Aluva

Aluva (Malayalam pronunciation: [ɐːluʋɐ]) is a municipality and a northern suburb of the city of Kochi in Kerala. It is located about 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the city centre.

Aluva is known for the Sivarathri festival, which is celebrated annually on the sandbanks of the Periyar River. The Advaita Ashram in Aluva, founded in 1913 by Sree Narayana Guru, an Indian social reformer, further enhances the region’s cultural heritage. Today, despite being part of both the city and the Kochi urban agglomeration, Aluva remains an autonomous municipality with its civic administration conducted by the Aluva Municipal Council, since Kochi Corporation has not expanded its limits for over 53 years.

Aluva also serves as the administrative centre of the Aluva taluk. In 1956, the taluks of villages—including Mukundapuram, Kanayannur, Kunathunad, and North Paravur—were combined to form the Aluva taluk. The headquarters of the District Police Chief of the Ernakulam Rural Police District, the Superintending Engineer of PWD (Roads), and the District Educational Officer are also located there. Additionally, Aluva is the northern starting point of the Kochi Metro rail’s first phase, which began operations in June 2017, and it is integrated into the Kochi city bus network. The Metro station is situated at Bypass, Aluva.