkal. Kannur Cantonment is also one of the important cantonments in India.

According to the data compiled by the research firm Indicus Analytics, Kannur is one of the ten best cities in India to live. The parameters set by this firm are in the field of health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment.

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Thalasserry Fort

Thalaserry fort, located at a distance of 22 kms from Kannur constructed in 1708 AD was the military centre of the British.In 1708 AD, when the British East India Company established its settlement on the Malabar Coast, they built the Thalaserry Fort, as a testimonial to their colonial imperialism.

The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalaserry's development.

It is now a historical monument. The Sports Authority Of India Gymnastic Centre, an old Muslim mosque, the Jagannatha Temple and Thiruvangadi Sree Rama Swami temple are other attractions nearby.

General Information

Location

22 Kms From Kannur, Kerala.

Origin

1708 AD.

Main Attraction

Jagannatha Temple, Thiruvadi Sree Rama Swami Temple.

Built By

British 

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Kuruvadweep

Kuruvadweep is a 950-acre (3.8 km2) protected river delta on the Kabini River in the Wayanad district, Kerala, India.

This island of dense and evergreen forest is uninhabited and hence a home to rare kinds of flora and fauna: uncommon species of birds, orchids and herbs namely. Its unique geographical characteristics make it a place where not only the leaves but also silence is evergreen being away from cities and thus it has become a place of attraction. Most recently, it has been identified as the most visited place in the district by tourists drawn from all over the globe.

The island surrounded by streams and river can be accessed using rafts or fiber boats run by Kerala Tourism Department. Entrance to the island is restricted and monitored by Vana Samrakshana Samiti, a Dept of Forest of Kerala initiative to protect forest, and at times of heavy rain and frequency of elephants and other animals to the island a pass obtained prior to the visit of spot from Dept of Forest is mandatory.

Kuruva Islands is 17 km east of Mananthavady and 40 km north west of Sulthan Bathery, nearby towns in Wayanad District. More details can be sought in district office of Department of Tourism, Wayanad in Kalpetta.

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Pookkot Lake

Pookode Lake is a scenic lake in Wayanad district, Kerala, South India. The lake is surrounded by forests, and boating is allowed. Recent commercial modernisations have removed some of its wilderness charms.

There is a Sree Narayana Ashram near the lake, surrounded by flowering trees and their shades. There was a gallery of painting and sculptures.Now there is only a building there.There is a handicrafts shop near the lake owned by 'Uravu'.From there you can buy variety of household items made of natural materials. cost is a little bit high but the products have good quality.Of them, you can see a rain instrument made of bamboo when tilted raining sound is produced.There are lot of curious items made of bamboo and coconut husk.Herbal medicines, Tribal medicines and spices are also available. you would love to see groups of beautiful Blue water lilly flowers scattered here and there in the lake.Boats are available for rent but visitors are not allowed to touch lilly flowers while boating. Visitors may walk around the lake. There is a children's park and garden nearby.

How to reach there

Visitors coming from Kozhikode should take left deviation from Talippuzha near vythiri .Sign board is there to guide you. Kalpetta is 13 km distant from vythiri. You can pay 50 INR and take a pedal boat for 20 minute ride. Mornings are very beautiful at the lake.

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Arakkal Kettu

Arakkal Kettu, the residence of the former Arakkal Ali Rajas, the only Muslim royal family of Kerala is located 3 km from Kannur town

Kizhunna Ezhara Beach:This beautiful stretch of sand is one of the most secluded beaches located 11 km from Kannur town in Kerala.

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Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is the best place to see the several species of birds at a time. With more than hundred species of inhabitant birds and approx 60 species of migratory birds this sanctuary is rather the 'heaven of the birds'.

Location:

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is situated in Malappuram district of Southern Indian state of Kerala and at a short distance of 19 km from Kozhikode district. The splendid sanctuary is spread over an area of 3 km, which accommodate several islands. The surroundings of the sanctuary make this place one of the most visited tourists spots. Set at an elevation of 200 m above the sea level, abound by the magnificent little hills, the sanctuary provides the heaven like surroundings. The adjacent splendid Kadulundipuzha river, which flows into the Arabian Sea, adds thousand moons to the beauty of the place.

Fauna:

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is enchanted by over hundred of native birds and it provides shelter to more than 60 species of migratory birds every year. The most famous species of birds, that you may find are � Malabar horn-bills, darters, kingfishers, terns, gulls, sandpipers, cormorants, darters, plovers, brahminy kites, whimbrels, herons, woodpeckers, black bulbul, jungle fowl, peafowl, myna, laughing thrush, egrets etc.

Apart from birds, here you may also find a large varieties of fish, turtles, mussels and crabs. During your trip be more cautious, because you may even meet the several species of snacks, such as cobra, krait and viper.

Some Important Informations

Nearest Railway Station

Kozhikode (19 km from Kadalundi)

Nearest Airport

Karipur International Airport.

By Road

The sanctuary is well connencted via road from Thekkacly, Madurai, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuran

Best Time

Between November to April. 

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Chennamangalam Synagogue

The Jewish community who stayed in India long ago had built many buildings that made their presence felt. One of the landmarks of the Jews is the Synagogue which is a place to worship. The Jews who had settled in Kerala had constructed various such Synagogues. Chennamangalam synagogue located in Chennamangalam village was built by the Portuguese in the year 1614. This building is an example of Kerala architecture together with Western technologies. There is an altar which is very attractive and is an example of complex artwork. The roof is at a great height and the craftsmen would have taken great effort in order to fix it. The roof is supported by wooden beams and is also colored with certain patterns. Another interesting feature of this synagogue is the wooden balcony that has beautifully carved railings. The staircase is made of wood and is spiral in shape. It goes to a balcony that is meant especially for women.

Nearby to this synagogue lie temple, mosque as well as church. It is a clear example of the religious tolerance of the people in this area as they live here in complete harmony. With the help of the Archaeological Department and funds from Kerala Tourism, this synagogue was recently renovated without destroying the original monument. The cracks in the wall were repaired. The termite attacked wooden beams; floors etc were replaced with new ones. It is considered as a protected monument by the Archaeological department. The restoration work was completed in the year 2005.

How to Reach    

District                 : Ernakulam

Nearest Bus Station : Ernakulam bus station

Nearest Railway Station : Ernakulam railway station

Nearest Airport : Cochin International Airport

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