KERALA ERNAKULAM

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.

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

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.

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).

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

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.

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.