Vallarpadamport, vallarpadam terminal, Smart city, kochi tourism

Munnar is an attractive, beautifull hill station wrapped with unending expanse of green tea plantations. The mind cooling natural beauty, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries and lakes together draw tourists from all around to Munnar, and was the summer resort of British Government in South India. It is located 133 kms from 1600 to 1800 meters above sea level.
The sprawling green tea plantations picturebook towns, winding lanes and holiday fecilities, make this an amazing hillstation. The rocky mountains and the rolling hills, the breath taking scenery and the green coffee and cardamom plantations of Pothamede, 6km from Munnar offers an exellent view. The rare and attractive Neelakurinji (Strobilatanthes), take twelve years to flower are in this region. Yet another facest of the natural beauty is observed at the idyllic hill station, Devikulam with it velvet lawns and picturesque spectrum of exotic flora and founa.

Pallivasal, the first hydroelectric project of Kerala, situated about 8km from Munnar is of immense scenic beauty.
The highly specialised dairy farm, the Indo Swiss Live stock Project, where the green meadows, the exotic cattle and the rose garden attracts a lot of tourists is at Mattupetty.

15km from Munnar is Rajamala , the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (a rare mountain goat) which is fast becoming extinct. Nyayamakad near Rajamala is a land of breathtaking waterfalls. On the way to top station there is Echopoint, 15km from Munnar which is a scenic place, gets it’s name from the natural echo phenomenon.

Vallarpadam may brave Sethusamudram threat
Tuesday September 7 2004: As Cochin Port Trust (CPT) is awaiting the letter of clearance from the Centre for the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, a new debate is raging on the possible impact on the former of the Shipping Ministry’s pet Sethusamudram project in Tamil Nadu.

PM to lay stone for Vallarpadam
Saturday August 28 2004: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has agreed to visit Kerala to will lay the foundation stone for the Vallarpadam container terminal project in Kochi.

Vallarpadam is an Onam gift from Centre: Antony Thursday August 26 2004: A.K.Antony has termed the decision of the Union Cabinet to give its nod for the Vallarpadam project as an ‘Onam gift’ to the people of the State by the Centre.

Dubai Port keen on developing Vallarpadam box terminal soon
Thursday August 19 2004: DUBAI Ports International (DPI) is keen to develop international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam in Kochi and shift operations there within four years irrespective of whether it handles the threshold level of 4,00,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for moving out of the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT).

HC seeks explanation from the centre
Monday August 16 2004: The state High Court has sought explanation from the centre for the inordinate delay in implementation of the Vallarpadam Container Terminal Project.

When will Vallarpadam happen?
Thursday, Apr 03, 2003: OVER THE last few months there has been press releases, statements by various State and Union Government leaders and officials and a general thrust in public relations… . all leading to an impression that the Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam is not only a reality but the actual construction and commissioning is just round the corner.

SEZ in Vallarpadam will lure more investment
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002: DECLARATION of the Vallarpadam and Puthuvypeen areas as special economic zones will reduce the cost of the proposed trans-shipment terminal by at least Rs 300 crore by way of exemption from Customs and Excise duties and income-tax, according to Mr Paul Antony, Development Commissioner (DC) of Cochin Special Economic Zone.

Kerala, located on the west coast of India, is known as ‘God’s Own Country’ because of its scenic beauty, and Kochi is the shining jewel in this beautiful state. Vallarpadom, which forms part of Kochi, is a small idyllic island on the Vembanad lake, with a serene and calm atmosphere. The serenity and peace, which is a salient feature of this island, can only be attributed to the presence of the historic church of Our Lady of Ransom. This church forms part of the diocese of Verapoly and revered by Catholics as a very sacred church.

The church was built by Portuguese missionaries in 1524. It is said that the missionaries discovered a painting of the Lady of Ransom, and later in a dream, they were asked to establish a church in Vallarpadam, which they dutifully did. Many miracles have been attributed to the Lady of Ransom and most are of people being saved from accidents at sea. As per tradition the church was earlier known as the church of the Holy Spirit. The original building was destroyed by floods in the 17th century and rebuilt later. The present building is said to have built in 1676.

As per local folklore, a lady and her child from a Hindu family who were shipwrecked, survived for three days, sheltered under a rock. The lady prayed that she would commit her life to serving the Lady of Ransom, and she was saved. Even today, all processions in connection with festivities of the church begin from the ancestral house of the Hindu lady, which is called Paliath. The images of the lady and child are also seen in the picture of the Lady of Ransom inside the Vallarpadom church.

The local fishermen always bring their new boats to be blessed by the Lady of Ransom before they are taken out to sea for the first time. When prayers are answered, the blessed devotees dedicate their lives to the Lady of Ransom, and sweep the church compound to convey their spirit of dedication. The altar of the church is filled with offerings of devotees who had been blessed by the Lady of Ransom.

Pope Leo the XIII had bestowed ‘special status’ to the church in 1888. The Vallarpadam church was declared as a pilgrim center in 1951. The church was given the status of a Basilica in December 2003. The number of pilgrims who visit the church is increasing every year. The major festival of the church falls on the 24th of September and thousands of devotees throng the small island to take part in the feast. The new Goshree bridges which connect Vallapadam with both Vypin and Ernakulam have made it very easy for the believers to come to the church. The church today is not only a major pilgrim center but also an important tourist attraction.