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Ernakulam district

Ernakulam, IPA: [erɐɳɐːguɭɐm]; ISO: Eṟaṇākuḷaṁ, in Malayalam: എറണാകുളം), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, that takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi. It is situated in the central part of the state, spans an area of about 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi), and is home to over 9% of Kerala's population. Its headquarters are located at Kakkanad. The district includes Kochi, also known as the commercial capital of Kerala, which is famous for its ancient Churches, Hindu temples, synagogues and mosques. The district includes the largest metropolitan region of the state: Greater Cochin. Ernakulam is the district that yields the most revenue and the largest number of industries in the state.[4] Ernakulam is the third most populous district in Kerala, after Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram (out of 14 districts).[5] The district also hosts the highest number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala state.

Ernakulam district
Ernakulam District
Location in Kerala
Coordinates: 10°00′N 76°20′E / 10.00°N 76.33°E / 10.00; 76.33Coordinates: 10°00′N 76°20′E / 10.00°N 76.33°E / 10.00; 76.33
Country India
StateKerala
Named forRishinagakulam[citation needed]
HeadquartersKakkanad, Kochi
Government
 • CollectorDr. N.S.K. Umesh , IAS
 • Commissioner & IG (Kochi)C. Nagaraju, IPS
 • S.P (Ernakulam Rural)K.Karthik, IPS
 • DFOA. Renjan, IFS
Area
 • Total2,407 km2 (929 sq mi)
 • Rank4
Population
 (2018)
 • Total3,427,659[1]
 • Density1,119/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KL-KO, IN-KL
Vehicle registration
HDI (2005)0.801[3]
very high
Websiteernakulam.nic.in
Inchathotty Bridge near Kothamangalam

The most commonly spoken language in Ernakulam is Malayalam. English is widely used, mostly in business circles. Ernakulam became India's first district to have 100 percent banking or full "meaningful financial inclusion" in 2012.[6][7]

Ernakulam has a high Human Development Index of 0.801 (UNHDP report 2005), which is one of the highest in India.[8]

History

 
Rama Varma XV at the Delhi Durbar of 1903.

Ernakulam has played a part in the political history of south India since ancient times. The Jews, Syrians, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British, and Portuguese seafarers followed the sea route to the Kingdom of Cochin and left their impressions on the town. The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.[9] In 1664, the municipality of Fort Kochi was established by Dutch Malabar, making it the first municipality in Indian subcontinent, which got dissolved when the Dutch authority got weaker in 18th century.[10] In 1896, the Maharaja of Cochin initiated local administration by forming a town council in Ernakulam. Initially, The district's headquarters were located in the portion of the city known as Ernakulam, which gave the district its name; the headquarters was relocated afterwards to Kakkanad.

In the year 1998, Kuttampuzha village was added to the district from Idukki district following which the district got a political boundary with neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. There is no interstate road that connects the district with the neighbouring state through this border.

Geography

The Ernakulam district covers an area of 3,068 km2 (1,185 sq mi) on the Western Coastal Plains of India. It is surrounded by the Thrissur District to the north, the Idukki District to the east, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts to the south and the Laccadive Sea to the west. The Anamalais occupy a large part of the district, consisting of the forest areas around Pooyamkutty and the Idamalayar Dam. The range also extends into Thrissur, Palakkad, and Idukki districts, as well as Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu. The district is divided geographically into highland, midland, and coastal area. The altitude of the highlands is about 300 m (980 ft). The Periyar River, Kerala's longest, flows through all the taluks except Muvattupuzha. The Muvattupuzha River and a branch of the Chalakkudy River also flow through the district. The average yearly rainfall in the district is 3,432 mm (135.1 in). The district has a moderate climate and mostly falls within the Malabar Coast moist forests ecoregion, while the highlands are part of the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion. The Anamudi is the tallest peak in South India, on the border of Ernakulam and Idukki districts. Some parts of the Idamalayar Reserve Forest and Mankulam Forest Division have Sholas but these parts are inaccessible by road. The Idamalayar Reserve Forest, and Edamalakkudy. Many types of sand, soil, and rocks are abundant here. Cochin International Airport is located in the northern part of the district at Nedumbassery, Kochi.

The district houses two Urban Agglomerations, Kochi and Kothamangalam. Kochi is the largest city in the state, and 17th most populous in the country according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs rankings based on the 2011 Census, with an area of over 843km2 and 2.12 million population.

Topography

The district is divided into three parts: lowland, midland, and the highland that consist of seaboard, plains, and hills and forests respectively. 20 percent of the total area are lowlands. The forests in the eastern part of the district are mostly remote, forming a part of the Anamalais. The highest peak is the Anamudi. The midland consists mainly of plain land and a group of islands that naturally drain water via backwaters and canals. The hilly or eastern portion is formed by a section of the Western Ghats. Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks, which were initially parts of the Kottayam district and constitute the highlands. Muvattupuzhayar and Periyar are the main rivers, of which the latter flows through Muvattupuzha, Aluva, Kunnathunad and Parur taluks. During the 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 (142 mi).

Forest and wildlife

 
The Grey hornbill

The flora of this district is tropical. The heavy rainfall combined with moderate temperatures and fertile soil support abundant vegetation. Many of the common plants are found in the coastal area, which forms the lowland region. The midland region is occupied by coconut palms, paddy, tapioca, pepper, pineapple and pulses. The lower slopes of the highland region have teak and rubber.

Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

 
Mangalavanam

Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is located at the centre of Kochi. It covers 2.74 ha (6.8 acres),[11] 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",[12] considering its role in controlling the city's air pollution.[13]

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary lies on the northern bank of the Periyar River and covers about 25 km2 (10 sq mi). It was founded by ornithologist Salim Ali. The sanctuary is 80 km (50 mi) from Kochi. Birds found here include falcons, jungle fowl, water hens, and hornbills. The flora of this area consists mainly of plantations of teak, rosewood, and mahogany. Further on the road, Pooyamkutty forest of the Anamalais is reached.

Climate

Climate data for Kochi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35
(95)
37
(99)
37
(99)
34
(93)
35
(95)
33
(91)
35
(95)
35
(95)
38
(100)
35
(95)
34
(93)
33
(91)
38
(100)
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)
25
(77)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
23
(73)
25
(77)
Record low °C (°F) 17
(63)
18
(64)
20
(68)
21
(70)
22
(72)
21
(70)
21
(70)
20
(68)
22
(72)
20
(68)
20
(68)
19
(66)
17
(63)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 21.9
(0.86)
22.9
(0.90)
35.3
(1.39)
124.0
(4.88)
395.7
(15.58)
720.7
(28.37)
697.2
(27.45)
367.8
(14.48)
289.4
(11.39)
302.3
(11.90)
175.1
(6.89)
48.3
(1.90)
3,228.3
(127.10)
Source 1: [14]
Source 2: [15]

Economy

 
Kochi Marine Drive Day View
 
The beauty in the night, Marine Drive, Kochi

Ernakulam district is the richest district in Kerala and is the biggest commercial centre in the state of Kerala. It contributes the most to the state exchequer in terms of GSVA and tax revenues. It has the highest literacy rate as well as the highest per capita income in the state, along with having the most number of commercialised banks, startups and large scale industries & MSMEs in the state. Its M.G. Road is home to some of Kerala's most prestigious enterprises. Kochi is also the headquarters of some large companies like Federal Bank, Geojit, V-Guard, and Muthoot.

The sea along the entire coast of the district and its backwaters are the habitat of various kinds of fish that supply both marine and inland fisheries.

Agriculture

The eastern part of Ernakulam is primarily agrarian in nature. Rice is the principal crop cultivated in the wetlands. The district is the largest producer of nutmeg and pineapple in the state: more than 55% of pineapples produced in the state is cultivated in the district. 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. Other important crops cultivated in the district are tapioca, black pepper, areca nut, coconut, turmeric, banana, and plantain.

Education

Ernakulam is the first district in India to have 100 percent literacy by 1990. In fact Kochi has the highest literacy rate for any city in the country with over 20 lakhs population. Pothanikkad is the first village in India that achieved 100 percent literacy according to state literacy programme is in this district.[citation needed]

There are three prominent universities in Ernakulam: Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady, Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kalamassery, and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies in Kochi. The district has the most number of educational institutions in the state; as of 2019, there are 476 fully high-tech schools in Ernakulam.[16]

In 2017, Ernakulam district administration launched the Roshni project, which aims to provide Malayalam education to migrant children. It supported 1,265 migrant workers’ children from lower primary to high school.[17]

Divisions

There are two revenue divisions: Fort Kochi and Muvattupuzha. The municipal corporation is in Kochi.

Taluks

The district has the most taluks in the state. The district is divided by two revenue divisions with seven taluks.

Municipalities

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

A criticism that has been centered around this fact is that despite municipalities like Aluva, Kalamassery, Thrikkakara, Maradu, Tripunithura and Eloor becoming assimilated into Kochi city, they still exist as individual municipalities instead of being under Kochi Corporation. Surprisingly the corporation has not amended its limits for over half a century, since 1967 to be precise. The corporation was the largest in area and population when it was formed, and all these regions were panchayaths back then. Instead of adding them to the corporation when these regions started developing due to the urban expansion of Kochi city, they were made into separate municipalities thus largely handicapping the corporation. Now the call to expand these outdated limits for a better unified administration for the entire city of Kochi is a strong public demand.[18]

Parliamentary Constituencies

Assembly Constituencies

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901646,235—    
1911735,267+1.30%
1921789,311+0.71%
1931982,731+2.22%
19411,172,292+1.78%
19511,393,679+1.74%
19611,702,740+2.02%
19712,170,820+2.46%
19812,549,255+1.62%
19912,840,279+1.09%
20013,105,798+0.90%
20113,282,388+0.55%
20183,427,659+0.62%
source:[19]

According to the 2018 Statistics Report, Ernakulam has a population of 3,427,659.[1] The 2011 Census of India reports that the district is ranked 104th most populous in India out of 640.[5] The district has a population density of 1,072 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,780/sq mi).[5] Its population growth rate in 2001–2011 was 5.69%.[5] Ernakulam has a sex ratio of 1027 females for every 1000 males,[5] and a literacy rate of 95.89%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 8.18% and 0.50% of the population respectively.[5]

Languages of Ernakulam district (2011)[20]

  Malayalam (96.70%)
  Others (3.30%)

Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 96.70% of the population. Other languages spoken in Kochi include Tamil (the second-most spoken language) and Punjabi.[20]

This district is listed as the "most advanced" district in Kerala. It had a resident population of 3,105,798 as of 2001, excluding the commuters from neighbouring districts. The urban population is 68%.[21]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Ernakulam District also houses the largest city (UA) in the state (17th largest in the country) - Kochi Urban Agglomeration. Kochi UA spans across 843km2 with a population of 2,119,724 (2.12 million),[22] thereby housing approximately two thirds of the population of Ernakulam District. Government of Kerala have also marked Kochi UA as the only "first order UA" in the state, which has its influence spread across the entire state unlike the other smaller cities.

The district also houses another smaller urban agglomeration - Kothamangalam, which has an area of 81.42 km2 housing over 1,14, 639 people. The towns of Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha form a major chunk of the Kothamangalam UA.

Religion

Religions in Ernakulam district (2011)[23]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
45.99%
Christianity
38.03%
Islam
15.67%
Other or not stated
0.31%

Hindus (46%) accounts for the largest community, followed by Christians (38%) (Latin Catholic, Syro-Malabar, Jacobites, Pentecostals and Malankara Orthodox) and Muslims (15.7%). A small population of Jains, Jews, and Sikhs reside in Kochi.[24] Ernakulam once had a vibrant Jewish population, with several synagogues, known as the Malabar Jews who used to dominate the trade and commercial activities in the district. After the state of Israel was formed in 1945, the entire community made aliyah to Israel in the 1950's. Today they number 8000 in Israel but very few Jews remain in the district. After a direct flight service was established between Kochi and Tel Aviv they have retained ties with the state with annual visits and gatherings.

Ernakulam also has a significant Konkani Hindu population who migrated from Goa during the Goa Inquisition.[25] There is a small Jain community in Ernakulam district, concentrated mainly in Kochi city.[26] The Sikh community in Ernakulam is also concentrated mainly in Kochi. There are more than 25 Sikh families in Kochi and there is one gurdwara.[27]

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

Culture

Festivals and traditions

The Aluva Sivarathri festival at the Aluva Mahadeva Temple (situated on the banks of river Periyar) in Aluva attracts people from around the country.

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

Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kalady, which is considered to be a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus around the world.

Kallil Kshethram is a famous Jain temple near Perumbavoor.

Puthencruz is the regional seat of Syriac Orthodox Church in India, and is where Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor is located.

The eight-day lent (Ettunombu) festival at St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally, Thamarachal attracts many people from all over the state. St. George Orthodox Syrian 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.

Important pilgrimage sites in Ernakulam are Koonan Kurish St George Orthodox Pilgrim church, Mattancherry; Vadakken Paravoor St Thomas Catholic Church, Malayattoor Pally; and Mor Thoman Jacobite Church, 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. The Feast of Eldho Mor Baselios is celebrated in the tomb church Mor Thoman Church at Kothamangalam every year on 2 and 3 October. The Feast of Paulose Mar Athanasius on 26 January at Thrikkunnathu St Mary's Seminary Church, Aluva, where he is entombed, also attracts thousands.

Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala, also known as Parumala Thirumeni, the first saint of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church from India was born and brought up in Mulanthuruthy.

Places of interest

Transport

Road connectivity

The three major national highways passing through Ernakulam are the Cochin-Mumbai Highway (NH 66), Salem-Kanyakumari (NH 47 part of NSEW corridor), and Cochin-Dhanushkodi highway (NH 49).

Railway station

Ernakulam 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 rail routes travel via Thrissur, Kottayam, Cochin H.T., Alappuzha, and Vallarpadam. The Angamaly-Erumely Sabarimala route passes through the district. Kochi Metro runs in Kochi.

Airport

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, and serves International passengers.

Water transport

Ernakulam lies in the flat delta region of the Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers. Water transport is prominent in the district via rivers and lagoons.

Notable people

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Annual Vital Statistics Report - 2018 (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Kerala. 2020. p. 55.
  2. ^ "Demography -Ernakulam" (PDF). Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Kerala | UNDP in India". UNDP.
  4. ^ Pilgrimate to Temple Heritage 2019: Ernakulam district temples. Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd, 2019. 2019. ISBN 9788193456781. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "District Census Hand Book - Ernakulam" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  6. ^ . The Hindu Businessline. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ^ Soundarapandian, Mookkiah (2000). Literacy Campaign in India. New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House. p. 21. ISBN 9788171415533.
  8. ^ "Kerala". UNDP in India. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  9. ^ The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)
  10. ^ M K Sunil Kumar (26 September 2017). "50 years on, Kochi still has a long way to go". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary". Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Green Lung of Kochi". cochin.org. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary". Kochi Servnet. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Kochi, India". Whetherbase. August 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  15. ^ . MSN India. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Now, Ernakulam has 476 fully high-tech schools". The Hindu. 7 December 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  17. ^ Shreehari Paliath, IndiaSpend com. "In Kerala's Ernakulam district, a programme is helping migrant children stay in school". Scroll.in.
  18. ^ "Chamber calls for expansion of Kochi Corp - The New Indian Express".
  19. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in.
  20. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  21. ^ "censusindia.gov.in" (PDF).
  22. ^ "आवासन और शहरी कार्य मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार". Mohua.gov.in. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Religion – Kerala, Districts and Sub-districts". Census of India 2011. Office of the Registrar General.
  24. ^ Official Ernakulam District Profile 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Exploring Kochi through a Goan lens". The New Indian Express.
  26. ^ "Jain festival celebrated in city | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  27. ^ "Sikh families: The Sikhs here love Kochi | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  28. ^ "Kuzhupilly Beach". www.kuzhupillybeach.com.

Further reading

  • U. Sivaraman Nair (1952), 1951 Census Handbook- Trichur District (PDF), Trivandrum: Travancore-Cochin Government Press
  • M. K. Devassy (1965), 1961 Census Handbook- Ernakulam District (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
  • Government of India (2014–15), District Census Handbook - Ernakulam (Part-A) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala
  • Government of India (2014–15), District Census Handbook - Ernakulam (Part-B) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala

External links

  • Official website
  • Official website
  • Ernakulam district at Curlie

ernakulam, district, this, article, about, district, kerala, other, uses, ernakulam, disambiguation, ernakulam, erɐɳɐːguɭɐm, eṟaṇākuḷaṁ, malayalam, എറണ, districts, indian, state, kerala, that, takes, name, from, eponymous, city, division, kochi, situated, cent. This article is about the district in Kerala For other uses see Ernakulam disambiguation Ernakulam IPA erɐɳɐːguɭɐm ISO Eṟaṇakuḷaṁ in Malayalam എറണ ക ള is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala that takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi It is situated in the central part of the state spans an area of about 3 000 square kilometres 1 200 sq mi and is home to over 9 of Kerala s population Its headquarters are located at Kakkanad The district includes Kochi also known as the commercial capital of Kerala which is famous for its ancient Churches Hindu temples synagogues and mosques The district includes the largest metropolitan region of the state Greater Cochin Ernakulam is the district that yields the most revenue and the largest number of industries in the state 4 Ernakulam is the third most populous district in Kerala after Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram out of 14 districts 5 The district also hosts the highest number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala state Ernakulam districtDistrictClockwise from top Kochi skyline Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium International Container Transshipment Terminal Lulu International Shopping Mall Cochin Shipyard Kochi Marina Cochin International Airport and Kochi MetroErnakulam DistrictLocation in KeralaCoordinates 10 00 N 76 20 E 10 00 N 76 33 E 10 00 76 33 Coordinates 10 00 N 76 20 E 10 00 N 76 33 E 10 00 76 33Country IndiaStateKeralaNamed forRishinagakulam citation needed HeadquartersKakkanad KochiGovernment CollectorDr N S K Umesh IAS Commissioner amp IG Kochi C Nagaraju IPS S P Ernakulam Rural K Karthik IPS DFOA Renjan IFSArea 2 Total2 407 km2 929 sq mi Rank4Population 2018 Total3 427 659 1 Density1 119 km2 2 900 sq mi Languages OfficialMalayalamTime zoneUTC 5 30 IST ISO 3166 codeIN KL KO IN KLVehicle registrationKL 07 ErnakulamKL 17 MuvattupuzhaKL 39 ThripunithuraKL 40 PerumbavoorKL 41 AluvaKL 42 North ParavurKL 43 MattancherryKL 44 KothamangalamKL 63 AngamalyHDI 2005 0 801 3 very highWebsiteernakulam wbr nic wbr inInchathotty Bridge near Kothamangalam The most commonly spoken language in Ernakulam is Malayalam English is widely used mostly in business circles Ernakulam became India s first district to have 100 percent banking or full meaningful financial inclusion in 2012 6 7 Ernakulam has a high Human Development Index of 0 801 UNHDP report 2005 which is one of the highest in India 8 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Topography 2 2 Forest and wildlife 2 2 1 Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary 2 2 2 Thattekad Bird Sanctuary 2 3 Climate 3 Economy 3 1 Agriculture 4 Education 5 Divisions 5 1 Taluks 5 2 Municipalities 5 3 Parliamentary Constituencies 5 4 Assembly Constituencies 6 Demographics 6 1 Religion 7 Culture 7 1 Festivals and traditions 7 2 Places of interest 8 Transport 8 1 Road connectivity 8 2 Railway station 8 3 Airport 8 4 Water transport 9 Notable people 10 Gallery 11 See also 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External linksHistory Edit Rama Varma XV at the Delhi Durbar of 1903 Chinese fishing nets Fort Kochi Ernakulam has played a part in the political history of south India since ancient times The Jews Syrians Arabs Chinese Dutch British and Portuguese seafarers followed the sea route to the Kingdom of Cochin and left their impressions on the town The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast while Kannur Kollam and Kochi were commercially important secondary ports where the traders from various parts of the world would gather 9 In 1664 the municipality of Fort Kochi was established by Dutch Malabar making it the first municipality in Indian subcontinent which got dissolved when the Dutch authority got weaker in 18th century 10 In 1896 the Maharaja of Cochin initiated local administration by forming a town council in Ernakulam Initially The district s headquarters were located in the portion of the city known as Ernakulam which gave the district its name the headquarters was relocated afterwards to Kakkanad In the year 1998 Kuttampuzha village was added to the district from Idukki district following which the district got a political boundary with neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu There is no interstate road that connects the district with the neighbouring state through this border Geography EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Ernakulam district covers an area of 3 068 km2 1 185 sq mi on the Western Coastal Plains of India It is surrounded by the Thrissur District to the north the Idukki District to the east Alappuzha and Kottayam districts to the south and the Laccadive Sea to the west The Anamalais occupy a large part of the district consisting of the forest areas around Pooyamkutty and the Idamalayar Dam The range also extends into Thrissur Palakkad and Idukki districts as well as Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu The district is divided geographically into highland midland and coastal area The altitude of the highlands is about 300 m 980 ft The Periyar River Kerala s longest flows through all the taluks except Muvattupuzha The Muvattupuzha River and a branch of the Chalakkudy River also flow through the district The average yearly rainfall in the district is 3 432 mm 135 1 in The district has a moderate climate and mostly falls within the Malabar Coast moist forests ecoregion while the highlands are part of the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion The Anamudi is the tallest peak in South India on the border of Ernakulam and Idukki districts Some parts of the Idamalayar Reserve Forest and Mankulam Forest Division have Sholas but these parts are inaccessible by road The Idamalayar Reserve Forest and Edamalakkudy Many types of sand soil and rocks are abundant here Cochin International Airport is located in the northern part of the district at Nedumbassery Kochi The district houses two Urban Agglomerations Kochi and Kothamangalam Kochi is the largest city in the state and 17th most populous in the country according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs rankings based on the 2011 Census with an area of over 843km2 and 2 12 million population Topography Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The district is divided into three parts lowland midland and the highland that consist of seaboard plains and hills and forests respectively 20 percent of the total area are lowlands The forests in the eastern part of the district are mostly remote forming a part of the Anamalais The highest peak is the Anamudi The midland consists mainly of plain land and a group of islands that naturally drain water via backwaters and canals The hilly or eastern portion is formed by a section of the Western Ghats Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks which were initially parts of the Kottayam district and constitute the highlands Muvattupuzhayar and Periyar are the main rivers of which the latter flows through Muvattupuzha Aluva Kunnathunad and Parur taluks During the 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 142 mi Forest and wildlife Edit The Grey hornbill The flora of this district is tropical The heavy rainfall combined with moderate temperatures and fertile soil support abundant vegetation Many of the common plants are found in the coastal area which forms the lowland region The midland region is occupied by coconut palms paddy tapioca pepper pineapple and pulses The lower slopes of the highland region have teak and rubber Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Edit Mangalavanam Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is located at the centre of Kochi It covers 2 74 ha 6 8 acres 11 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 12 considering its role in controlling the city s air pollution 13 Thattekad Bird Sanctuary Edit Thattekad Bird Sanctuary lies on the northern bank of the Periyar River and covers about 25 km2 10 sq mi It was founded by ornithologist Salim Ali The sanctuary is 80 km 50 mi from Kochi Birds found here include falcons jungle fowl water hens and hornbills The flora of this area consists mainly of plantations of teak rosewood and mahogany Further on the road Pooyamkutty forest of the Anamalais is reached Climate Edit Climate data for KochiMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 35 95 37 99 37 99 34 93 35 95 33 91 35 95 35 95 38 100 35 95 34 93 33 91 38 100 Average high C F 30 86 31 88 31 88 31 88 31 88 28 82 28 82 28 82 28 82 29 84 30 86 30 86 30 86 Average low C F 23 73 25 77 26 79 26 79 26 79 25 77 24 75 24 75 25 77 25 77 25 77 23 73 25 77 Record low C F 17 63 18 64 20 68 21 70 22 72 21 70 21 70 20 68 22 72 20 68 20 68 19 66 17 63 Average precipitation mm inches 21 9 0 86 22 9 0 90 35 3 1 39 124 0 4 88 395 7 15 58 720 7 28 37 697 2 27 45 367 8 14 48 289 4 11 39 302 3 11 90 175 1 6 89 48 3 1 90 3 228 3 127 10 Source 1 14 Source 2 15 Economy EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kochi Marine Drive Day View The beauty in the night Marine Drive Kochi Infopark Kochi Ernakulam district is the richest district in Kerala and is the biggest commercial centre in the state of Kerala It contributes the most to the state exchequer in terms of GSVA and tax revenues It has the highest literacy rate as well as the highest per capita income in the state along with having the most number of commercialised banks startups and large scale industries amp MSMEs in the state Its M G Road is home to some of Kerala s most prestigious enterprises Kochi is also the headquarters of some large companies like Federal Bank Geojit V Guard and Muthoot The sea along the entire coast of the district and its backwaters are the habitat of various kinds of fish that supply both marine and inland fisheries Agriculture Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The eastern part of Ernakulam is primarily agrarian in nature Rice is the principal crop cultivated in the wetlands The district is the largest producer of nutmeg and pineapple in the state more than 55 of pineapples produced in the state is cultivated in the district 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 Other important crops cultivated in the district are tapioca black pepper areca nut coconut turmeric banana and plantain Education EditSee also Educational Institutions in Ernakulam District Administrative Block of Cochin University of Science and Technology Ernakulam is the first district in India to have 100 percent literacy by 1990 In fact Kochi has the highest literacy rate for any city in the country with over 20 lakhs population Pothanikkad is the first village in India that achieved 100 percent literacy according to state literacy programme is in this district citation needed There are three prominent universities in Ernakulam Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kalamassery and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies in Kochi The district has the most number of educational institutions in the state as of 2019 there are 476 fully high tech schools in Ernakulam 16 In 2017 Ernakulam district administration launched the Roshni project which aims to provide Malayalam education to migrant children It supported 1 265 migrant workers children from lower primary to high school 17 Divisions EditSee also Administration of Ernakulam district There are two revenue divisions Fort Kochi and Muvattupuzha The municipal corporation is in Kochi Taluks Edit The district has the most taluks in the state The district is divided by two revenue divisions with seven taluks Paravur Aluva Kunnathunad Muvattupuzha Kochi Kanayannur Kothamangalam Municipalities Edit Interestingly 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 A criticism that has been centered around this fact is that despite municipalities like Aluva Kalamassery Thrikkakara Maradu Tripunithura and Eloor becoming assimilated into Kochi city they still exist as individual municipalities instead of being under Kochi Corporation Surprisingly the corporation has not amended its limits for over half a century since 1967 to be precise The corporation was the largest in area and population when it was formed and all these regions were panchayaths back then Instead of adding them to the corporation when these regions started developing due to the urban expansion of Kochi city they were made into separate municipalities thus largely handicapping the corporation Now the call to expand these outdated limits for a better unified administration for the entire city of Kochi is a strong public demand 18 Parliamentary Constituencies Edit 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 Assembly Constituencies Edit Piravom Angamaly Aluva Kalamassery North Paravur Vypeen Kochi Ernakulam Thrikkakara Thripunithura Perumbavoor Kunnathunad Moovattupuzha KothamangalamDemographics EditHistorical populationYearPop p a 1901646 235 1911735 267 1 30 1921789 311 0 71 1931982 731 2 22 19411 172 292 1 78 19511 393 679 1 74 19611 702 740 2 02 19712 170 820 2 46 19812 549 255 1 62 19912 840 279 1 09 20013 105 798 0 90 20113 282 388 0 55 20183 427 659 0 62 source 19 According to the 2018 Statistics Report Ernakulam has a population of 3 427 659 1 The 2011 Census of India reports that the district is ranked 104th most populous in India out of 640 5 The district has a population density of 1 072 inhabitants per square kilometre 2 780 sq mi 5 Its population growth rate in 2001 2011 was 5 69 5 Ernakulam has a sex ratio of 1027 females for every 1000 males 5 and a literacy rate of 95 89 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 8 18 and 0 50 of the population respectively 5 Languages of Ernakulam district 2011 20 Malayalam 96 70 Others 3 30 Malayalam is the predominant language spoken by 96 70 of the population Other languages spoken in Kochi include Tamil the second most spoken language and Punjabi 20 This district is listed as the most advanced district in Kerala It had a resident population of 3 105 798 as of 2001 excluding the commuters from neighbouring districts The urban population is 68 21 According to the 2011 Census of India Ernakulam District also houses the largest city UA in the state 17th largest in the country Kochi Urban Agglomeration Kochi UA spans across 843km2 with a population of 2 119 724 2 12 million 22 thereby housing approximately two thirds of the population of Ernakulam District Government of Kerala have also marked Kochi UA as the only first order UA in the state which has its influence spread across the entire state unlike the other smaller cities The district also houses another smaller urban agglomeration Kothamangalam which has an area of 81 42 km2 housing over 1 14 639 people The towns of Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha form a major chunk of the Kothamangalam UA Religion Edit Religions in Ernakulam district 2011 23 Religion PercentHinduism 45 99 Christianity 38 03 Islam 15 67 Other or not stated 0 31 Hindus 46 accounts for the largest community followed by Christians 38 Latin Catholic Syro Malabar Jacobites Pentecostals and Malankara Orthodox and Muslims 15 7 A small population of Jains Jews and Sikhs reside in Kochi 24 Ernakulam once had a vibrant Jewish population with several synagogues known as the Malabar Jews who used to dominate the trade and commercial activities in the district After the state of Israel was formed in 1945 the entire community made aliyah to Israel in the 1950 s Today they number 8000 in Israel but very few Jews remain in the district After a direct flight service was established between Kochi and Tel Aviv they have retained ties with the state with annual visits and gatherings Ernakulam also has a significant Konkani Hindu population who migrated from Goa during the Goa Inquisition 25 There is a small Jain community in Ernakulam district concentrated mainly in Kochi city 26 The Sikh community in Ernakulam is also concentrated mainly in Kochi There are more than 25 Sikh families in Kochi and there is one gurdwara 27 Thrikkakara Temple one of the few temples in India and only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Vamana Chottanikkara TempleCulture EditFestivals and traditions Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message See also Pilgrimage centres in Ernakulam district The Aluva Sivarathri festival at the Aluva Mahadeva Temple situated on the banks of river Periyar in Aluva attracts people from around the country St Mary s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral Piravom is believed to be founded in 405 A D and was the headquarters of Archdeacon and St Thomas until the 18th century Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kalady which is considered to be a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus around the world Kallil Kshethram is a famous Jain temple near Perumbavoor Puthencruz is the regional seat of Syriac Orthodox Church in India and is where Saint Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church Malayattoor is located The eight day lent Ettunombu festival at St Mary s Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally Thamarachal attracts many people from all over the state St George Orthodox Syrian 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 Important pilgrimage sites in Ernakulam are Koonan Kurish St George Orthodox Pilgrim church Mattancherry Vadakken Paravoor St Thomas Catholic Church Malayattoor Pally and Mor Thoman Jacobite Church 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 The Feast of Eldho Mor Baselios is celebrated in the tomb church Mor Thoman Church at Kothamangalam every year on 2 and 3 October The Feast of Paulose Mar Athanasius on 26 January at Thrikkunnathu St Mary s Seminary Church Aluva where he is entombed also attracts thousands Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala also known as Parumala Thirumeni the first saint of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church from India was born and brought up in Mulanthuruthy Places of interest Edit Marine Drive Kochi Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue Paradesi Synagogue Constructed in 1567 only active synagogue in the Kochi Chinese Fishing Nets Cheena Vala Hill Palace Tripunithura Bolgatty Island Willingdon Island 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 Kerala Historical Museum Located at Edappally Chendamangalam a village Palium Palace Vypeenakotta Seminary Bhoothathankettu a scenic dam site St Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church Malayattoor The only international shrine in Asia Believed to have been visited by St Thomas the apostle Wonder La Kakkanad Amusement park Cherai Beach Kuzhippilly Beach 28 Fort Kochi Beach Paniyeli Poru EzhattumughamTransport EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Main article Transportation in Ernakulam district Road connectivity Edit The three major national highways passing through Ernakulam are the Cochin Mumbai Highway NH 66 Salem Kanyakumari NH 47 part of NSEW corridor and Cochin Dhanushkodi highway NH 49 Railway station Edit Ernakulam 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 rail routes travel via Thrissur Kottayam Cochin H T Alappuzha and Vallarpadam The Angamaly Erumely Sabarimala route passes through the district Kochi Metro runs in Kochi Airport Edit 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 and serves International passengers Water transport Edit Ernakulam lies in the flat delta region of the Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers Water transport is prominent in the district via rivers and lagoons Notable people EditHibi Eden Present MP Adi Sankaracharya Saint Advaita Abraham Barak Salem Jewish Gandhi Ajay Kudua cricketer Swami Chinmayananda Indian spiritual leader and geetacharya Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala Syrian Orthodox Saint Paulose Mar Athanasius Syrian Orthodox Saint Shadkala Govinda Marar Carnatic musician Sahodaran Ayyappan social reformer and former minister of Kochi State K J Yesudas singer Changampuzha poet Malayattoor ramakrishnan novelist NS Madhavan writer N A Naseer photographer activist and author Sebastian Paul politician Simon Britto Rodrigues politician K J Maxi Kochi MLA Feroze V Rasheed cricketer K Jayaraman cricketer G Sankara Kurup poet P K Vasudevan Nair former chief minister Balachandran Chullikad poet and actor Sreesanth cricketer K V Thomas politician Asin Thottumkal actress Jayasurya actor Cochin Haneefa actor Sreejesh Ravindran hockey player Sankaradi actor Salim Kumar actor T K Narayana Pillai former chief minister of Kerala Jayaram actor Lalu Alex actor Hibi Eden politician K M George politician Francis George politician Johnny Nellore politician T M Jacob politician Anoop Jacob politician Jose Thettayil politician Nivin Pauly actor Lal actor Rajeev Ravi director and cinematographer Subi Suresh actress and comedian Gallery Edit Paradesi Cochin Jewish Synagogue St Francis Church Chinese Net Bridge at Marine Drive walkway The old Dutch cemetery in Kochi School in Old Kochi Fishing nets in Fort Kochi Hill Palace Tripunithura High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam Heritage Building of Ernakulam District CourtSee also EditArayankavu Edathala Kizhakkambalam Kizhakkumbhagom Malayattoor Perumpalloor ThuthiyoorReferences Edit a b Annual Vital Statistics Report 2018 PDF Thiruvananthapuram Department of Economics and Statistics Government of Kerala 2020 p 55 Demography Ernakulam PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala Retrieved 4 July 2020 Kerala UNDP in India UNDP Pilgrimate to Temple Heritage 2019 Ernakulam district temples Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd 2019 2019 ISBN 9788193456781 Retrieved 2 October 2020 a b c d e f District Census Hand Book Ernakulam PDF Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India 2011 Ernakulam to be declared first district with 100 banking The Hindu Businessline 15 November 2012 Archived from the original on 1 February 2013 Retrieved 27 February 2013 Soundarapandian Mookkiah 2000 Literacy Campaign in India New Delhi Discovery Publishing House p 21 ISBN 9788171415533 Kerala UNDP in India Retrieved 10 October 2019 The Portuguese Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500 1800 Festschrift in Honour of Prof K S Mathew 2001 Edited by Pius Malekandathil and T Jamal Mohammed Fundacoa Oriente Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR Kerala M K Sunil Kumar 26 September 2017 50 years on Kochi still has a long way to go The Times of India Retrieved 1 June 2021 Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Retrieved 21 January 2018 Green Lung of Kochi cochin org Retrieved 3 April 2016 Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Kochi Servnet Retrieved 12 November 2015 Kochi India Whetherbase August 2011 Retrieved 1 July 2010 Kochi India MSN India Archived from the original on 14 July 2011 Retrieved 3 August 2010 Now Ernakulam has 476 fully high tech schools The Hindu 7 December 2019 via www thehindu com Shreehari Paliath IndiaSpend com In Kerala s Ernakulam district a programme is helping migrant children stay in school Scroll in Chamber calls for expansion of Kochi Corp The New Indian Express Census of India Website Office of the Registrar General amp Census Commissioner India www censusindia gov in a b Table C 16 Population by Mother Tongue Kerala censusindia gov in Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India censusindia gov in PDF आव सन और शहर क र य म त र लय भ रत सरक र Mohua gov in Retrieved 7 May 2022 Religion Kerala Districts and Sub districts Census of India 2011 Office of the Registrar General Official Ernakulam District Profile Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Exploring Kochi through a Goan lens The New Indian Express Jain festival celebrated in city Kochi News Times of India The Times of India Sikh families The Sikhs here love Kochi Kochi News Times of India The Times of India Kuzhupilly Beach www kuzhupillybeach com Further reading EditU Sivaraman Nair 1952 1951 Census Handbook Trichur District PDF Trivandrum Travancore Cochin Government Press M K Devassy 1965 1961 Census Handbook Ernakulam District PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive Minicoy and Amindivi Islands Government of India 2014 15 District Census Handbook Ernakulam Part A 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala Government of India 2014 15 District Census Handbook Ernakulam Part B 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations KeralaExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ernakulam district Official website Official website Ernakulam district at Curlie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernakulam district amp oldid 1143590449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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