Kochi, fast facts

When to go - post monsoon september to may

Tourist offices

District tourism promotion council,
Old collectorate building,
Park avenue road,
Ernakulam Tel : 0484 - 2367334

Information for Ernakulam district

Tourism information counters
Department of tourism,
Government of Kerala,
Main office,
Government guest house,
Near St.Theresas college,
Shanmugam road,
Ernakulam,
Telephone : 2360502

Information counter, Nedumbasserry airport. Tel - 2610115 extension 2105

KTDC tourist reception centre,
Opp hotel Taj residency,
Shanmugam road,
Ernakulam,
Kochi
Telephone : 2353234 web site : http://www.ktdc.com

India tourism,
Government of India, tourist office,
Willington Island,
Kochi,
Telephone : 2669125

All India tourist helpline : 1913

STD code : 0484

International Hotel - Ernakulam

P.B. No. 3563, M.G. Road, Ernakulam Kochi-682 035, Kerala, India.
Telephone : +91 484 2382091, 2380401, 2382099
Fax : +91 484 2373929 E-Mail :
theinternational@vsnl.com

url : http://www.theinternationalhotel.com/

Riverside plot near Karingamthuruth

In koonammavu Aluva route, 500 meters from the main road, 24 cents land - 1.5 lakhs / cent

Contact 0091 9895372115

5 bed room house for sale near Alwaye

A five bedroom old house in seven cents of land ner Alwayefor sale - price 57 lakhs. Will publish more details soon.

22 cents of water front property with house for sale in Varapuzha Island

I visited the site. It looks neat. There is a well constructed and maintained 2 bed room house in this property facing the Periyar river. The price is 2 lakh Indian rupees / cents of land ( 22 cents) and 5 lakhs for the house. If you are interested, contact me at 0091 9895372115 or email me at pabrachan@yahoo.com

SOLD

Vehicle toll at the Varapuzha Bridge

A new trend - Crib making competitions

This christmas, in most of the churches, there were crib making competitions among the family units within the parishes. A look at the behind the scene activities will help us to appreciate the leadership and the team work of the people involved. I am sure that this will help in bringing better unity in our communities.

Phone numbers of churches around varapuzha

St. George Church, Puthenpally - 0484 - 2512227

St. Mary's Bascilica - 2351516

Arch Bishop's house, Ernakulam - 2352626

St. Thomas pherona Church , Parur - 2442347

St. George Pherona, Edappally - 2344538

Chirist nagar church, chettibhagam - 2512288

St.Mary's church, muttinakam - 2512212

St.Mary's church, Thundathum kadavu - 2512345

Infant jesus church , Thundathum kadavu - 2512722

St. Augustin's church , Kadamakkudi - 2512415

St. Mary's assumptions church, ezhikkara - 2508126

St. Antony's church, Valluvalli - 2512796

St. Antony's Church, Kongorpilly - 2512720

St. George Church, Kongorpilly - 2512240

St. Joseph's church, Neerikkode - 2512965

St.Mary's church, Alangad - 2670135

Infant Jesus church, Kunnel - 2670380

St. Thomas church, Varapuzha - 2514231

St. Sebastian's church, Kottuvally - 2512020

St. Sebastian's Church, Neerikkode - 2513796

St. Philomina's church, Koonammavu - 2512266

St. Mary's church, Kottaparambu (Cheranellore) - 2430501

St.Joseph's monastry, koonammavu - 2513095

Mount Carmel Monastry - Varapuzha - 2512219

St. Thomas Church - Varapuzha

Mass timings

Sunday : 7.30 a.m

1st Sunday - 6.45 a.m

Saturday - 5.30 p.m

1st Friday : 6.15 a.m

Joys Electricals

For all Electrical accessories and work

Contact Joy's electrical,
Opposite to Sree Durga Thatre
Varapuzha 683517

Contact Joy Mobile No : 9947921256

Important phone numbers

Emergency Numbers

Police station, Varapuzha - 2513073

Fire station, Paravur - 2443101

Post office, Varapuzha - 2513023

Panchayath office, Varapuzha - 2513003

Block panchayath office, Alangad - 2670486

Electricity office, Varapuzha - 2513040

Manorama office, Puthenpally - 2511101

Mathrubhoomi office, Puthenpally - 2513054

Ambulance service, Panaikkulam - 2512799

Railway station enquiry, Alwaye - 2624141

Railway station, Ernakulam Junction - 2371131

KSRTC Ernakulam - 2372033

KSRTC, North Parur - 2442373

KSRTC, Aluva - 2624242

Airport, Nedumbasserry - 2160115, 2610116

The Varapuzha Medical Research Centre
Phone : 0484 2512297 Mobile : 9387168697

Thaliath Dental Clinic
Phone: 2512228, 2512159 Web site : www.paulthaliath.com

Jos Pharmaceuticals
Phone: 2514045, 2513045

Corporation Bank, Puthenpally
Business hours : 10a.m to 3.30 p.m Office hours : 10a.m to 5p.m
Phone : 2512239, 2515185

Rosary Queen travels: Phone 0484 42513365 Mobile 0984740828
Taxis, Mini buses. Will take care of all your travel needs.

Care and Spare - Electrical work
Dhavavardhana company building,
Near federal bank,
Varapuzha 683517
Contact person - Mr.Prasad M.G, Mobile : 9846414985

Thomson Gift House
Nadumuttathu Centre, Varapuzha
Phone : 0484 2513329 Mobile : 9847474849

Kristhuraj Catering Center
Olanad, Varapuzha
Phone : 0484 2511156 Mobile: 9847989940

Anna Glass House,
Highway junction, Puthenpally
Phone ; 3097196, 2514456 Mobile : 9447279350

Perumuttathu Sky Margin free Jewellery
Near Federal bank
Phone : 5527744

Vithayathil Jewellers
Opposite to Christ Nagar Church
Phone : 2512089, 2512709

Vanitha Beauty Parlour
Chettibhagam, Puthenpally
Phone : 2511647

St. George Saw Mill,
Pally Junction, Puthenpally, Varapuzha
Phone : 2512107, 3512107, 2512537, 2511597

Koikkara Decorations & Koikkara Outdoor catering service
Phone : 251622 Mobile : 9847165169

Paulson Travels
Phone : 2512166 Mobile: 9847280464

LIC Customer care centre and photostat
Puthenpally, Varapuzha
Phone: 0484 2513038 Mobile: 9847341038

Vithayathil Hardwares
Ferry junction Phone : 2512496

Alphonsa press, Varapuzha - 2513031

Geo printers, Varapuzha - 2512372

St. Joseph Press, koonammavu - 2513216

Durga, Light and Sound, Varapuzha - 2514213

Asianet Cable Connection - 9447171554

Banks
Federal bank, Puthenpally - 2513021

Corporation bank, Puthenpally - 2512239

State bank of travancore, Varapuzha - 2513029

State bank of India, Kongorppilly - 2512283

A BIG Star at St.Philomina's Church - Koonammavu

Cri at St.Philominas Koonammavu - another view

Crib at the St. Philomina's Church Koonammavu

Star infront of Koonammavu seminari palli

Inside Koonammavu Seminary Church

Crib at the Koonammavu Seminary Church

Crib at My home (Puthusserry house)

Ever since my childhood, we are making cribs at our varapuzha home during every christmas, except the one before last, when we were mourning the death of my Father. When I was a very small boy, my elder sisters used to make the crib. Then Me and my younger sister took over from them. There was a period when none except my parents were living here. Depite their old age, they also did not discontinue the practice. This time the major role in crib making was taken over by my daughter and my wife. Kalangal marunnu, Kolangal marunnu...that is the only difference. Hope this practice will continue forever.

Kochi Property Show

Yetsreday I went to the Kochi property show held at the Kaloor international stadium premises. The property prices are sky rocketing. In this show itself, the property prices range was between Rs.2000 / square feet to R.3800 / square feet. The prices are higher than the Bangalore real estate prices. As an investor I am still struggling to find a justification to invest in Kochi. There are huge forecasts about the supply and demand shortages. The grapevine says that, soon the supply will be more than the demand and the prices will crash. That is the message I am also getting, from this property show. The prices are unreasonably high. If you are genuine buyer, I recommend you to wait for some more time.

During the show I visited the State Bank of India stall. Mr.Srikumar - chief marketing officer explained ther schemes to me, which was done very professionally and the schemes were also attractive. They even give loan to buy land at 10% interest, which is on par with housing loan interest. It was new information to me. Sreekumar's conta details are given below;

Sreekumar S Moosath,
Chief marketing executive (home loans)
R.S buildings, 2nd floor,
Opposite to Maharaja's College Ground,
M.G Road, Ernakulam, Kochi - 682011
Tel : 0484 2369520. 2369530 Fax :2369540 Mobile : 9447788755
email : sbiosfekm@yahoo.com

Another agency for home loans : HDFC Mobile : 9946662874 9895865184 email : home.kochi@hdfc.com. Contact person - Libson PP

Some of the major participants in the property show were;

SFS - Skyline foundations and structures (P) Ltd Phone 0484 4024444 Url : http://www.sfscochin.com/
Asset homes - 0484 6456474 http://www.assethomes.in/
Kristal group - 0484 3210998 http://www.kristalgroup.com/
Green vistas - 0484 2317318 http://www.greenvistas.net/
Oceanus - 9447170666 http://www.oceanus.co.in/
NCC Urban 0484 2324721 http://www.nccurban.com/
Mather 0484 2373179 http://www.matherprojects.com/
BCG builders 0484 2535085 http://www.bcgbuilders.com/
Skyline Builders 0484 2363695 http://www.skylinebuilders.com/
Jewel homes 0484 2335315 http://www.jewelhomes.net/
Galaxy homes 0484 2539311 http://www.galaxyhomes.com/
National Builders 09847544222 http://www.nationalbuilders.in/
SRK group 0484 4094444 srkconstruction@gmail.com

Christmas time at Puthusserry house and Varapuzha

For the light was coming into this world, the true light that enlightens every one.

We have seen his glory, the Glory of the only son coming from the Father: fullness of truth and loving kindness.

From his fullness we have all received favor upon favor.

The truth and loving kindness came through Jesus Christ

St. George Church, Edappally

To day I went for the English mass at 4.30 p.m, at the St. George chruch, edappally. We reached there by 4.00 p.m, half an hour early, and it gave me enough time to note down the mass timings;

Sundays

5.45 a.m
7.00 a.m
8.45 a.m
10.15 a.m
4.30 pm ( english mass)
5.30 p.m

Normal days

6. a.m
7 a.m
6 p.m

First Friday

5.45 a.m
7.00 a.m
9.00 a.m
10.30 a.m
12.00 pm (latin)
4.00 p.m
5.30 p.m

Boat service between Ernakulam and Varapuzha

This boat service is just 5 rupees for a 1 hour travel from Ernakulam to Varapuzha. Vry relaxing. One can get glimpses of the coastal life. If you like photography, dont forget to take your camera along with you. If you want to carch up with some reading or sleep that is also fine. Now the number of boats have reduced a lot. It is not economically viable as the islands are already connected to the main land by road. Another reason - the boat owners make more money by converting these boats to house boats for tourists. So be in a hurry to experience it, before it stops.

My dear Father Late Sri P.A.Antony

Kitchen durbar

The hub of information exchange - at the backyard of the kitchen

Rev. Fr. Pallan and the Christ the king church

I am sure that many of the latest generation would not have seen Fr.Pallan, the main visionary in building the new Christ the King Church. It is indeed an engineering marvel. Like any great feats, it was made possible by the sheer determination of a one man army called Fr.Pallan, a towering 6 feet + tall figure, who dared to dream high. I always remember him as a gigantic figure both physically and mentally, who loved people. He had an adopted son. If i remember the name correctly his name was ‘Peter’. He had one dear pet dog (labrador), which used to roam around in his quarters.
During those days (days before the new church), the holy mass was conducted in a shed, which could contain only half the crowd, and the rest was in the open. It had it’s own charm. Everything was very simple. And teens had enough opportunities for amble eye contact with their romeos and juliets, during the mass, as the boys and the girls had seperate places, facing each other.

At that time Fr.Pallan realized the need for this new church. He had the replica of this in his room and he wanted to make it a reality. he got some funding from abroad, which was insufficient. The construction was at a very slow pace, due to poor funds and technical issues. By God’s grace and sheer guts, he could overcome all the challenges and make his dream come true. I was a boy when all these was happening.

Today, when I see this curch in all it’s splendour, I realize, what a marvellous feat it was, is and will be…….One man’s dream, becoming the dream of all and then materializing… and all the fun, joy, sweat and the sorrows on the way. True to his nature, I dont see any physical engravings in the church premises about Fr.Pallan. He has already engraved it in our hearts.
Thank you dear father, for all you have done to us.
(Fr. Pallan is no more)

Mass timings in churches in and around Varapuzha

St. George Church, Puthenpally - Phone : 0484 2512227

St. Mary’s Church, Muttinakam - Phone : 0484 2512212

Mass timingsSunday 6.30 a.m, 9.00 a.mOther days 6.45 a.m NovenasMother Mary’s Nonena on Saturdays 5.15 p.mSt.Antony’s Novena on Tuesdays after the 6.45 a.m mass

Mount Carmel & St.Joseph’s Church, Varapuzha,Mass timings :-Sundays 6.a.m, 8a.m, 9.30 a.m and 5.00p.m. Week days 5.45 a.m, 7a.m

St.Philomina’s Church, Koonammavu - Mass timings : Sunday - 6.a.m, 7 a.m week days - 6 a.m, 7.15 a.m Novena of B.Kuriakkose Friday 7 a.m, 10.30 a.m and 4.30 p.m

Medical facilities in and around Varapuzha

Dr. Zacharia, Medical Research Centre, Chettibhagam. Phone 0484 2512297 Mobile: 9387168697

Chithra medicals, Varapuzha, Phone: 2513035

Nagarjuna, Varapuzha , Phone: 2512927

Dr.Paul Thaliath BDS Phone: 2512228, 2512159 web site : www.paulthaliath.com

Jos Pharmaceuticals Phone: 2514045, 2513045

St.Antony’s clinical lab, Near Davision theater, Chettibhagam, Varapuzha. Phone - 0484 2516646

Nearby hospitals and phone numbers

Amritha institute of medical sciences edappally - 2339080

Aarogyalayam, Alwaye - 2625252

Blood bank IMA - 2354886

City hospital, Ernakulam - 2361615, 2361809

Don Bosco, Parur - 2444875, 2444876

Ernakulam medical centre - 2807101

Shingari melam ശിങ്ങാരി മേളം

Local drum players. This is called shingari melam, which is a slightly modified version of the chenda melam. Here the entrire group plays the drums rhythmically along with some dance steps. It is very nice to watch. Shingari melam is played mostly in temple festivels (not restricetd to)

ശിങ്ങാരി മേളം 

The map of varapuzha

Hope in the forest

A church in a valley. Taken on my way to Thekkady.

Distance

At Cherai beach.

Flowers from our garden

Thanks to my dear father Late. Mr. P.A.Antony. He had a special taste to gardening. After his retirement from the bank, most of his time was consumed by this garden. He just loved the trees, plants and flowers.

Monsoon

Light

Taken on a cloudy monsoon day, when the light was very dim.

A nun on a bike

Changing times. This was taken during my trip to coorg.

Monsoon at Varapuzha

Christ Nagar Church - Chettibhagam

An architectural marvel, initiated by Father Pallan.

Mannamthuruth School

St.Joseph's lower primary school at Mannamthuruth. I did my 2nd,3rd and 4th classes here. I am sorry to say that, these are the years in which I got introduced to lot of negative things. At the same time this is the place where I met Augustine Sir, whom I respect a lot. A person totally committed to the teaching profession. He used to spend money from his pocket and get prizes for the best performers. Here I had some very intelligent classmates as well, who could not continue with their studies due to poverty. At a young age itself, they had to go for work to make both ends meet. Some of the names that comes to my mind are Vinobaji, Sarasan, John, Abbas...they were brilliant in their studies, yet could not study. I meet them at my village once ina while.

A sunset at Cherai beach

Doing nothing. Just looking at the Sun setting !

Cherai beach resorts

Cherai beach resorts is a decent resort facing the beach. It has a decent restaurant and has independent cottages. The food is reasonably priced, and is a nice place to relax

Beginning to the end

This bridge made all the difference.

Once upon a time, there was no electricity in varapuzha.There were no street lights.Instead of torch, people used to light the dried leaves of the coconut trees. We used to read in the lantern light. Then electricity came. It changed our lives. At the switch of a button there was light. Then came the telephone and the telephone booths. Then the television.Then came the ATMs and the internet (broadband). Then thisbridge came dividing varapuzha into two and connecting it to the main kochi city. Now slowly it has become a subrb of the Kochi city, which is just 10 km away and the international airport is just 20 km away. Now we are neither urban nor rural. The population density is growing at a steady rate. The lands are dug up for construction projects. The sand mafia dug up the river periyar, which led to receding water levels. We used to get water when we dig up to 10 ft. Now that has given way for bore wells. The greenery is fast disappearing. The social relationships of the village is also giving way to the urban materialistic culture. My house in varapuzha is more affected by the noise of vehicles than my flat in the heart of Bangalore city.

Can we call this development. Many may laugh at our current chief minister Achuthananthan's statement "Tourists are coming to Kerala, to see the virgin land". It has lots of meaning. We are raping and abusing the resources for selfish motives. This land is on it's way to become a desert land like Dubai. Dubai wants to make it more greener, and unfortunately there is no water. We are killing our flora to make a Dubai !

A land without boundaries and head count - A rustic welcome to Varapuzha

One of the best shots I have ever taken - an evening at Cherai beach

This is one of the best photos I have taken. I could time it well. The sun, the reflection and the canoe are in a straight line. The timing was perfect. This photo gives me immense satisfaction. Kerala is best for photographers during the months of Oct,Nov, Dec, Jan as the sky will be bluish without clouds hence it is a good time to shoot nature.

If you like to shoot rain, then June,July and August are the right months. It is a paradise for photographers.

Lessons from an enthusiastic boy at Cherai beach

A very enthusiastic and energetic boy at the Cherai beach. He was jumping at every wave that came his way. He was greeting every wave with the same enthusiasm. It was fun to watch him.

When I saw this, these are the questions loomed large in my mind 'When and where did I loose the energy and enthusiasm of this intensity?. How can I get it back?. Is it possible or impossible?. Is it very normal...just part of ageing?.

I see the same enthusiasm and energy with Matha Amrithananthamayi, Sri Sri Ravishankar and a Capuchin priest who delivers very relevant speeches on the TV (sorry, name unknown as of now).

When I conduct corporate trainings, it is this enthusiasm which is lacking in most places. Most of them are pampered with large pay packets and other facilities, still I cannot find enthusiasm in most of them. They lost it somewhere?. If all of us were enthusiastic about everything we do, this world would have been a better place.