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Aluva, Of Rivers and History

By Manoj

Aluva is a suburb of Kochi in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. Located on the banks of river Periyar, it is the industrial epicentre of the state. A major transportation hub, with easy access to all major forms of transportation, Aluva acts as a corridor which links the highland districts to the rest of the state.

It is a summer getaway for the Travancore Royal Family who come here and reside at the Alwaye Palace. The Advaita Ashrams in Aluva founded by Sree Narayana Guru, one of India's greatest social reformers adds to the cultural significance of the town.

Aluva is a destination famous for its Mahasivarathri festival held annually in the Shiva Temple. People from all over the state gather here for the same. Mahasivarathri is a six day long festival.

Aluva is a place you must visit as it offers good sightseeing options. The Periyar River flowing through here is very scenic. The Shiva Temple and the Seminary Church beckon the religious. The Marthanda Varma Bridge offers a good view of Aluva.

Periyar River

Photo Courtesy: Irvin calicut

The river Periyar flows at a stretch of 229 km through the town of Aluva and is one of the largest rivers of Kerala. With its long stretches of smooth clean banks adorned with palm, coconut trees, temples, mosques and churches, the river is a place you must visit in Aluva.

Seminary Church

Photo Courtesy: Mangalapuzha Church Committee

Seminary Church, popularly called the St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, is one of the places to visit in Aluva. It is among the most important and largest seminaries in the world. The church is an important theological education institute of Catholic Church. The church is responsible for giving foundation and training to candidates who aspire to become priests from Kerala. A huge library of rare Christian literature and a calm peaceful meditation hall are the major attractions of the Seminary Church.

Shiva Temple

Photo Courtesy: Aruna

The Shiva Temple in Aluva is located on the sand bank that lies between the tributary Mangalappuzha and the Periyar River. Peculiarity about this temple is that the Shiva lingam is not installed inside the temple. It is said that a Shivalinga was created by Lord Parsurama on the sand banks of the river. It is believed that the Shiva Lingam installed here in Aluva Manal Puram was worshipped by the Lord Rama himself.

Marthanda Varma Bridge

Aluva, Of Rivers and History

Photo Courtesy: Challiyan

Marthanda Varma Bridge, as the name indicates is built by the great Travancore king Marthanda Varma Ilayaraja who is regarded as the founder of modern Travancore. To promote trade and business between nearby Kingdoms, the bridge was constructed during the period of 1940-42. The Marthanda Varma Bridge is known as the lifeline of the inhabitants of Aluva since then. The bridge is strategically built above the river Periyar, offering tourists a panoramic view of the city and is a place you must see in Aluva.

How to Reach Aluva

By Air: The Airport closest to Aluva is Kochi (12 km). The other airports near Aluva are Kozhikode Airport (167 km) and Bengaluru International Airport (556 km). All the airports are well connected to the all major cities.

By Train: Trains from all major stations have stops at Aluva Railway station. The place is connected to major Indian cities such as; Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. There are trains to major towns and cities such as; Kochi, Trivandram and Calicut in Kerala as well.

By Road: Aluva is well connected by road. KSRTC Buses connect the town with other parts of Kerala. Private luxury buses as well as KSRTC AC and ordinary buses also connect Aluva to major cities like Chennai and Bangalore. The bus fares are reasonable.

Read more about: kerala travel nature
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