When you plan to visit Southern India, names like Kerala and Tamil Nadu often pop up. And why not, these are the few places that will help you experience the rich culture amidst a natural landscape. When it comes to Kerala, few other places will compare to the beauty of Kochi. And when it comes to Kochi, Kadavanthra emerges as a tourist favourite. While there are many other places here too, Kadavanthra offers something that doesn’t. This is what we shall explore in the content that follows. Join us on this cultural journey of virtually touring the place and knowing all about it in detail.
About Kadavanthra
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Kadavanthra Junction is an important intersection in Kochi that connects the Sahodaran Ayyappan Road (east-west) to the Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road (north-south) and the K.P.Vallon Road.
Kadavanthra is significant for housing the Greater Cochin Growth Authority’s headquarters, which oversees Kochi’s growth. St. Sebastians Latin Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church are the primary churches. Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Bhavans Vidya Mandir and St. Josephs UP School are nearby. The area is surrounded by greenery and wildlife reserves. There are plenty of restaurants, hotels and eatery joints here that also give it an urban look. Additionally, there are tons of temples here that offer a sneak peek of the city’s cultural, spiritual and regional heritage.
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Facilities In Kadavanthra
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Kadavanthra is located in Kochi’s central business district. The Greater Cochin Development Authority, which oversees Kochi’s development, is headquartered in this block region. National Investigation Agency is also at Kadavanthra. The Kochi Metro Kadavanthra station is in front of the GCDA lawns, helping with easy communication within and around the area. KV, Soften Technologies, Bhavans Vidya Mandir and St Josephs Upper Primary School are nearby.
A new commercial high street with branded retail outlets and 3- and 5-star hotels such as Olive Downtown, Radisson Blu Kochi, Avenue Centre Hotel, Star Paradise, Park Residency and Cochin Palace has emerged in Kadavanthra lately. Panampilly, Giri, Gandhi and Jawahar Nagar are wealthy neighbourhoods. Central Bank, HDFC Bank, South Indian Bank, State Bank and Axis Bank have branches here as well.
Top Tourist Attraction In Kadavanthra
As with most of the blocks of Kochi, Ladavanthra is full of amazing places to explore, view and unwind. Here are a few of them:
1. Mattancherry Palace
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The Mattancherry Palace, sometimes referred to as the Dutch Palace, is located around 9 km distance from Kadavanthra. The palace is home to exhibitions and murals painted in Keralan that show portraits of the Rajas of Kochi. The palace was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The palace was constructed by the Portuguese Empire as a gift to the Kingdom of Cochin, despite its name, Dutch Palace.
Around 1545, the Portuguese constructed the palace and gave it to the Cochin ruler as a gift. After they pillaged a local temple, it was constructed to placate the monarch. The Kochi kings were pleased to see Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrive in Kappad in 1498. The Cochin Rajas effectively became vassals of the Portuguese after they were granted the only authority to build factories and successfully repelled the Zamorians’ repeated attacks. The Dutch replaced the Portuguese influence and seized control of Mattancherry in 1663.
Timings: 9:45 am to 1:00 pm, and in the afternoon from 2 pm from 4:45 pm
Entry Fee: INR 2 for adults and free for children below 15 years of age
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2. Paradesi Synagogue
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Located near Kadavanthra, the Paradesi Synagogue, also known as the Cochin Jewish Synagogue or the Mattancherry Synagogue. Samuel Castiel, David Belila and Joseph Levi constructed this place in 1568 A.D. keeping in mind Kochi’s thriving Paradesi Jewish population. The majority of the Cochin Jewish population constituted the much older Malabari Jews and the recently arrived Sephardic refugees fleeing the religious persecution of Jews in Spain and Portugal by the Portuguese.
The word paradesi, which means “foreigners” in direct translation in a number of Indian languages, refers to the Sephardic or Portuguese-speaking Jews who built the synagogue, some of whom were banished to Safed, Aleppo and other West Asian locales. Of the seven synagogues in the vicinity, the synagogue is the only one remaining in operation and is situated in the Old Cochin neighbourhood known as Jew Town. There are four buildings in the complex. On land donated to the community by Rama Varma, the Raja of Kochi, it was constructed next to the Mattancherry Palace temple. There is a wall between the Mattancherry synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace temple.
Timings: 10 am to 12 noon; afternoon – 3 pm to 5 pm
Entry Fee: INR 2 for adults and free for children below 15 years of age
3. Rainbow Hanging Bridge
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Kadavanthra is home to not only various cultural sites but also modern marvels. One of them is the iconic Rainbow Hanging Bridge. The bridge is a sign of modern architecture, used by the people of Kochi. It is a favourite place for tourists who just want to hang out, looking at the majestic sunsets this place has to offer. Note that this is also a good site for photography, so don’t forget to bring your cameras when you arrive here.
The Rainbow Hanging Bridge is located just 5.5. Km away from Kadavanthra. One of the most popular attractions in Kochi, Kerala, the Rainbow Hanging Bridge in Ernakulam is connected to the Marine Drive. This arched bridge overlooks the expansive sea and is known for being an excellent place for taking a morning or evening walk since it has a pedestrian promenade.
Timings: open all day and night
Entry Fee: Free
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4. Chottanikkara Devi Temple
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The Chottanikkara Devi Temple is a famous tourist place in Kadavanthra. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. She and her consort, Maha Vishnu are thought to be living in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi). The temple legend regards the main deity as Lakshmi Narayana as well. The temple is categorised as one of the Vaishnavate tradition’s 108 Abhimana Kshethrams. The temple is renowned for its religious and spiritual ambience, which attracts tourists from far away.
Chottanikkara and Sabarimala temples are the best examples of Vishwakarma Sthapathis (wooden sculpture). The greatest mother goddess of Hinduism and one of the most well-liked goddesses in Kerala is Sree Mahamaya Bhagavati. At Chottanikkara Devi (Melekavu Bhagavathi) temple, she is worshipped in three different forms: in the morning, as Mahasaraswati, dressed in white; in the noon, as Mahalakshmi, dressed in crimson; and in the evening, as Mahakali, dressed in blue. In this temple, devotees recite the mantra “Amme Narayana, Devi Narayana, Lakshmi Narayana, Bhadre Narayana”. Goddess ‘Keezhkkaavu bhagavathi’ is thought to be Bhadrakali in her Ugra or furious form. People with mental health issues frequently go to the temple since it is believed that Chottanikkara Devi heals her devotees. An evening ceremony known as guruthi pooja is performed to invite the goddess Mahakali. ‘Guruthi Pooja’ was once limited to Fridays. However, it’s a daily practise now.
Timings: 12:10 PM to 4:00 PM, 12:10 PM to 4:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
5. Kerala Folklore Museum
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For admirers of art, heritage and culture, the Kerala Folklore Museum in Kadavanthra is an ideal option to spend a day. This is the only architectural museum in Kerala that captures the spirit of the common man’s life and culture throughout the last millennium. Additionally, it is a centre of culture that houses the “Face Art Gallery” for art and antiques. The museum holds frequent Folklore theatre presentations of customary art and culture.
The Kerala Folklore Museum, which consists of the restoration of about 25 traditional, heritage structures from various districts of Kerala, is essentially an architectural exhibition. With the assistance of the aforementioned demolished structures, a primary structure was constructed, giving birth to Kerala’s largest architectural installation. Three Keralan architectural schools—the Malabar, Cochin and Travancore schools—are the inspiration for this enormous architectural work.The Kerala Folklore Museum features a collection of antiques that highlight the history, customs and cultural distinctions across the nation, particularly in southern India. There are antique artefacts, including the oldest Bible and costumes from dance styles like Theyyam and Mohiniattam. antique seats, writing equipment, etc.
Timings: 09:30 am – 07:00 pm
Entry Fee: INR 100 for adults and INR 50 for students
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How To Reach Kadavanthra
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Kadavanthra is a part of an expanding area near the South Railway Station. The block is convenient to Kaloor, Vyttila and Cochin International Airport. Northern and southern Kochi are connected by Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road. After Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road was completed, Kadavanthra became a key centre.
Near the Sahodaran Ayyapan Road, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) building is the oldest and most notable. This area is valuable for real estate due to its proximity to Ernakulam Junction Railway Station and residential areas. The junction is a major crossroads for the Cochin Shipyard and Naval Base, offering an alternative route to Atlantis via Railway Gate or directly to Thevara Junction, avoiding the crowded M.G Road.
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So there you have it, the ideal places to visit when in Kadavanthra along with the details that will help make your trip worth your time. Note that Kadavanthra also houses some great hotels where you can stay. Plan your trip to Kerala and stay here to enjoy the ethereal beauty of real Southern India.
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Cover Image Credit: Ranjithsiji for wikimedia commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Kadavanthra
How far is Kadavanthra from Kochi?
Kadavanthra is just 6.1 km from Kochi. It takes around 15 minutes to reach.
What is so special about Kadavanthra?
Kadavanthra is a municipal party block in Kochi. The block consists mainly of urban and well-planned areas. The strategic location of Kadavanthra makes it easily accessible from various tourist places, which makes it famous.
Are there any beaches in Kadavanthra?
There are beaches in Kadavanthra, but you can easily get to the nearby beaches as they are only a few kilometres away.
How is the weather in Kadavanthra?
The block enjoys typical coastal weather where days are warmer and nights are cooler.
How far is Kadavanthra from Panampilly Nagar?
Both the blocks are adjoining. Panampilly Nagar is just 1.5 km away from Kadavanthra.
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