About Marine Drive:
Marine Drive is considered to be one of the most beautiful part of Kochy city. The marine walk is the main hangout for the local populace as the view of the backwaters and the harbour from here is excellent.Marine Drive is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the city. It is also called Shanmugham Road. The marine walk is the main hangout for the local populace as the view of the backwaters and the harbor from here is excellent. At night the lights from the various ships anchored at the harbor is just breathtaking. There are various buildings along the Marine Drive which are good examples of modem architecture with the notable one being Asoka Apartments on the southern end of the Marine Drive with a huge Namaste, the traditional greeting. One side of the Marine Drive is backwater while the opposite side is 70-ft Road, city’s widest road. At the place of ruined old jetty there is Marine Drive Promenade. Sit here and watch the backwaters and the Fort Kochi beyond. The world’s highly densely populated Vypeen Island is in clear view from here. The Marine Drive is gradually catching up as another busy retail center. The lively GCDA Commercial Complex along the waterfront features a kaleidoscope of several business establishments and other institutions, fast foods and cafes, and a variety of shops selling anything from perfumes to high-capacity refrigerators. Luxury apartments, elegant hotels, and office buildings are located on either side of the main Shanmugham Road which terminates at High Court Junction on the northern end, where the Ram Mohan Palace – the seat of the Kerala High Court – is situated. An evening stroll along the water-side promenade is a favorite pastime. Broadway – narrow despite its name – running parallel to the east of Shanmugham Road is among the city’s oldest and busiest shopping streets, where the best buys include clothes and spices. The main Ernakulam market is also located alongside Broadway.
General Information about Marine Drive:
Location: Ernakulam
State: Kerala
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Language: Malayalam, English, Hindi
Temperature: Max 36˚C, Min 22˚C (summer), Max 28˚C, Min 18˚C (winter)
Best Season: August to March
How to Reach Marine Drive:
By Air:
The airport is situated 5 km. away from Ernakulam. Cochin airport has domestic and international terminals.
By Rail:
Ernakulam is connected to all cities in India by railroad. There are two main stations, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town also known as north station along with additional train stations in Cochin terminal, Aluva and Tripunithura. Ernakulam Town junction is prominent and most of the trains pass through this station.
By Road:
Kochi is connected by good roads with various centers of south India by national highways and linked to all towns in Kerala. The central bus station is situated in the heart of Ernakulam city and is very close to the Ernakulam Junction railway station. Long route private buses operate from High Court Jn., Railway Station and Kaloor Junction.
By Water:
The main Ferry Station (Boat Jetty) is located 1 km. from Junction railway station and has services to the following places. The ferry to Bolgatty Island operates from the jetty near the High Court. Boat services to Chaganacherry, Kottayam, Alapuzha, Vypeen, Fort Cochin, Mattancherry, and Willingdon Island etc. are available.
By Local Transport:
Taxis, buses and auto rickshaws are available for local transport within Ernakulam.
Ermakulam and Kochi are Same:
Ermakulam and Kochi are same. ernakulam is the new developed metro city area and Kochi (Cochin) is the old town. Fortkochi and Mattancherry are the very old regions. You will get taxi cabs, bus and boat to reach Fortkochi and mattanchery.Basically Ernakulam and Kochi are same. Kochi is the old name of Ernakulam and especially Kochi is Fortkochi (Cochin 1) and Mattancherry (Cochin 2). There is another one part named Edakochi. Now the Heart of Kochi is M.G Road and Marine Drive. Mg Road is Kochim35 and 36 and also Marine Drive is Kochi 17. The distance between Old Kochi and the new part of Kochi i.e., Ernakulam is 15 kms by road and 5 km by water (back water) through Boat or Jankar.