Aluva (formerly Alwaye) is the second largest town in Greater Kochi City and an important commercial town in Kerala. The town is famous its festivals, large river banks and temples. Many of Kochinites (people of Kochi, as popularly known), do prefer to live in Aluva, while working in Ernakulam City, considering quiet cityscape, waterfront facility and presence of large commercial areas.
Aluva, is well known for its large river banks of Periyar River. The town is divided into two halves by the river, making the commercial town towards southern side of river and residential areas towards northern side. The Shiva Temple, located in river banks is the main attraction of the town, due to the traditions and legends associated with it. The temple gets submerged under river, during monsoon season (May–September).
Aluva has a major historical significance. The town ceded to Travancore Kingdom by Kochi Kingdom as part of Travancore-Kochi Treaty of 1790. Due to which, the town became a first major defence line for Travancore-Kochi Kingdoms from any external aggressions. The Northern side of Aluva (Travancore Aluva), thus became famous for its extensive Nedumkotta lines (Frontlines Fortifications) of Travancore Army, whereas Southern Aluva (Cochin Aluva) turned into commercial port which received boats and ferry from Travancore's High ranges loaded with spices and other commodities of high value.
The formation of Modern Aluva started, when H.H Maharaja Chitra Thirunal, then-the Maharaja of Travancore started his industrialization program in 1930s, making Travancore Aluva, one of the major centers for various industries. More than a dozen heavy industries were opened, creating the largest industrial belt in Kerala. A large bridge across Periyar made easy connectivity between Cochin and Travancore sides of Aluva, which helped the town to grow and diversify its economy into non-agrarian areas.
After independence, both sides of town merged into a single municipality and merged into Ernakulam district. Again, Aluva got a shot in the arm, when Kerala's largest private bank - The Federal Bank made the town as its Headquarters. Several small and medium sector financial institutions soon started its operations from this town, boosting its local economy. In 1990, Aluva was included into Greater Kochi Area, making it part of Kochi City and satellite town of Ernakulam.
Aluva is well connected by air, road and rail from all parts of the country
Cochin International Airport (IATA: COK), is just 15 km from the town center and thus Aluva is the nearest town from the Airport. Regular domestic and international connections are available from the Airport.
Aluva railway station (IR Code: AWY) in the town, is the second largest railway station in Kochi UA after Ernakulam South. All passenger, express trains bound to southern Kerala do have a stop in this station. Some leaflets/websites still refer the town's old name (Alwaye).
Rajiv Gandhi Central Bus Station is one of the largest Bus terminal in Kochi UA. Regular private and KSRTC Bus connect from all parts Kerala to this station. Apart from this, daily passenger bus of Karnataka RTC and Tamil Nadu's SETC do connect from places like Mysore, Mangalore, Bangalore, Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem, Palani, Kodaikanal etc.
Privately operated Inter-state bus to Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Mumbai etc. do have stops in various points of Aluva town.
Aluva is one major stop for National Waterway 3, scheduled to open by August 2010 which connects to Thiruvananthapuram in south and Kottapuram (Thrissur) in north.
Autorikshaws charge ₹15 per km. Bus are cheaper at ₹7.00 for three km.
The Aluva Sivarathri festival is the best time to shop in Aluva. It boasts of the largest cultural fair in the state. There will be One month long sale of various products along with the fair. For Clothing, Aluva has exclusive outlets of Reebok, Raymond, Reid & Taylor. Several other local dress boutiques are located inside the city. Seemas Textiles operate a 7-floor big textile showroom in Aluva.
softdrinks There are lot of shops offers different type of fruit juices and bottled soft drinks. Tea shops you can find it very easily. They offers snacks like banana fry (pazampori), vada like. Two or three vegetarian restaurants offers offers veg. meals with more than 5 or 6 currys and they serve you good south Indian masala dosa also.
Aluva is a Safe town.There are good enough facilites and it's safe after Kochi Metro has started.
There are plenty of internet centres available. Wire line and wireless internet connections available. Reliance offers 3.1 Mbit/s Broadband service in city call +91 9349040010
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division