Cherai ( ml, ചെറായി) smallest town located in north side of

Vypin Vypin (Malayalam: വൈപ്പിന്‍, Cochin Portuguese: Isla Santa) is one of the group of islands that form part of the city of Kochi (Cochin), in the Indian state of Kerala. Vypin forms a barrier island which lies between the Ar ...

island. This town connects to kochin, North pravur and Kodungallur. It is a region in

Kochi Taluk Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Ke ...

, a suburb of the city of Kochi, in the state of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is at a distance of about from the ''High Court Junction'',

Kochi Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of K ...

. Cherai has the longest beach in

- the

Cherai beach Cherai Beach is a beach located in Cherai in the northern side of Vypin Island, a suburb of the city Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. One of the most visited beaches in the state, it is situated at around 25 km (15 mi) from downtown Koc ...

. The beach is located towards the centre-north of the Vypin island. The ''Cherai Beach'' is long. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. Cherai has played an important role in the history of modern Kerala by becoming the birthplace of two prominent political personsages of modern Kerala -

Mathai Manjooran Mathai Manjooran (13 October 1912 – 14 January 1970) was an Indian independence activist from Kerala, socialist revolutionary, founder of the Kerala Socialist Party, Member of Parliament, Minister of Labour (economics) in the second E.M.S. ...

and

Sahodaran Ayyappan Kumbalathuparambu Ayyappan (August 21, 1889 – March 6, 1968), better identified as Sahodaran Ayyappan , was a social reformer, thinker, rationalist, journalist, and politician from Kerala, India. A vocal follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was ...

. '' Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple'' is one of the main

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

temples. The temple is maintained by ''Vijnana Vardhini Sabha'' (V. V Sabha). It also known as Kerala

palani Palani ( or ''Palni'' as in British records, is a town and a taluk headquarters in Dindigul district of the western part of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about south-east of Coimbatore and north-west of Madurai, from Kodaikan ...

. The festival in the temple is the biggest festival in Eranakulam district. The festival happens every year towards the last 2 weeks of January or first 2 weeks of February. The main attractions are Elephant march (around 20-30 elephants). There is one more famous temple in Cherai, which is ''Azheekkal Sree Varaha Temple'' famous for its beautiful chariot.It is one of the oldest temple owned by Gowda Saraswatha Community.

Nearby attractions

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church is a Syro-Malabar church located in North Paravur. According to Saint Thomas Christian tradition, the church was established in 52 AD by St. Thomas (Mar Thoma shleeha), one of the twelve apo ...

: First church in India and one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in the first century. * Portuguese Fort : Built in 1503 by the Portuguese also known as Pallipuram Fort (''Aya Kotta''). It is the oldest European monument in India. It was an out post to safeguard the famous

Muziris Muziris ( grc, Μουζιρίς, Old Malayalam: ''Muciri'' or ''Muciripattanam'' possibly identical with the medieval ''Muyirikode'') was an ancient harbour and an urban centre on the Malabar Coast. Muziris found mention in the ''Periplus of ...

Port. In 1661 the Dutch captured the fort and in 1789 the fort was handed over to the King of

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

. * Pallipuram Syro-Malabar Church : The church is built by the Portuguese in 1577. The exquisite picture of Ave Mary on the top of "Altar" is brought from Portugal.The yearly celebrations of Lady of snow happening in August every year.The Water parade of boats is one of the notable function .

Notable people

Mary Verghese Mary Puthisseril Verghese (1925–1986) was a physician in India who was among the earliest pioneers of Physical medicine and rehabilitation in the country. Mary Verghese was instilled in a home where love and respect were two main factors in t ...

* TVR Shenoy * S. Sharma * M. K. Prasad

Gallery

Image:Cherai Beach2.jpg,

Image:Chinese_Fishing_Nets_Cherai.JPG,

Chinese fishing nets Chinese fishing nets (''Cheena vala'' in India or ''tangkul'' in Indonesia) are a type of stationary lift net in India and Indonesia. They are fishing nets that are fixed land installations for fishing. While commonly known as "Chinese fish ...

Image:Walk_Way_Cherai.JPG , Walkway on the sides of the road to Cherai from

North Paravur North Paravur. formerly known as Paravur or Parur, is a municipality and suburb in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a northern suburb of the city of Kochi and is situated around 20 km from the city centre. It is ...

External links

Satellite image of the town
{{Suburbs of Kochi Geography of Ernakulam district Tourist attractions in Kochi Beaches of Kerala