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Tourist Attractions in Ernakulam |
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Tourist Attractions in Ernakulam
The main tourist attractions in Ernakulam are Hill Palace
Museum, Madhavan Nayar Foundation, Kaladi, Kodanad,
Chendamangalam, Malayatoor, Bhoothathankettu and Thattekkad
Bird Sanctuary. |
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Hill
Palace Museum
The Hill Palace was the official residence of the royal
family of Kochi and built in 1865. This palace is
located on the Ernakulam-Chottanikkara route, about 10
km from Ernakulam. The palace complex consists of 49
buildings built in the traditional |
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Kerala style of architecture and surrounded by
52 acres of terraced land with a deer park and facilities for
horse riding. A full-fledged Ethno-archaeological Museum and
the Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum are the main
attraction of the palace. The Hill Palace museum is the
largest museum of archaeological remain in Kerala. Rare coins,
manuscripts, sculptures of stone and Plaster of Paris, oil
paintings, 19th century paintings, murals and inscriptions of
the royal Kochi family can be seen in this museum. |
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Madhavan Nayar Foundation
Madhavan nayar Foundation is only 8 km from Ernakulam, at
Edappally. The Foundation houses the Museum of Kerala History
and its Makers. The museum showcases the historical episodes
from the neolithic to the modern era through life size
figures. There is also a gallery of paintings and sculptures,
that displays over 200 original works by contemporary Indian
artists. The centre for visual arts has a collection of the
authentic reproduction of selected world masters and larger
than life mural reproductions of Indian art.
Kaladi
Kaladi is the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, the great
Advaita philosopher of the 8th century. The temples dedicated
to Sri Shankaracharya, Sharada Devi, Sri Krishna and Sri
Ramkrishna are also located here. A place called Crocodile
Ghat is also situated here where Sri Shankaracharya took his
vows of renunciation. According to the legend, a crocodile
caught hold of him and refused to release him until Shri
Shankaracharya's mother Aryamba permitted him to accept Sanyas
(renunciation). |
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Kodanad
Kodanad is situated in the high ranges on the southern
bank of the Periyar, and one of the largest elephant
training centres in south India. There is also a mini
zoo for wild animals here.
Chendamangalam
Chendamangalam is a rare |
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geographical combination of three rivers, seven inlets,
hillocks and vast expanses of green plains. The Paliam Palace,
abode of the Paliath Achans, hereditary Prime Ministers to the
erstwhile Maharajas of Kochi, represents the architectural
splendour of Kerala. The Palace houses a collection of
historic documents and relics. The hillocks at Kottayil
Kovilakom presents the unusual sight of a temple, a church, a
mosque and the remains of a Jewish synagogue, all situated
next to each other. |
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Malayatoor
Malayatoor is famous for the Catholic Church built on the 609
m high Malayatoor hill. This hill is dedicated to St. Thomas.
Thousands of devotees visit this shrine to participate in the
annual festival of Malayatoor Perunnal, in the month of March.
St. Thomas is believed to have prayed at this shrine.
Bhoothathankettu
Bhoothathankettu is a picturesque place situated in a vast
virgin forest. This mythologically popular picnic spot lies
close to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekkadu. Two of
the main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district - the
Periyar Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar
Irrigation Project are also located nearby. Trekking to the
old Bhoothathankettu provides excitement to adventure lovers.
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is nestled in the evergreen
forests in the Devikulam Taluk district of Ernakulam. This
sanctuary was discovered by the renowned ornithologist of
India, Dr. Salim Ali and thus named after him. About 167 birds
were identified by Dr. Salim Ali and 207 birds by his student,
Dr. Sugathan. The Bombay Natural History Society has
identified about 253 species of birds. The sanctuary is known
for the various indigenous birds like the Malabar
grey-hornbill, woodpecker, rose-ringed and blue-winged
parakeet, Indian rollers, cuckoos, common snipes, crow
pheasants, jungle nightjars, kites, grey drongos, Malabar
trongs, large pied wagtails, baya sparrows, grey jungle fowls,
Indian hill mynas, robins, jungle babblers, sunbirds and
darters. etc. Rare birds like the Ceylon frog-moth,
Rose-billed roller, Crimson-throated barbets, bee-eaters,
shrikes, fairly bluebirds, grey-headed fishing eagles, black
winged kites, night herons, grey hornbills and Malabar
hornbills can also be seen here. Various migratory birds
migrate here during winter. |
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